“How are you going to explain me living here to your family?”
“What do you mean explain? I don’t have to explain anything to them about my choices. I’m not in any danger here.”
“It just…it might get awkward.”
“Listen, my family really minds their own business for the most part when it comes to my love life. As long as I’m safe, secure, and happy, they will be okay. Besides, Ellie has already run back and told them you were my girlfriend.”
Alayah laughed. “She did what?”
“The day of our lunch. My parents called to check in, and she had to tell them all about her day, including meeting Uncle Killian’s girlfriend. It was the first thing she said when my sister walked in the door, too.”
“That’s funny. I can almost hear her cute little voice.”
“I hear her voice in my sleep sometimes.” I shook my head. “This is where you’ll be sleeping,” I said, opening the door to the guest room.
The room was almost as spacious as my master and shared a Jack and Jill bathroom with the room I’d set up for Ellie. My mother had picked out all the furniture in here and decorated the space. In the middle of the floor was a black tufted platform bed with black nightstands with gold accents on either side. Each of them held a gold lamp with a black shade. Gold mirrors hung behind each nightstand, and a large gold-framed picture was centered above the bed.
The bedding was white with black, white, and gold accent pillows. A fifty-inch TV was mounted to the wall directly across from the bed with a fireplace beneath it. The room had a huge walk-in closet and a bay window she could sit in. It was very cozy and had yet to be used.
“This is beautiful,” Alayah said, looking around.
“Thank you.”
“Did you decorate?”
I snorted. “God, no. This is all my mother.”
“She has great taste.”
“She has expensive taste.”
She giggled. “Well, I love it. I can see my bookshelf right there,” she said, pointing at the wall.
“I guess we do have to find somewhere to put your books since you made me do all that heavy lifting.”
“You lifted it with no problem. Think of it as a workout.”
“I work out enough. You see these guns?” I flexed a muscle, causing her to blush.
“Yeah…I see.”
“I’m gonna go grab some hangers from my closet in case you wanted to unpack anything tonight.”
“Thank you.”
I left her with a smile as I headed for my bedroom. Inside, I went to the closet, pulling down any unused hangers I could find before taking them back to the guest room. Alayah had busied herself with putting the clothes from her suitcase into drawers. I placed the hangers in the closet and headed back to the door.
“I’m gonna go take a shower and get ready to lay down. If you need me, you know where to find me.”
“Okay.”
“If you need towels or washcloths, they’re in the cabinet in the bathroom.”
“Thank you.”
I gave her a slight smile. As I went leave the room, she called my name. “Killian?”
“Yeah?”
