“House Hunting 101”

After their lunch at the diner, Abby managed to get Alex’s attention away from his tabloid gossip column and onto more positive things – namely, house-hunting. Begrudgingly, he’d agreed to take the rest of the day off and drive around to several of the houses on a list Abby had received from their local realtor.

After touring several of the available homes in the area, it was becoming clear to Abby that Alex wasn’t taking things very seriously and by the fifth home they looked at she told him just that.

“What do you mean I’m not taking this seriously?” Alex asked her, leaning against the doorjamb of a newly remodeled kitchen.

“Well, for one thing,” Abby said, “you’ve managed to find something wrong with every house we’ve looked at.”

“Oh, come on doll,” he grinned, his arms crossed in front of him, “are you still upset about that third house we looked at? I mean, who puts a phone in their closet anyway? And that carpet! Blue? On the staircase? It would take a bundle to rip all that old shag out and have it replaced.”

Abby sighed, rolled her eyes. Money again. That’s what it came down to, always. “I’ve told you not to worry about the money, Alex. Really. I’ll take care of the cost to remodel whatever we need to. Besides, sometimes a motivated seller will knock a few thousand off the selling price to cover incidentals like new carpet and such.” She turned and continued her tour of the house, Alex following at his own pace. “And besides,” she continued with their conversation into the master bedroom, “it’s not just that. I just get the feeling you don’t really want to move into a house with me.”

Alex let out a sigh. “Of course I wanna get a house with you,” he protested. “Abby, doll, I love you, you know that.”

“I know, its just…” she said with a heavy sigh.

“No, its just nuthin’,” Alex replied. “Here, I’ll show you.”

“Oh yeah? How are you going to do that, Mr. Ross? Hmm?” Abby asked, cocking an eyebrow and grinning.

“I’ll give this place the Alex Ross once-over,” he grinned.

“The Alex Ross once-over, huh?” Abby chuckled, “And what exactly does that entail, pray tell?”

Alex grinned mischievously and flopped back onto the king-sized bed in the center of the room. “It’s simple, really,” he said, still grinning, “You know, House Hunting 101.

Just gotta try and see myself livin’ here… with you… and all.”

He lay back on the bed, patting it for her to join him. “Now, how we do a little test drive of this house right now?”

Abby laughed, “You are incorrigible, Ross, you know that?”

Alex smiled wider, “That’s why you love me, doll.”

“No, I love you in spite of it,” she giggled again, trying to pull him off the bed but being dragged down on top of him instead.