“No. I think I can get it all. Bryce said he can help me load everything into my car.” All I need for now is the basics. I can come get my knick-knacks later. I glance at the bed and realize I forgot to ask before. “Does the room I’ll be taking have a bed?”
“No. We’ll need to get you one.”
“Okay cool.” I guess I’ll need to buy an air mattress until then. Or, ask Delilah if she has one, I can borrow. We’ll find out if she’s in a giving mood later today. “I’ll have my first load of things over there in about an hour. Is that cool?”
“Yep.” I hear ruffling and I know he’s getting out of bed. “See you then.”
I hang up the phone and toss it on the bed. It’s time to pack up my suitcase again. This time, though…I’m only going across town, not the other side of the state.
Eric takes his time to open the front door. It's cold and I’m only wearing leggings and a t-shirt. Bad planning on my part? Maybe, but that doesn’t matter. I'm already stressed out over whatever Delilah and Devin are doing. Especially since I don’t know how Del is reacting. Letting this interaction get under my skin is new for me, and I don't know what to do with those feelings.
The door swings open, and Eric is standing in front of me in sweatpants and a long-sleeved T-shirt. It's good to know he doesn't run around the house has naked because that would have to be a rule. It’s not something I want to see from my roommates. Even Delilah comes out dressed, or in a long robe. It’s common courtesy.
"Wow, you weren’t lying about being over here an hour. It’s an hour on the dot.”
"I don't know if I should be offended or not for being punctual." He’s still standing in front of the door and I cock my head to the side. "Are you going to let me in? Or is there some secret handshake we need to do before I’m allowed entrance?”
He laughs and moves to the side. "I mean there isn't one right now, but the fact that you brought it up makes me want to have a secret handshake."
I step inside the house with my suitcase behind me. "You do realize we aren't twelve, right?"
"Why are you trying to make me grow up faster than I'm ready?" He looks like I genuinely hurt his feelings. The sad puppy eyes, the pouty mouth, and everything. Living with him is going to be interesting, but at least it will never be dull.
"Sorry for raining on your parade."
"Do you have anything else in the car you need to grab?" He looks over my shoulder toward my car in the driveway.
Normally, I'm not the type of person to accept help but I think today is an exception. "Actually, there are a couple of boxes involved in my backseat, if you can grab those.”
"No problem," he takes a step outside barefoot. This man is going to get sick. I wonder if his mom had to stay on him about dressing weather appropriate when he was a kid. Not like I’m one to talk right now, but this is about him, not me. "I don't remember if Carlos showed you the room, but if you go down the hall it's the last door on the left."
"Thanks." Pulling my suitcase behind me, I make my way down the hall until I'm standing in front of my new room. Moving in with people I don't know very well has never been a problem but this time it feels different. I'm not sure if it's because I have intentions of staying here in Asheville. Or, if it's because I'm living with a man when my eyes and heart are stuck on another. Especially, when I know Devin does not like the idea of me living with Eric.
There is nothing he can do about it though. Even if we were dating, I wouldn't move in with him right off the bat. We need that time to learn and grow and be able to be in a relationship out in the open. Until that happens, moving in with him would be the last thing on my list.
I open the door and step inside. The room is about the same size as the one I have at Delilah’s. At least the space isn't smaller. I have room to spread out, and decorate to my heart’s content. There are two dressers along the wall. It’s weird that Carlos decided to leave those but took the bed. He must have needed it for his girlfriend’s son or his sisters. That is the first thing I need to buy. Thank goodness I don’t need anything fancy. I’m used to getting by with the bare minimum. It’s a hazard of moving from place to place.
“Where do you want me to put these?” I jump at the sound of his voice and my suitcase falls to the floor.
“Jesus.” I breathe out. “Are you always this quiet?”
“Do I need to stomp to make my presence known?” He’s laughing. Yeah, life here will definitely be interesting.
“Or wear a damn bell.” That is a more viable option. Maybe he needs to wear one at work, too. It would prevent any awkward situations like what happened last night. Though if he hadn’t come through the door, I don’t know if I would have stopped kissing Devin. My reservations be damned.
“Mmm,” he grimaces. “I think that’s where I’ll draw the line.”
“Understandable. You can set the boxes anywhere.” It’s not like there isn’t enough space in here. At least, until I get a bed. I think that’s what is going to make this feel real. I don’t even remember the last time I bought furniture. If it required having to move it, I did without. This is huge for me.
“Are you staying here tonight, or at Delilah’s?” He places the boxes on the floor against the far wall. “It doesn’t matter to me either way. All I have planned is watching basketball and ordering pizza. I did get a key made for you, though.”
“I’m not sure yet. I still have a few things over there.”
“Like I said, no big deal either way.” He turns to leave the room. “I’ll help you unload the other stuff when you bring it over.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate it.” Look at me accepting help and not being the one always helping others. It feels weird, but good.
I think he’s already left the room, but his voice breaks the silence and echoes off the walls. “So, are we going to talk about last night?”
