Moving Forward (Completed)

Chapter Twenty Eight

"How's living with Barba?" Amanda asked while entering Rafael's apartment for the first time.

"It's been really easy. When I initially agreed to move in I was set on standing my ground on things I didn't want to change about my daily routine, but..."

"What would you have to change about your daily routine?" Amanda interrupted as she glanced around the living room.

"Well... I haven't actually had to change anything."

"I meant why would you think you would need to?"

"The only other man I've ever lived with was Scott. He expected me up in the mornings if he was and hated it if I wanted to stay up and watch TV after he went to bed... he claimed he could hear it even though I knew he couldn't because I could barely hear it and our bedroom was on the other side of the house." Katherine muttered.

"You think I go for guys that I know aren't good for me, but you go for obstinate men." Amanda chuckled.

"Rafael isn't obstinate."

"He is at work."

"He's not with me. I haven't had to change anything, that's what I was trying to say. If I want to stay up too late watching a movie while cutting out the things I spent my morning laminating I can. Rafael just gives me a kiss good night and goes to bed. No guilt trip. No complaining about me waking him up when I eventually do crawl in bed with him. He just rolls over and tugs me into his arms. In the mornings he lets me sleep and either sends me a text or leaves a note telling me good morning. Nothing has changes about my summer routine from when I lived alone except for the fact that he's there." Katherine smiled.

"And this place... I had no idea Barba's apartment was this nice." Amanda wasn't really looking at the apartment anymore, more at the view out his living room window.

"He moved here when he transferred from Brooklyn."

"He has't lived here that long then," Amanda said, turning to join Katherine in the kitchen. "Does he know you invited me over for lunch?"

Katherine rolled her eyes at the grin on Amanda's face. "Yes. He said you're welcomed whenever I want since it's my place too."

"You chip in then?" Amanda lifted a brow knowing Katherine's teacher salary wouldn't cover much.

"Rafael used savings to pay a lot of this place off up front so his monthly expenses aren't as high as you might expect, but in answer to your question... no, I don't chip in on the apartment itself. We discussed the monthly living expenses and I chose a few bills to cover. It's a little more than half of what I was paying living on my own but this way we both spend a bit less each month."

"Who does the grocery shopping?" Amanda chuckled as she watched Katherine pull out food to prepare for their lunch.

"We go together."

"You go together?"

Katherine nodded. It was one her favorite things they had started doing over the last few weeks of living together. They would sit at the kitchen island while making their list and then both wandered around the store hand in hand, trading off each trip on who paid.

"I can't picture Barba in a grocery store."

"Why not, he's a fantastic cook."

"He cooks?"

"Extremely well." Katherine smiled.

"You think you know someone." Amanda chuckled.

Katherine rolled her eyes and turned to the stove to start the water boiling while she prepped the rest of the ingredients for the pasta she was making.