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you know,” she said, “I’ve been thinking a lot about my relationship with Nick and I think it’s something I want to pursue. Yes, this might be taking things a little faster than I had planned, but maybe I should be a little less cautious anyway. Sometimes you’ve just got to take a chance in life!”
    “So you’re going to move in with someone you’re not sure about to prove that you can take a chance?”
    “You know what? Yes! That is exactly what I’m going to do, and I’d appreciate it if you’d stop judging me for it.”
    Cassie turned her back to him and rinsed her coffee cup in the sink. "It's a temporary situation, and at least I’ll know I gave things with Nick a shot.” She was wondering which of them she was trying to convince.
    “It’s your decision," he said. "Just think about it, that’s all I’m asking. It might be better to stay with your folks for a bit than to risk getting yourself into a tricky situation with this guy.”
    She turned from the sink and looked at him. “Thank you for your concern, Brendan, but I think I can handle it.”
    When Francine walked into the apartment, she was surprised to find Cassie and Brendan in separate rooms, Brendan repairing a broken hinge on the hall closet and Cassie cleaning the top of the stove.
    The three of them had often worked in different rooms while they got the apartment ready for the exit inspection, but there had always been a steady flow of conversation between them. This time there was nothing but frosty silence.
    “Everything ok?” Francine whispered to Cassie.
    “I’ll tell you later,” Cassie whispered back. “Let’s just get things done. Today needs to be over already.”

Chapter 6
     
    The situation had not improved by the following day. After Brendan left, Cassie had told Francine everything only to learn that Francine agreed with Brendan.
    “What?!” Cassie yelped. “But you were the one going nuts over the fact that I was even going out with Nick!”
    “Yeah, I got excited. It's not every day my best friend gets asked out by a multi-millionaire!” Francine was working hard to control her tone of voice. “But I never said you should move in with the guy!”
    “I’m not moving in with him! Why doesn’t anyone understand that? He’s offering me a place to stay until I can get into my apartment. I don’t think he’s even going to be there most of the time! He’s always traveling! I probably won’t ever see him! It’s not that big of a deal!”
    “Ok, Cassie, ok. Just don’t rush into this, all right? Take some time to think about it.”
    “I don’t have time!”
    The argument escalated from there. Francine thought Cassie was blaming her for leaving. Cassie thought no one but Nick was even attempting to make things easier for her. By the end of the evening, they weren’t talking.
    Luckily, their feuds seldom lasted longer than a night. They’d patched things up a little over breakfast, agreeing not to talk about Cassie’s decision any further.
    A couple days later, Cassie had agreed to Nick's idea. They were in his car, on their way, she assumed, to the house on Louisburg Drive.
    Instead, Nick drove the Town Car toward the center of town and straight to the Four Seasons. Nick led her into the plush, softly-lit elevator, and much to her surprise, pushed the button marked Penthouse.
    She looked up at him, the question in her eyes.
    He placed a finger to his lips. “Don't talk. This is best appreciated in silence.” He smiled.
    The elevator doors opened, revealing one of the most spectacular views Cassie had ever seen; a panorama of millions of tiny lights lining the shore of the inky Atlantic.
    She had never seen the city from this perspective before. It was breathtaking. It took Cassie a moment to notice that the room they’d stepped into was in darkness, making it easier to enjoy the view of the night sky. The entire ceiling was made of glass, like being caught in a bubble beneath the stars.
    “Wow,”