19. Chapter Eighteen #2
The next morning, I stood in my kitchen while the coffeemaker sputtered the dark roast I needed to jumpstart my day, when the doorbell rang downstairs.
I retrieved my phone from the pocket of my sweats and hit the doorbell icon to see it was West. His face was bright red as he turned toward the entry camera.
I should have given him the door code before now.
“The code is five-three-eight-zero,” I announced into the microphone on the camera. “Come upstairs. You’re earlier than I thought you’d be.”
“I’ll explain why when I get upstairs.”
I watched as he punched in the code and came inside the shop. I went to the stairs leading to my apartment and opened the door. “I’m still upstairs. You want coffee?”
“Yes, please.”
A minute later, Weston appeared in the kitchen doorway, wearing leggings under a pair of baggy shorts and a red sweatshirt, both of which looked very familiar. “I wondered why my drawers were looking empty these days.” I grinned at him so he knew I didn’t care.
“Yeah, sorry. I borrowed them to ride home in once when I stayed over a few weeks ago when it was warmer. I’ll wash them and get them back to you.”
I put a mug of coffee in front of him, turned to the fridge to pull out the flavored creamer that I stocked since Weston had become a fixture in my life. I finished filling the mug as he liked it and handed him the sugar bowl from the back counter.
“Where’d you go after you left my parents’ place last night?” I didn’t want to bring up a touchy subject, but we needed to talk about it.
West’s cheeks flushed a soft pink, and my stomach tied itself in knots. I didn’t have a good feeling about what he was going to say, but regardless of his explanation, I swore to myself I wouldn’t overreact before I thought it through.
“I went to see Uncle Edmond. I never liked the deal Mom said he gave her regarding the reduced rent we were paying into the trust. He told me that she lied to me. The apartment has been on the market this whole time through a private realtor, and Mom’s been letting them show it when I’m at work.
“According to Edmond, there’s a bidding war underway, and one issue that seems to be important to both buyers is immediate occupancy. Mom’s going back to Burlington to spend time with some of her friends, which is probably for the best.
“Uncle Edmond agreed to loan me the money to find a studio apartment somewhere. As he said, we’d be stupid not to get as much money for the apartment as possible.” Weston wasn’t as upset as I thought he’d be.
Maybe it was the comfort of knowing the truth? It made me think more seriously about what I’d contemplated all night when I was tossing and turning, unable to get a wink of sleep as I stewed over the latest bomb dropped on him.
I had to proceed with caution. “You know, I’ve been thinking that maybe you’d be interested in taking one of the other two bedrooms I have here.
I mean, a studio apartment is pretty small, and where would you store your bikes?
People fucking steal, you know, even on the Upper West Side.
And I think you should quit your weekend job.
” That last part was definitely a long shot.
I hesitated to turn in West’s direction in case he glared at me, but suddenly, arms were around my waist and his head was on my back.
“Just for a while. I’ll respect your privacy and make sure I keep my stuff in my room.
I’ll pay you the rent I gave Mom to pay Uncle Edmond, but I want to know what happened to that money. He told me to talk to Mom about it.
“Once I get that shit straightened out, then I’ll look for my own place, but I didn’t want to take Uncle Edmond up on his offer to borrow the money.
I won’t give them anything to hold over my head to say I didn’t fulfill the terms of my father’s will so I can’t have the company or my trust. I don’t want the company, but I won’t let anyone else take it from me.
Oh, and I already quit that job. I needed more rest time—and more Bridges time.
” His sexy grin shot through me, settling on my crotch.
I put my coffee cup on the counter and pulled him around to my front, kissing his forehead.
“I’m proud of you for listening to your body and not taking your health for granted.
We’ll work out the other details about you moving in as things come up.
Do you want me to take you to the apartment so you can get your things?
You can’t bike it over here one piece at a time, I assume. ”
“I’m just getting my clothes. Mom’s selling the house with everything inside. If someone wants my crappy bedroom shit, more power to them—wait, unless I’ll need the bed for the spare room.”
I chuckled. “Remember, there’s a bed. Are you upset that she’s selling the apartment?”
“Not really. I just don’t get why she didn’t tell me. I mean, can she even do that?”
“I would have thought I’d have been contacted about it, but maybe I’m wrong. Would Edmond pull a fast one?”
West stared into the distance for a moment before he shook his head. “Hell if I know. Let’s not worry about that right now. Can we go take a nap? I didn’t sleep well last night. I missed you.”
I took his mug and placed it on the counter next to mine. I left the coffee maker on and took his hand. “Now that’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.” I led him down the hall to my bedroom, pulled off the sweatshirt he was wearing, then the shorts and leggings.
He pushed down my sweats and smiled. “Nice. This was definitely on my wish list.”
I pulled off his T-shirt and socks, and the two of us climbed into my bed. “You can sleep in the spare room if you’re mad at me or if I’m snoring. The rest of the time, I want us to share this bed. Okay?”
Weston grinned. “Yes, Daddy. Does that bother you if I call you Daddy?”
I smirked. “Is that a kink you have? Daddy and boy play?”
Those beautiful golden-brown eyes stared up at me in a thoughtful way. Finally, he grinned. “I wouldn’t mind exploring it. I don’t know much about it, but I’d like to learn with you.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day... Well, second best. You agreeing to move in with me is the best news.”
That was no lie.