Chapter 6 #2
“I could have said the same.” I flick my eyes up and down over him. He’s dressed in stone linen trousers and a black tee. I hate to admit, but he looks good.
“Looks like we matched on purpose.” He winks as he walks over to the coffee machine.
I ignore him and go back to looking out the window whilst I finish my drink. Licking my lips, I walk back towards the kitchen and place my cup in the dishwasher, then scoop my bag from the coffee table, with my vlogging bits and camera tucked inside.
“Bad news.” I wince as his eyes trail me.
“What’s that?” His brow raises.
“Nora can’t get me into a new apartment until next week.” I pause, hooking my fingers together. “So my options—”
“Stay here, it’s fine. I’ll keep the spare; it’s only a bed.”
I blink at him.
“You were here first, and you didn’t know.” He shrugs one shoulder up. “It’s no big deal.”
I roll my lips. “Are you sure?” My voice is small.
“Yes.” His tone is curt as he drains the last of his coffee and then places his mug alongside mine the dishwasher.
“Well, thank you.” My cheeks turn pink. “It’ll only be a few more days.” I give him a wide smile.
“You may as well stay here, I fly home in a week.”
Shaking my head as my fingers grip around the strap of my tanned bag, I say, “I can’t do that. Honestly, you’ve been kind enough to let me crash here an extra few nights.” I force a smile.
“You’ve paid for it, I don’t want you paying twice.”
I wince, looking away momentarily.
“Actually.” My eyes flit to him. “You, well, Saint Onyx, paid for it.”
Creed lifts his chin. “I see.” He rubs his hand over his lips and my heart is drumming in my chest.
“I’ll pay it back, of course.”
He holds his hand up. “No, Royce can pay for it.” He smirks as his hand drops. “After all, he did break your heart.”
My stomach drops. I don’t respond, just turn on my heel and make my way out of the penthouse as quickly as I can. I felt like I was suffocating suddenly and the only way I could breathe was to get out of there.
Gasping and dragging air into my lungs, I continuously push the button for the lift in hopes it will make it come quicker.
It doesn’t.
The doors ping open and I launch myself forward into the confined space and wait for the lift to take me down.
I needed to stay out of the penthouse for as long as possible.
The less time spent in that penthouse, the better.
I always got on with Creed, but I must admit, it is a bit weird that I am staying in the same place as my ex’s dad.
As soon as the lift settles, I bolt out of there, fingers tightened around my bag as I move towards the front door. The warm summer air hits me like a freight train, Alexandre catches me and I give him a wide smile.
“Bonjour,” I say quietly, before ducking my head down and walking past him.
My legs keep me moving until I am standing outside Rue’s. My head tilts back as I look up at the sign and inhale heavily.
Peeping through the window, it looks empty and disappointment swirls in my stomach. Stepping back, I try and think of where I could head to kill some time, but I hear the door unlock and then open, my eyes bouncing up and she gives me a wide smile.
“Morning.” Her eyes are glistening.
“Morning.” My tone isn’t as bright as hers.
Her brows furrow as I push my way past and slump myself in the chair next to the till.
“What’s up?” She steps behind the counter and rests her elbows as she looks at me, head tilting.
I puff my cheeks and try and hold my breath but fail within seconds. Turning to look at her, my eyes widen slightly.
“What?” Her tone is more urgent.
“You wouldn’t believe it.” I sigh and shake my head before letting my eyes trail to her again.
“Try me.” She stands tall and shrugs her shoulders.
“Ugh.” I face palm myself. “Right.” I shake my hands out.
“It really can’t be that bad.” She lifts a brow.
“Maybe?” I squeak
“I’m waiting.” She gives me a lopsided smile, and I match hers with my own.
“So, the apartment I am staying in.”
“Yes.” She nods along.
“Well, my friend booked it for me”
“Right.” She stands a little taller.
“It’s amazing, as you know.”
“This story sounds tragic.”
I roll my eyes. “Anyway.”
“Yes, anyway.”
“All was going well, until I was woken up to someone standing at the end of my bed.” Her eyes widen, lips part, and I hold my hand up towards her. “No, no, not anything bad. No one broke in.” I watch as her shoulders sag in relief. “It was my ex’s dad…”
“What?”
“Yes.”
“In your apartment?”
I shake my head. “His’ apartment,” I correct her.
“Oh.”
“Yes, oh.”
“Worse though, my friend can’t get me anywhere else until next week.”
“I…”
I hold my finger up. “But...”
“But?”
“But he has told me to stay there. It’s only a week and he’ll be back home.
He said to save me paying out for somewhere else to stay whilst I am here seeing as I paid to stay in the penthouse…
” I trail off and my cheeks blaze pink. “I told him I didn’t pay for the penthouse, that he technically did. ”
“How?” She steps around the counter and places her hands on her hips as she looks down at me.
“My friend works with Royce… He drives for Saint Onyx, she put the apartment on their account.”
“Oh,” A second one slips past her lips. “So, what you going to do?” she quickly asks
“Stay in the penthouse?” I answer with a question.
