Edward´s Friday Afternoon
As Edward safely parked his car, he couldn´t help but feel a surge of anticipation. Tonight, he had an important meeting with Ben, the real estate agent. Third time´s the charm, and he hoped his luck of today continued in the evening.
The sun began its descent, casting a golden hue over the vibrant city, so Edward put on his sunglasses. He knew in his heart that if Jasper were here, he would accuse him of looking like a middle-aged dick, with his fancy shades, bag and suit. Well, it might be true, and Jasper had accused him of worse.
Ben, a well-dressed man with a friendly smile, waited on him at the entrance. He extended his hand.
¨Good afternoon, sir. We´ve spoken briefly on the phone. I´m Ben. And you´re…¨
¨Better looking in person, I know,¨ Edward winked before he remembered who he was speaking to. He quickly glanced away, ashamed of his slip of the tongue. Under normal circumstances, when people assumed who he was and began a conversation with him, his standard ¨joke¨ would immediately lighten the mood. But this wasn´t the time or place for his usual banter.
Damn it!
Ben, bless his heart, continued his introduction as if the interruption had never occurred. ¨I have a few properties in mind that I believe will be a perfect fit with your preferences. But seeing is believing, so here we are.¨
Edward´s anticipation grew as they stepped inside the lobby, where they were greeted by a concierge. They entered the elevator, and as the doors closed, Ben began sharing details about the building. Edward only half-listened.
Finally, the elevator dinged. Ben unlocked the door with a twist of the key, and as the door swung open, Edward´s eyes widened in sheer awe. He couldn´t look away from the top-to-floor windows, and the panoramic view that stretched before him, a tapestry of city lights.
He walked through each room, immersing himself in the endless possibilities. Each space whispered a promise of a new beginning, and he felt the guilt rise in his throat.
Because he had lied to Esme.
Well, only a little bit. He was indeed searching for a new apartment, but he would never tell his mother how much Jasper's words from earlier had affected him, because there was some truth to them.
Yes, he was boring, and he had a rather uneventful life, and he never did anything out of the ordinary. That was all correct. But that didn´t mean he embraced it with open arms. He yearned for something different, something out of the ordinary. He craved the thrill of taking risks, of acting before thinking about the consequences. He wanted to be young and foolish, to make mistakes and learn from them.
And a very selfish part of him wanted to see the look on Jasper's face when he told him he rather impulsively bought an entire apartment.
Lost in thought, he realised he hadn´t even decided which apartment he would choose to live in. In truth, he hadn´t given it much thought. Perhaps Jasper could live in one of them? Or he could transform one into a music room, complete with a piano?
After all, Alice was talented on the piano, Esme told him, but he could certainly also play a note or two himself.
¨Well, what do you think?¨ Ben´s voice echoed through the apartment as he joined Edward by the windows, their gazes fixed on the breathtaking city lights below.
¨You know, it´s a stunning place. But I´m trying to find the catch. So I can´t help but wonder if the neighbors are as pleasant as the view?¨ He asked. He had been in business long enough to know that he should never show his excitement too much.
A mischievouw twinkle danced in Ben´s eyes. ¨Ah, there´s quite a mix. We have an elderly couple down the hall, and a younger pair just right here.¨
Edward raised an eyebrow. ¨So they don´t cause any trouble?¨
Ben chuckled. ¨Not at all. One of the girls is in medical school, the other is also very busy. Very friendly people, and I never had a complaint about them.¨
Edward had not expected otherwise, but he knew firsthand that it never hurt to make the other squirm a bit before settling the deal. He extended his hand, a satisfied smile plastered on his face. They shook hands firmly. Ben told him he would send him the necessary paperwork, but Edward didn´t pay attention.
As the city lights continued to twinkle outside the window, he felt in the pit of his stomach that he made the right decision.