11. Chapter 11
Daria
“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” I hear Jamie say through the phone that’s pressed between my ear and shoulder blade. I just arrived at Dane’s and am hauling boxes out of my trunk for him to trek upstairs. Briar should be here any second to help.
“Yeah, me neither.” Am I crazy? Probably. But Dane was more than right. If Jamie found out that I was literally living on the street—and let’s face it, she likely would—she’d drag me back to live with her and Parker. And that, I can’t do.
Seeing the newlyweds from afar is one thing. Living on the other side of the bedroom wall from them? That’s something I’d rather never experience. Not to mention, they don’t really want me encroaching on their wedded bliss, no matter what Jamie might say.
And then, there’s Dane. His logic might’ve solidified my decision, but I’m mostly blaming the sweetness of his best man speech for convincing me that moving in with him was a good idea. He was so sincere, so…real. And besides…this is only temporary.
“It’s just for a few weeks, though,” I tell Jamie. “I can do anything for a month.”
Jamie chuckles. “Definitely. You’re the most adaptable human I know.” She says it like a compliment, and I guess it is, but my adaptability came from years of needing to do so just to survive. “Besides, Dane is a good guy. I know I’ve said before, but—”
“Yeah, yeah. I know.”
“He is sort of a clean freak, though. At least, that’s what Parker says.”
I huff and set the heaviest box on the ground.
“Lovely.” A memory of Dane watching in horror as the potato flew off my fork at the reception surfaces, as does the one from our first reencounter with each other at Parker and Jamie’s wedding shower.
Who tells a person they’re arranging sandwiches wrong?
A neat freak, that’s who.
“I’m sure it won’t be that bad,” Jamie says before speaking to Parker in the background. “Hey, D. I’m sorry, but I gotta go. We’re about to go snorkeling.”
I smile, despite how badly I miss my friend. “Go ahead. You guys have fun.”
“Thanks, will do. Love you.”
“Love you too, James. Bye.”
Dane said to text him when I arrived, so before I pocket my phone, I send him a quick message.
Standing back with hands on my hips, I take in the stacks of boxes.
I’m a little shocked that my entire life has been reduced to a mere eight boxes, one nightstand, and a vanity with a matching chair.
There’s also my sewing machine and garment rack, but those are more for my future business than personal belongings.
My bed is currently being stored in Jamie’s garage since Dane said Parker left his, and none of the furniture from Jamie’s house belonged to me. So…I guess this is it. Me and my eight boxes.
The door behind me creaks open and I turn.
“Hey,” Dane says.
“Hi.” I gesture toward my stuff. “This is it.” Letting out an awkward chuckle, I add, “I feel bad for even asking Briar to come and help. I’m sure the two of us can handle this on our own.”
Dane offers me a small smile. “If it makes you feel more comfortable to have her here, then let her come. She can scope out the place and make sure it’s up to par.
” He sends me a wink that shouldn’t strike me as sexy before scooping up the box I just set down.
“I’ll just take this up and set it in your room. ”
My room.
“I’ll just, uh, wait out here for her.”
Dane nods and heads back through the door.
Our conversation on the dance floor last weekend comes to mind. I hate the way I shivered at his commanding voice, at the way he said, you will not bring another man into our apartment . But dang if it didn’t make him wildly attractive for a whole fifteen seconds.
I just need to remind myself that Dane might be attractive in an alpha-roll possessive type way, but he’s completely off limits.
I may not be allowed to think he’s a horrible person anymore, but I’m still not willing to allow someone like him into my inner circle.
Jamie would claim I’m unwilling to let any guy in, but that’s beside the point.
It feels unbelievably strange to be moving in with a man. I mean, we’re not dating, not even talking about dating. I don’t even like him. For some reason, that makes this whole thing weirder.
Briar’s little turquoise car comes rolling up the street and she parks directly behind me. “Hey,” I say with a wave once she exits her vehicle.
“Sorry I’m late. But had to make a coffee run.” She hands me one of the lattes she’s holding, earning my smile.
“Thanks, this is perfect.”