“Is that wise?” Her hands are on her hips still as she taps a finger against the cotton of her tee.
“Why wouldn’t it be? He will stay out of my way, I’ll stay out of his.” I shrug my shoulders up and stand up so we’re eye to eye.
“What if...”
“What if what?”
“Well, you and him somehow cross the line…”
I laugh loudly, my head tipping back slightly before it simmers down to a giggle. “No chance.” I drop my face, shaking my head side to side.
“No?”
“No.” I roll my lips, all laughter disappearing.
“Well, should be fine then.” She gives a wide toothy grin.
I spend the morning in the shop, wandering around and helping Rue out when there was a small influx of people. I was in awe of her and found myself watching how she worked.
“Ready for lunch?” she asks, just as she grabs her bag from behind the counter and follows the last customer out the door.
“Always,” I murmur, closing the door behind us and she locks it before dropping the keys into her bag.
“What do you fancy?” she asks, linking her arm through mine as we begin to walk towards the marina.
“Anything, I could really do with an iced coffee though…”
“Not feeling a wine?”
“I always feel a wine, but I dunno… bit early in the day, isn’t it?”
“it’s five o’clock somewhere, darling.” She winks before a bubble of a laugh escapes her.
Saying our goodbyes, she walks down the alley, and I move to the left and towards my apartment.
I wanted to explore tomorrow, and as much as it has been lovely spending the last couple of days with Rue, I promised myself this holiday was for me.
She would understand. I haven’t glossed over the details of why I am here and what happened, but at the same time I don’t want to dwell on it.
Royce broke up with me. He wanted to focus on his career. I got it. He didn’t want me anymore.
His career was more important and rightly so.
He was competing for world champion, and he wasn’t going to do that with me by his side.
We had a good run; he was kind and funny and never treated me unkind.
My lips turn at the corners as I walk into the apartment building, ducking my head as Alexandre greets me.
I feel rude ignoring him, but I’m deep in my feelings.
I know I wanted to do this, know I need a break but also felt on edge. Maybe more so because I was now sharing an apartment with my ex’s dad.
Not ideal, but here we are.
Stepping into the waiting lift, I sigh heavily as we begin travelling up and within minutes, I am footing down the hallway towards the penthouse.
Swiping the key card through the lock, I push the door open and find soft music filling the large space—Forever and Ever and Always – Ryan Mack.
Placing my bags in the hallway, I push the door closed behind me.
Walking quietly, I creep around the corner and see him standing there, hovering over the oven as he sautés something in the frying pan.
I glance at the time; it’s just past one. I place my hand on the work surface and watch him. He is singing softly, tapping his foot as he pushes whatever he is cooking in the pan.
My lips twitch into a smile and I take this moment to let my eyes skate over the back of him.
His blonde hair tucks under at the nape of his neck.
It’s thick and wavy and the want to curl my fingers into the tuft at the base of his neck is overwhelming.
He is tall, maybe around six-foot-seven, towers over my small five-foot-four.
A tee wraps around his back, his muscles rippling underneath with any kind of movement.
His arms are curved and toned, prominent veins presenting their selves as he tightens his grip on the handle of the pan, lifting it from the gas for a moment and using his other hand to push the spatula through the contents.
My eyes drift a little lower to the jeans that fit to his legs like skin.
Thick thighs, round ass, I feel wrong for even checking him out.
Snapping out of my moment of weakness, I twist a little too quickly and knock the kitchen roll holder over, the bang clattering around the room.
He trails his eyes over his shoulder, a smile creeping onto his face as he sweeps his gaze over me.
“Ana?s.” His voice is soft as he pushes something on his phone which cuts the music in an instant.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt…” I pause, my hand moving out as I wave it in front of me. “Whatever this is.”
“Me cooking dinner?” He turns the gas off and then twists to face me, furrowed brows etched into that beautiful face of his.
“Yes,”
“You’re not interrupting.” He nods, eyes burning into mine.
“Okay,” I say quietly before dipping my head, eyes on the floor as I move back towards the door for my bag.
“You hungry?”
I was. But I didn’t want to be a burden.
“No.” I give him a tight smile, lifting my bag onto my shoulder and keeping my head down before I am in my room.
Flopping onto my bed, I let out my breath. It was just a week; I could get through this.
Then, he will go back home and follow Royce around and I will be left here, by myself, to have the break I so desperately craved.
Turning my head to the side, I look out at the large window, the sea in the distance brings a small smile to my face.
I wanted to walk along the beach, feel the sand beneath my feet and the warm Mediterranean water between my toes.
It’s the little things.
Rolling my head back around, my eyes are back on the ceiling. I couldn’t stay in this room forever.
I couldn’t hide from him for the entirety of his trip… could I?
Peeling my clothes from my body, I walk into the bathroom that is connected to my room and turn the shower on. Waiting for the water to warm, I step under it and let the water cascade down my skin.
Singing Taylor Swift – I Can Do It With A Broken Heart whilst I lather my skin with suds, I slip back under the shower head and rinse myself off, my voice getting a little louder as I continue to sing. My eyes close as I let the water rain down on me and just for a moment, my worries slip away.