I struggle with my emotions as I picture how unfair it is that she’s been living here in these conditions. The air is thick with heat, and besides a little fan in the corner, I don’t even feel air conditioning, which is unbearable to go without in Florida. If I hadn’t already asked her to stay with me, I sure as hell would be now. I would never be able to sleep knowing she was here by herself.
I finally meet her eyes and fake a smile. “Hi, you all packed up?” I don’t want her to spend another minute in this place than she needs to.
“I know it sucks,” she nervously runs a hand through her hair. “But it’s not all bad. The neighbors haven’t given me any problems, and I knew it was only temporary until I could save up and find a better place, so I liked that it was month to month,” she rambles on as I stand there, unsure of what to say.
“I don’t want your pity, Jake, so stop looking at me like that. This place might not be as nice as yours, but it’s mine. I feel more at home here than I ever did anywhere else because no one is sucking the life out of me. I don’t feel trapped. It’s my life now that I get to live.” She crosses her arms over her chest, and the fire in her eyes tells me I need to tread very carefully with my words.
“I don’t pity you,” I sigh, running a hand over my face as I try to keep my emotions in check. “I’m fucking angry for you. You don’t deserve any of this that’s been dumped on you.”
“Take it from someone who spent years being angry…you have to find a way to let it go. Grief, anger, hate, even love when it’s not reciprocated back…it’s all the same. It will eat at you until there no longer isa you. Just ask my mom.” She turns and walks into what I assume is her bedroom.
I follow her and watch her stuff the rest of her clothesinto a duffle bag. The bedroom is smaller than the living room, if that is even possible. The twin-size bed takes up most of the room. A small nightstand is beside it, and a single dresser sits against the wall. I don’t see a door for a closet.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” I say quietly. “I care about you, Lyla, so it’s hard for me not to feel some type of emotion toward your situation. I’ll do my best not to let it get to me. Besides, this place is starting to grow on me. The yellow walls kind of brighten up the place.” I watch her lips quirk as I try to get a smile out of her.
“I’m pretty sure they are supposed to be white.”
I study the walls and notice some spots are indeed white. “I think you’re right.” I turn to her, and we both bust out laughing.
“This place really is awful,” she laughs, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I don’t think I’m going to leave a review when I leave,” she manages to get out.
“I’m pretty sure this place isn’t run on reviews,” I grin, enjoying the sound of her laughter.
“No, I don’t suppose it does.” Our laughter finally dies down, and she wipes the last of her tears away. “First, you made me feel happy last night, and today, you gave me laughter,” she says, searching my eyes in amazement. “What emotion are you going to pull out of me next?” She asks, baffled.
“I can think of several I want to give you. I guess you will have to stick around and find out.” I step closer and invade her space. My fingers play with the ends of her hair, feeling the silky strands slide through my fingers.
“For the first time in my life, I want to land,” she whispers as I skim up her slender neck and cup the back of her head.
“When you do, for the first time in my life, I don’t want to let go.” I brush my thumb over her bottom lip and watch them part with a sigh. “Now I think it's me who's getting some emotions pulled out,” I breathe inches from her lips.
I wait for her to make the first move, so when I watch her eyes slowly close and her head tilts slightly to the side, I don’t hesitate to close the distance. My lips are on hers in seconds as I seek her taste again.
I still hold back, letting her get used to the feeling of us. Now that I know more about her past, I want to be very careful not to scare her off. I’m used to taking the lead, but I want her to feel in control whenever we are together. She needs to fully trust me before giving me permission to go all in.
When her tongue touches mine, I deepen the kiss, bringing our bodies flush together. Her moan invades my senses as I grip her head tighter, and my fingers weave further into her hair. I feel her hands skim up under my t-shirt before making contact with my skin. When I feel her nails dig into my back, I groan against the sensation.
I fight to bring myself back to my surroundings and finally pull away. My breaths are jagged as I press my forehead against hers.
“I need to stop before I change my mind,” I breathe heavily. “I want to take my time with you, and we don’t have that now. We need to get you settled in before I have to go to work.” I kiss her briefly on the lips one last time before taking the duffle bag from the bed and slinging it over my shoulder.
She nods her head in a daze before looking around. “I think I have everything I want from here. I’m leaving the furniture. It’s all secondhand, and I’m sure the person moving in could use it more than me.”
I follow her as she walks back out into the living room. “Same in here…everything stays. I know there are dishes I can use at the pool house, so I’ll keep everything in the kitchen I bought for the next person. All I have is the duffle bag and those two boxes,” she points to the ones sitting by the window.
“That’s it?” I ask, surprised.
“I came on a bus, remember?” She softly laughs. “I took what I wanted…the rest can burn for all I care.”
“Okay then. You made this way easier than I thought it was going to be. I didn’t even get to show off my muscles hauling big pieces of furniture for you.”
“Sorry to disappoint,” she chuckles.
“If you want to take the duffle bag, I’ll grab the two boxes, and we can do this in one run.” She takes the duffle bag as I stack the boxes and lift them up. I watch her take the two plants from the windowsill.
“It’s basil and mint,” she smiles. “I like to use fresh herbs. Don’t laugh, but I also give them names and talk to them.”
“I wouldn’t dare laugh.” My lip turns up, and I suppress my smile. “What are their names?”
