42. Chapter 42
42
W hen I moved in with Jett, everything was business. Not the relationship itself, but the day. We had spent the week prior down-sizing my things to make sure it would all fit in with his. And when I got there with my car packed full of my things, he was at work. I spent the next five hours trying to fit what little I had left into the two drawers and two feet of closet space he left me.
The bathroom was worse. There wasn’t any space to put what little makeup I had, let alone my feminine products. I decided to organize my toiletries on the counter and bought a small tote to keep my products in next to the toilet. My shampoo and conditioner had to go on the edge of the tub since the only shelf in the shower was already filled.
I got the first glimpse of Jett’s anger that night. When he came home and things weren’t how he had left them, he got angry. It was like a switch had flipped. One minute, he was smiling as I greeted at the door, the next he was storming out of the bathroom telling me how he couldn’t live with clutter and it was unacceptable for me to just waltz in and change things.
Packing my things once again has the memories flooding back in. It’s sad to think back to that day, though. What it could have been. What it should have been. Moving in with a significant other is supposed to be exciting. Something that has you both smiling all day as you merge your lives into one. Ending the day on the floor eating take out because you don’t have your furniture set up yet.
But I suppose all of that is for the movies. And it’s better that way this time. No need to add any sentiment to today when I know this charade will eventually be over. It’s better to keep things business-like. Which is why I asked Colt to just leave my key under the mat.
“Knock, knock,” Blake says as she comes into my room. “How’s it going?”
I zip up my last bag and sit it on the floor with the others. “Just finished.”
She flops down on my bed with a huff. “I hate you for leaving me,” she says. “Can’t I just move in with the two of you?”
Laughing, I take a seat next to her. “It only has one bedroom.” Which is nerve-wracking. I thought we were looking for a two bedroom. All we have to do is live together. Nobody has to know what bed we sleep in. So when Colt sent me the link to the one he put an application in on, I was thoroughly surprised to find out it was missing a room.
Blake props herself up on her elbows. “I can sleep on the couch.”
“We don’t have a couch.”
“I’ll buy a dog bed.” She keeps a straight face, but I can’t help but laugh at her.
A knock at the door interrupts the moment and Blake rolls off the bed. “Not me,” she calls as she all but skips to her room.
“One of these days, you have to be a grownup and actually answer the door when someone is at it. I won’t be around forever,” I shout as I make my way to the front door.
Swinging it open, my jaw hits the floor as I find none other than Colt Gibson on the other side. What is he doing here ?
“Good morning,” he says as his eyes travel over me. Goosebumps scatter down my arms in reaction.
“Morning?” I say, but it comes out as a question. Colt pulls a bouquet of flowers from behind his back and holds them out to me. “You didn’t need to do that.” I say as I hold them up to my nose, taking in the floral aroma.
“I’m moving in with my wife today. What better time is there?” His warm smile heats my body from the inside. “Were you able to get everything packed?”
“I did…. Why are you here?” I sound rude, but this wasn’t the plan. Is he here to tell me he changed his mind and wanted to break the news to my face? Maybe it’s for the best.
“I’m here to help you move,” he says, like it should be obvious.
“Oh…” I move aside to let him in, but as he heads to my room, my hands start to tingle as the panic sets in. “You really don’t need to do this,” I say while following close behind him. “There isn’t much. I can get it into my car myself.”
Colt stops before reaching my door and looks down at me. His dark eyes searing into mine. “It’s not a matter of you being able to do it on your own or not. I know you can. But I’d like to be a part of it if that’s okay.”
I nod, being stunned into silence. He wants to be here . I should have expected it, but I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to the way he always shows up for me. Or maybe I don’t want to get used to it, so that it doesn’t hurt as much when I inevitably don’t have it anymore.
Colt combs his fingers through my hair, leaving his hand at the nape of my neck. “I don’t have to be here if you don’t want me to.”
And this is exactly why I know that there’s no way I come out of this whole. Because no matter how much I tell myself to keep my distance, to not get attached, all he has to do is look at me like he is now and all my self preservation goes out the window.
I give him another nod, and a low growl escapes his throat, sending shockwaves straight to my core. “No nodding, Libs. Give me words.”
“I like that you’re here,” I blurt out. The corners of his mouth lift and he strokes his thumb across my cheek before dropping his hand and opening my bedroom door.
Colt doesn't says anything, but I see the look on his face when he sees the three suitcases and a lamp together on the floor. Thankfully, it makes the process move quickly and in less than five minutes, all of my belongings are in his truck and we are ready to go.
Pulling up to the apartment building, I’m stunned to say the least. There’s wrought iron and intricate details in the molding. I saw the pictures of the inside, but this is not what I expected the outside to look like. It’s beautiful.
I park my car and Colt pulls into the spot beside me. Before I’m able to get my seatbelt off, he makes it to my door and has it open, holding his hand out for me to take.
“Thanks,” I say quietly as I grab it and climb out of my car.
He just gets to work, tucking the lamp under his arm and keeping two of the suitcase handles together in one hand.
“I can take something,” I offer as I reach for the two bags, but he pulls them back.
“Not a chance,” is all he says before he takes off walking, leading the way. Any frustration I have quickly dissolves when I notice the way his back flexes under his shirt as he moves. By the time we are inside, I’m unable to take anything else in. I’m stuck, captivated by him. His muscles flexing as he lifts the bags up the stairs.
Once we get to the top, I run straight into the back that I’ve been staring at as Colt stops at a door.
His low chuckle fills the hallway. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, sorry.” We haven’t even made it into the apartment and I’m already embarrassing myself. “This us?” I ask, trying to move past this moment.
“Yes, it is.” The gleam in his eye has my heart kicking up a notch. He sets my things down to unlock the door. I grab one of my bags and pull it inside.
“I’ve got it from here,” I say, turning to tell him goodbye. “Thanks again for helping me get it here.”
Colt shakes his head. “Libby, it’s our move in day. This is our apartment. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Oh. I-I just thought you would need to get to work.”
“Work can wait,” he says, taking a slow step towards me. “Today is about us.” He grabs my hand and interlaces our fingers, watching them as he does. “You and me.” Finally looking at me, his eyes the deepest shade of whiskey. “Everything else comes second.” And he places a kiss on my knuckles.
I try to suppress my smile so I don’t look like a complete idiot, but it’s no hope. And when my cheeks start to burn, giving way to my emotions, Colt boops my nose. “Good. Now show me where you want your things to go.”