"Stop! Whatever you're about to say, don't." I hold a hand up and push him out of the bathroom, slamming the door. "Gross."

"Babe, I gotta clean up too."

"Go use the other bathroom. You're disgusting, Brady!" I can't help but laugh. There's no denying some of it's laughing at myself for dating the knuckle dragger.

We unpack for hours, getting it done just in time. He isn't like Sami; he doesn't talk when he works. He just does. And when I talk he gives me a look like he's tolerating what I have to say but it better end soon.

I miss Sami.

Even if she got engaged to an asshat after she spent all that time telling me I could do better.

I use all the unpacking silence to rant about her in my head. It's almost therapy.

"See," Brady interrupts my inner bitch session, "I told you we could get it done." His grin turns to the dirty one that I love and hate equally. "All you needed was a little motivation." He winks and flattens the last box. "A little lubrication to get the wheels moving."

"Gross." I wipe the counters down, loving the feel of the granite. I always loved Sami's marble counters in her houses.

"You liked it." He chuckles and comes over, wrapping around me and kissing the side of my neck. "And later, probably tomorrow, we can have sex in the bed."

"You are better in a bed," I mock him.

"You know I am." He spins me around, placing a soft kiss on my lips.

"I think you're also good in seedy bars and I suspect elevators."

"No." He shakes his head, turning serious. "No elevators. I can't."

The conversation is interrupted by knocking.

"They're here!" His eyes light up. He and Mike Smolensky are basically soul mates. Like him and Asshat Matt. He opens the door, shouting, "Smolensky!" They hug like they haven't seen each other in years, as opposed to weeks.

"Blow Job!" They embrace like lovers.

Liz creeps around the beastly guys making out, smiling wide at me. "Hey!"

"Hey!" She and I hug in a much more civil way. She doesn't wrap her leg around me or slap me in the lady balls . . .

"This place is great." She checks out the apartment. "I love the white cabinets and the sparkly white granite together. It's so fresh and clean. And tile floor in the kitchen, so much better than laminate."  

I turn and face the apartment with her, marveling at what it all looks like. Our black leather couches contrast well with the light maple floors and pale icy-blue walls. "Yeah, the vaulted ceilings and huge wall of windows overlooking the park is what I like the best. It's the same in the master bedroom too."

"The fireplace is awesome." She strolls over, admiring everything. "It's so grown up."

"I know, right?" I gush with her and move the tour to the games room. It consists of one sofa, a large TV, an Xbox, PlayStation, and a Wii. "We still have surround sound to set up, but other than that, this room's done. The sofa turns into a bed." I grin. "It's like a guest room where guests can entertain themselves."

"After they fight you for the game controller," she mutters. "It was so grown up. This room here killed it."

"Whatever." I walk to the door and guide her to the other bedroom as Brady leads Mike into the games room. Their booming voices make me laugh.

"So is there a rule where Nat has to let you win a couple times?" Mike chuckles.

"Shut up." Brady has no response.

"He doesn't stand a chance." Liz laughs and enters the bedroom. "Wow, this is nice. And an en suite? This is a huge apartment." She spins, taking it all in. The room looks plain with only a bed and two bedside tables.

"We have to get lamps and more hangers. Someone has a lot of clothes." My eyes dart to the doorway. Liz laughs and opens the walk-in closet.

"This is nice." She turns back, giving me a grin. "Okay, he does have a lot of clothes. You guys are like official and everything."

"Very." My eyes widen.

"Take a breath. It's just living together. You haven't signed a contract for the rest of your life. Everyone does it." Her eyes dart to the doorway. "Apparently, we aren't far behind you." Her voice lowers, "He asked me to move in with him this summer."

"Oh my God. Really?" I can't believe it. Another one of my friends and Brady's? At least Mike is actually a nice guy, not a shit like Matt.