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“Ducati. Once I decided I was going to get a bike, I had to go all in.” She smiles to herself. “It’s my baby.”

I find myself smiling, too. It’s cute how excited she is about it. “Have you ever taken it on a road trip? Or are the local scenic rides enough?”

“I took her cross country one time.” She looks up at me and tilts her head. “Now West Coast is where the scenic rides are.”

I let out a sound of agreement. “That’s putting it mildly.” The elevator dings as we arrive at my floor in the parking garage. “Do you miss driving at all? I always wondered if bikers ever crave the enclosed feeling of a car.”

Charli snorts as we step out of the elevator. “I wouldn’t say I miss the feeling of being enclosed, no.” Then her eyes dart to me, just for a moment. “Happy to hear my claustrophobic panic attack wasn’t memorable, though.”

“It wasn’t the panic attack that was memorable,” I murmur, the honestly slipping past my lips.

I hear her sharp intake of breath, and I know she can feel the sudden stifling heat between us. If we weren’t walking side by side, avoiding eye contact with each other, I’m not so sure this conversation wouldn’t continue in this direction.

But we’ve reached my car, and Charli’s attention is drawn to the sound of its beeps. “This is me,” I say awkwardly. Idiot. She’s already been in your car. “Is it big enough for what you need to transport?”

Now that I think about it, I have no idea what I agreed to with this. She said she doesn’t need help lifting, but I also wouldn’t put it past Charli to try to singlehandedly move furniture.

What are we moving? Is she as much of a minimalist as she says? Are we just moving clothes?

Holy shit, am I about to see her closet?

Charli’s voice rips me from my spiraling thoughts. “Plenty big. I don’t have that much.” When we climb into my car and she settles into the passenger seat, she says stiffly, “Thank you for doing this, by the way.”

A deep rumble rolls through the car as I start it. “Don’t mention it,” I tell her as I exit the garage. “You’re saving me from reading through a real estate contract, so I should probably be thanking you.” I gesture toward the console. “Want to put your address in?”

It only takes us ten minutes to reach the apartment. But it takes me that long to learn how to breathe around Charli’s subtle apple scent, made stronger by our close proximity.

“Just park in front of the building and put your hazards on,” she instructs. “I know you’ll be waiting in the car, but— Hey!”

I’m already slamming the door behind me. Like hell am I waiting in the car.

I hear her rushed steps behind me. “Lucas, come on, you really don’t need to⁠—”

She all but runs into me when I stop and turn toward her. “I won’t, if you honestly don’t want me to. If you don’t want me in your home. But otherwise…” My voice softens. “I really would like to help.”

Her eyes dart between mine, studying my face as she decides what she wants to do. Eventually, she exhales heavily.

“For the record, the amount of ‘help’ you’re providing in my life is making me increasingly uncomfortable,” she grumbles. “You’re going to have to come up with a chore list or something. Anything more than just some side projects.”

My lip twitches. “My books could use some dusting,” I offer.

Her eyes narrow before she rolls them at me. “Let’s just get this over with,” she says with a huff, turning to unlock the door to the building.

I try to be subtle about checking out the apartment complex as we climb the stairs, but it’s not easy. This place barely seems habitable.

I can see how an online listing would have fooled Charli into thinking this place was decent. The main areas, the places a landlord would take pictures of, look fine at first glance. The stoop area and front door was nice, and the entryway seemed organized and clean.

But with a closer look, the truth becomes obvious. There are cracks in the ceiling, the walls are yellowing, and the stains on the hallway carpet are atrocious. I can’t imagine Charli living here.

I hate that she was living here.

A renewed sense of urgency fills me, and I blow past Charli as soon as she opens her front door. I need her out of here as soon as humanly possible.

It’s a small, tidy studio apartment. I want so badly to peek inside the kitchen cabinets and dresser on the far end of the room, but I hold myself back until she gives me the go-ahead.

“Where do you need me to start?”

I glance over at Charli and see her chewing on her lower lip in contemplation. She doesn’t look uncomfortable with me being here, but she’s definitely not in her element.