Page 51 of Silver Linings
By the time they made it to the elevator, Sage was fussing on Lily’s shoulder. “Let me take her for a minute, Lil. That way, you can check out the space when we get up there.”
“Are you sure?”
“I haven’t held her since we got off the plane. Give me my daughter.”
She stirred more as Lily lifted her off of her own shoulder and placed her down on his. Gunner loved the way Sage’s warm little body immediately snuggled into the crook of his neck, her tiny baby breaths causing her back to rise and fall rapidly as he patted his hand on her bottom.
Gunner pressed the button to call the elevator, but it must have already been on the bottom floor because the doors opened immediately. Lily walked on, turned and gave him a questioning look.
“What?”
“Are you going to tell me what floor we live on so that I can push the correct button, or are you going to make me guess?”
“See that black box?” Gunner pointed to a box just under the buttons. “Hold the card Mae gave to you up to the reader. That’s how we get up to the apartments.”
“Why even have buttons?”
Gunner shrugged. “So, girls’ night, huh?”
He loved the flush that dotted Lily’s face and ears.
“She just invited me. I thought it wouldn’t be polite to decline it on the spot. If she actually invites me, I’ll probably just say I can’t because of Sage.”
“No, Lil. I think it’s great. You deserve to have friends here, too.”
The elevator doors opened and Lily bolted out ahead of him.
“Are we on the top floor? I bet the views inside are beautiful!” Gunner remembered counting four floors above the ground level, which housed Montgomery Defense. The parking lot had backed up on a patch of land dense with trees, which wasn’t Gunner’s favorite thing coming from a safety standpoint, but maybe they had a view of whatever that area was. That would be pretty for Lily and Sage to look at each day.
Lily was bouncing on her toes when he finally stopped in front of apartment five, which matched the number on the back of his ID card.
“Well, don’t just stand there. The anticipation is killing me.”
“Is this what you’re going to be like on Christmas morning?” he teased.
“Worse,” she laughed. “But also, I’ve been too nervous to ask where the bathroom was, so I really need you to open the door so I can pee.”
“Lil. You shouldn’t have waited for me.”
“Less scolding, more opening the door so we can walk in together as a family. Chop chop big guy.”
Gunner held his card up to the scanner and heard the lock reposition. “You do the honors.”
Lily smiled, twisting the handle and pushing the door open.
“Gunner, this place is amazing! I can’t imagine what the rent is costing you. Can you really afford this?” Her eyes grew wide, and he watched as she placed her free hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, that’s probably rude and I have no right to know.”
“There is no rent, Lil. It’s just a perk from my job. I told you, Sebastian is really generous.”
Generous was an understatement. From what he could see of just the open concept living room and kitchen, he owed his boss big time. He was right about the view. Floor to ceiling windows off the back side of the building overlooked a park, complete with walking trails and a children’s playground. That would be great for Lily to take Sage to until he could get them into a house with their own backyard and play set. Gunner had always wanted to build a treehouse, something he pictured as a rite of passage for fathers everywhere, and had big plans for the one he’d make for Sprout.
Lily returned quickly from the bathroom and was busy looking out the windows while Gunner walked with Sage into the kitchen.
“Lil, have you seen this?”
Crisp white cabinets and marble counter tops framed professional appliances. Gunner took one look at Lily’s astonished face and knew she would be happily spending time in there cooking as soon as he stocked the fridge. Which was top priority for the next day. There was only so much takeout he could stomach.
“I’m honestly speechless, Gunner. What’s the catch? There’s really no rent? Everything is so beautiful and I just can’t imagine someone not trying to make a profit off this property.”