My eyebrows rise. “The fuck?”
The landlord never told me anything about demolition. It is a shithole, but evicting everyone and reducing it to rubble seems a little extreme.
“Well, I mean, if I could guess. It seems like something that deserves a wrecking ball. And I know you’re on a month-to-month lease. Have been since October of last year. ”
“Jesus, Coop. You really need to mind your own business.”
“But that’s no fun, and it’s not like you’re an open book, Matthew. And since we’re married, I really need to know who you are. I can’t be married to a criminal.”
“Yeah, alright, fair enough, but what about me? I’m at a disadvantage. I know nothing about you.”
“Oh, well, I really am open to answering questions. Ask me anything.”
He turns toward me slightly and suddenly my mind is blank. I have no idea what I want to ask. Not one damn thing.
“I don’t know. I can’t think like this. Too much pressure.”
“Hm, I see.” He grins, his fingers moving to his lips and tapping slightly. “You know what, since I pulled a background check on you, how about we do the same for me? That way we are on an even playing field.”
“What?” I honestly have no idea what he’s talking about.
“I’ll have my PI compile a packet for you to go through. So you can look at your leisure. I have nothing to hide, Matthew. Nothing at all.”
I purse my lips in thought and then nod because why the hell not?
His grin widens and he claps his hands together, eager almost. Then he’s tapping a message out on his phone, and when he’s done, he tells me that his PI is on it. I’ll have something headed my way soon.
Honestly, I don’t need it, but why not take a peek? Maybe I’ll find something in there that could get me out of this marriage, something to blackmail him with. Although, if he really is an open book, then I’ll probably come up empty.
“Alright, now that that’s settled, let’s talk about living arrangements.”
“No.”
He chuckles and reaches over, his hand settling on my thigh. Honestly, I’ve gotten used to him touching me like this and it’s disgusting how much I crave it.
“I have a guest room in my loft that you can have. Although, since we are married, I wouldn’t mind sharing a bedroom with you.”
“I’m not sharing a room with you even if we’re technically married.”
“Ah, so you’re considering moving in then.”
“I didn’t say that.”
He huffs a laugh and his hand squeezes my thigh once more. He hasn’t removed it from my leg, and I haven’t asked him to. Probably should. With the way I keep letting him touch me, my straight card is going to be revoked soon.
Although maybe that already happened in the shower earlier, or even when I snuggled with him in bed.
Fuck.
“Well, it seems like you’re going to.” He picks up his phone and taps out something on the screen. “My movers are free to get you into my place by the end of the week.”
“Jesus, Coop. Give a man some time to decide.”
“You seem indecisive, Matthew. I’m just helping things along.”
He rests his hand back on my thigh and pats it. “I scheduled the movers. You can just pack what you need for my place and the rest can be moved into a storage unit.”
“I can’t afford a storage unit.”