26. Back in Time
Back in Time
Emilia
The house was perfect for us. After a whirlwind inspection, the guys paid cash for the place and we were able to move in just two weeks later.
We decided to rent the old house out for now, which meant we had the opportunity to furnish the new place from scratch. Suddenly, all the time Oren and I had spent in the nesting center made sense. The two of us were going crazy coming up with decorating schemes.
One of the great things about having money was the fact that everything came quickly. I decided on a rug and it was there the next day.
"I thought you might want to plan the patio area out back," Oren said. "It's perfect for some relaxation in the summer. Way too cold right now, but come up with some ideas and we can make them happen."
"I want hammocks," I told him. "And a grill for Grayson."
"Obviously."
We still needed a few more pieces of furniture, so we decided to head into town and pick some up. We'd been in the house for a month and it still wasn't fully furnished.
"You two will be fine, just don't pick anything with snakes on it," Grayson told us when we asked if he wanted to go. In the end, we were on our own.
We headed for one of the major furniture stores and started wandering. Our list was quickly abandoned as we found item after item that we had to add to the cart.
"Good thing we're rich or the guys would be killing us with all these purchases." Oren wrote down our address for delivery and we left the store arm in arm.
"Emilia!" A familiar voice called my name and I spun around to face Candace and Daryl.
Daryl smiled at me and Candace held her hands up.
"Are you following me?" I asked.
Oren stepped in front of me and I peered around him. "You're not supposed to be near me."
"I'm sorry. We didn't follow you, but when I saw you in the store, I knew I had to talk to you," Candace sighed.
"Spit it out." I crossed my arms.
"We want to say we're sorry for our part in what hapened," Daryl said. "I should never have gone along with what happened. With what Jake said."
"You're right."
"And I'm sorry for being such a bitch. And for not stopping them."
"I don't think you could stop them," I said. "And where is Rory now?"
"In the basement. Where he'll be until his trial," Daryl said with a smirk. "After the trial, Candace and I are moving to Florida. We want to put all this behind us."
"What about Jake?"
"He can come or go, but if he's coming with us, he has to behave."
"Okay. Well, I'll see you at the trial." I nodded at them and turned away.
"Make sure that asshole doesn't get out of the basement," Oren warned.
"We won't let him get to you."
Once they'd left, I walked quietly back to the car, feeling calmer. "I guess that was good for closure."
"Yeah? You feel better?"
"I do." I leaned over and kissed him. "Let's go home."
Oren smiled as he drove us back to the house where our alphas were busy painting the front door, because I'd mentioned that I thought it would look better in black. Jude was mowing the lawn and he set my skin on fire when I saw the man stalking through the grass with nothing but his jeans.
"Wow, he looks good," Oren muttered.
"Let's distract him. Maybe he'll let us blow him?"
"Nah, he's too focused for that. Yardwork is his thing," Oren sighed. But we can hope?