The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 401

"This works," she said, placing the listing back on the table. "Let's go take a look."

*

Half an hour later, they were standing inside a unit at Emerald Grove.

Sloane stood in the center of the living room, slowly spinning in a circle as she inspected the kitchen, the bathroom, and the bedroom.

The place was undeniably small, and the furniture had seen better days, but the windows were massive. Sunlight flooded through the old steel panes, spilling across the peeling floorboards and giving the entire space a surprisingly warm, vibrant energy.

"I'll take it," she declared, her tone decisive.

Garrison stood near the door, his gaze dragging from the cracked paint in the corners to the ancient ceiling fan shuddering overhead.

The window frames were chipped, and the bathroom sink still had old-school twist knobs. He opened his mouth, wanting to say, 'Isn't this place a little too run-down?' But when he saw her standing in front of that massive window, the sunlight turning her hair into spun gold, the words died in his throat.

He gave a stiff nod and said nothing.

Kevin was absolutely thrilled. "That's fantastic! Ms. Taylor, you can swing by the office whenever you're ready to sign the lease—"

"I... don't actually have that much cash on me today," Sloane hesitated.

The envelope Lexi had given her only had a little over two thousand dollars left. Covering the first month's rent and the deposit was going to be a stretch.

Kevin waved it off, already handing her the keys.

"No rush, no rush! I'll leave the keys with you. You can go ahead and get settled, and just pop by the office to finalize the paperwork whenever you have time."

He let his arms fall to his sides and smoothly changed the subject. His voice shifted from the cautious, walking-on-eggshells tone he had been using, reverting to the steady, authoritative cadence of a doctor speaking to a patient.

"So what are your plans now? You need to come to the hospital once a week for treatments and scans. Just because the tumor has been downgraded to low-risk doesn't mean you can let your guard down."

"I know. I'll be there."

Sloane leaned against the windowsill, the bright sunlight casting a brilliant halo around her profile. She looked down at her bare feet resting on the peeling floorboards, falling silent for a long moment. When she spoke again, it sounded more like she was talking to herself.

"As for my plans... I don't think I'll be able to find a decent job right now."

"My academic records at Riverdale University have been completely wiped. I need to think this through." Her voice dropped lower, her gaze drifting out the window to the TV antenna on the roof across the street.

A gray pigeon was perched on it, tilting its head to preen the feathers under its wing. "Sigh... if only I could go back to Riverdale..."