Hazel seemed to be calmer now, almost eager. “You say loft… so does that mean you have no extra bedrooms? Like, is the floorplan weird in your house?”
Westley smirked. “I have three bedrooms, so you each will have your own.”
Westley pulled up to a house, and I felt my eyebrows raise. It was a one-level house that didn’t look huge. It reminded me of a 1970s house with a low-angled roof and large windows. We all got out and headed up to the front door. As he opened the door, my eyes widened. You wouldn’t think the space was so big from the outside.
The door opened up to a wide area to drop your shoes, and you stepped down three steps to a large living room. There was a fireplace dividing the room, and on the other side of it was a dining table that seated six.
“Damn!” Hazel said, her words echoing. “This is nice.”
I looked up, taking in the high, vaulted ceilings and the large windows that ran from ceiling to floor, flooding the space with light. It was warm as you walked in, something I had missed so much from our previous life.
Hazel kicked off her shoes and started down the stairs. He headed into the dining room. “Damn! Your kitchen.”
I slipped my shoes off and followed after her. Westley’s kitchen was spacious. He had three walls of counter space and cabinets. A fancy stove and a huge fridge that had a water spigot.
“Oh, are those one of the calendar fridges?” Hazel asked as she walked over, poking at the screen. It lit up, and she squealed. “It is! Dang, maybe I should have married you.”
I glared at Hazel, but she didn’t even look at me. I ground my teeth together, looking around the space. The kitchen was a deep blue color with a brick backsplash. It was the type of kitchen people dreamed about.
“The bedrooms are that way.” Westley pointed back toward the front, but instead of taking a right, you took a left.“The first two doors are bedrooms, and there is a bathroom across from one of them. My bedroom is the last door.”
Hazel smiled. “I could get used to this.”
I ground my teeth together. I hated everything about this. He didn’t get to forget about me, avoid me, and suddenly come swoop in and act like he was saving us. Hazel and I had a plan, and he fucked it all up.
Chapter 4 - Westley
I knew that this was a crazy idea, but it was the only thing that I knew would work. They could move into my house, where I could keep a close eye on them. I had the space, and it was much nicer than the place they were living in.
And I could spend time with Gabriella. Did it go against everything I was trying to do before? A little. But maybe this was better.
I could tell that Hazel was adjusting to the idea pretty quickly. She was still in the kitchen staring at my fridge like it was magic. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she looked around, taking it all in. Gabriella was less ecstatic. She had her arms crossed with an angry expression plastered on her face.
“I can show you guys the rooms.” I pointed down the hallway.
Hazel came out of the kitchen nodding her head. “I call the bigger one.” Hazel headed down the hallway, and I looked back at Gabriella. She was twirling her fingers together, doing another look around before following after her sister.
Hazel pushed the first door open. I had the bedrooms set up as guest rooms when I first moved in, so they were equipped with queen-size beds, dressers, and two bedside tables. The first bedroom I had painted a light green with yellow bedding. The curtains were drawn up, leaving the room in a lit glow.
Hazel’s nose scrunched up as she looked around. “Please tell me that both of the rooms don’t look like this.”
I chuckled as I shook my head. “No, they don’t.”
I opened the second door, which was a deep purple with deep blue sheets. The rooms were opposite. One was bright while the other was a little darker.
“I want this room,” Hazel said as she stepped inside. She threw her bag onto the bed like she was marking her spot. She smiled. “It’s bigger than our last rooms.”
I looked at Gabriella, whose lips were drawn into a tight line. I could see the fury still swimming underneath. She turned and marched down the hallway. I followed after her. “Gabriella, talk to me.”
“No!” she yelled as she turned around, shoving her hands against my chest, stopping me from getting too close to her. “You forced me into this! Don’t act like this is the solution to my problems!”
“Well, you weren’t exactly going to agree to the idea. I know this isn’t easy, but it was the only way for this to work. You have to admit to that.”
“It’s insane!” she screamed back. “You think being married to you is going to solve anything! My sister and I were so close to getting away from all of this, and you just dragged us back! We were almost free from all of this.”
“I know you don’t see it this way, but this is a solution to your problems, Gabriella. Running away from your problems isn’t going to solve them. It’s just going to create new ones!”
“You don’t know that!” She shoved at me again. “You took away our chance at a new life!”
