Seth
The last coupleof days had been a shit show.
I’d had a bug up my arse after riding the pine and not even getting a run, then when I’d been packing my shit getting ready to move, some wanker had sideswiped my car. Then, when I thought things couldn’t get worse, the delivery of my new bed had been a disaster. I’d picked out my dream bed – a huge wooden California king bed, and when it arrived, there was a chunk missing out of the bedhead, and the mattress was the wrong size. Seriously. What sort of store sends a king size bed with a queen size mattress? Fucking morons.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Elise asked as I tossed the last of my crap in the back of the car.
“Absolutely. Besides, if I need my washing done or someone to cook me dinner, I know where you are,” I teased, hugging her.
Living with Luca and Elise hadn’t all been bad. They’d looked after me and made me feel less alone and I’d be forever grateful, but now it was time to try standing on my own two feet.
“Uber Eats is probably a better option,” Elise suggested.
“I’ve already got the pizza place on speed dial.”
“You’re hopeless.”
“You love me.”
“Who loves you?” Luca asked, breezing through the door looking like the king entering his castle. I guess in a way he was.
“Someone’s gotta, right?”
“Here’s hoping.”
“Well then, I’m gonna take this stuff and get out of your hair so you two can…you know what, I don’t even want to know what you’re going to do.”
“Probably for the best,” Luca confirmed, reaching out and shaking my hand.
Half an hour later, I pulled into my parking spot at my new place, filled my arms with as much as I could carry, and waited for the lift. In my pocket, my phone rang, but there was no way I was even going to attempt to answer it. Whoever it was, I’d call them back.
After awkwardly stepping into the lift and smashing the button, I juggled everything before it toppled to the floor. My phone beeped again, this time with a message. Whoever it was, was being a persistent bitch today.
Finally arriving at my front door, I set everything down and pushed it open only to find all the lights already on and the doors open. I knew I’d been all over the place, but I was pretty sure I wasn’t this careless leaving the whole place unlocked. That was just straight out dumb.
Walking inside, leaving my shit where it was piled, I stepped into the kitchen and saw the most incredible blanket fort set up in the middle of my lounge room. Sheets were strung up, it was filled with cushions, and I could smell the scent of hot, buttery popcorn that made my mouth water.
“What the fuck?” I asked loudly, not spying the architect.
Behind me the toilet flushed, the tap ran, and then the door creaked open. Taking a step back, I plastered myself up against the wall and waited for whoever was making themselves comfortable in my home to grace me with their appearance.
“Oh shit! I forgot…”
Claire’s voice trailed off when she spotted me and almost jumped so high she bashed her head on the ceiling.
“Shit, Claire! What are you doing here? How are you here?”
I had so many questions. I wasn’t pissed in the slightest that she was here, more curious as to how and why.
“Bryce called the maintenance guys and told them to let me in,” she offered quickly.
Taking another look at the fort, I realised how much effort she’d put in and I couldn’t be mad. Since I’d fucked up on Sunday, too busy with my head up my own arse while I sulked to even check she was okay after the game, she’d finally started talking to me again, but we were still not quite back to where we were. Our conversations were short, stilted even, and awkward. It was bullshit, and it ended now.
Stepping towards her, I caged her in against my new stainless-steel fridge. It was pristine. Not even a fingerprint on the shiny surface. And that was about to change in the best possible way. Bending my knees, my hands found her arse as I lifted her off her feet and pressed her back against the fridge, her legs wrapping around my waist.
I could’ve kissed her.
She wanted me to kiss her.