“Thought you could use some caffeine this morning.” She eyes the boxes I just unloaded with a frown. “Is this everything?”
Sighing, I shrug. “Yeah. I’m kind of surprised myself. Felt like I had a ton more stuff.”
Her bright eyes land on mine as she squeezes my arm. “Soon you’ll have your own place and you’ll be able to fill it full of stuff . New furniture, a new sewing room just for your projects…it’ll be awesome.”
The picture she paints is a happy one. And she’s right. Once I’m in my new place—a permanent place with loads of potential—I’ll be able to truly settle in and make it a home. At least, that’s the hope.
“Ready to take these up?” she asks.
I hold up my latte. “Maybe you and I should just supervise. I’ve already got Dane on the job.”
Briar chuckles around a sip of her drink. “Already bossing him around, I see.”
I mock an offended look. “I would never. He volunteered for this, remember?”
She stares down at the boxes and shakes her head. “I still can’t believe he offered you a place to stay. That really was sweet of him. If I wasn’t still living in my parent’s pool house, I totally would’ve—”
Waving my hand, I cut off what I already know would have been another apology. “Briar, please. You didn’t even know I needed a place to live until I told you Dane offered up his apartment. And this is fine, really. It’s going to be fine.” I hope.
Dane steps out onto the sidewalk again and greets Briar with a quick wave. “Nice to see you, Briar.” That gorgeous smile of his comes out to play. “Which box goes next?”
I point to the nightstand. “How about that?”
“All right.” He bends at the knees and wraps his arms around my heavy, oak nightstand, lifting it with the kind of ease that shouldn’t be possible.
I practically had to roll that thing out to the car.
It took every bit of strength I had to hoist it into the backseat, too.
My eyes track the way his T-shirt strains against his very impressive biceps.
It’s a crying shame this man isn’t for me…
“I’ll get the door for you!” Briar chirps and starts for the door, dragging me out of my mesmerized state.
“Thanks,” Dane responds without an ounce of struggle in his voice, then hauls the nightstand up the steps to our apartment.
“You just gonna stand there and stare, D?” Briar glares at me, eyes wide.
I shrug her implication off with a laugh. “Maybe.” When Dane’s out of earshot, I add, “He is really nice to look at.”
My friend just shakes her head. “Come on. Let’s each grab something small we can take up with us.”
I hook an arm under my garment rack while Briar grabs my body pillow, and up we go. I’m nearly out of breath by the time we reach the top of the steps, but thankfully, Briar is, too. There’s nothing worse than looking like I’m the only one who can't handle a simple set of stairs gracefully.
“Maybe I should incorporate running,” my yoga instructor friend says. “Because these steps are surprisingly brutal.”
“Right?”
“You ladies okay?” Dane calls from the open apartment door. I shoot Briar a quick look and roll my eyes.
“We’re fine,” I trill, stepping into what I can now consider my home for the next few weeks.
The space hasn’t changed since the last time I was here for the wedding shower. It exudes a cool industrial chic vibe with its exposed brick walls and cement countertops. The black hardware and matching lighting add a touch of sophistication that a woman obsessed with fashion can appreciate.
“I do love this apartment,” Briar muses aloud.
“Glad you two could make it with your heavy, heavy loads.” Dane’s lips twitch as he addresses us. Briar giggles.
Ignoring them, I glance around the apartment and see a small hallway with two doors on either side, the large, open-concept living space complete with kitchen and living room, then the one door off to our right.
“My room is here,” he says, pointing to the lone door off the living room. “And yours is down that short hall. Right across from the bathroom.” He gestures toward the short hallway. “You can go ahead and set your things in there.”
“Right. Thanks.” I lead Briar into my new bedroom. The white walls are blank, the room completely bare, except for Parker’s vintage dresser and black metal frame bed in the center.
“Ooh, king sized. Nice.” Briar plops down onto the mattress, setting my pillow behind her. “This is way better than sleeping in your car.”
“Yeah, we’ll see.” I set my garment rack near the closet doors. Pulling them open, I’m pleased to see a large closet with built-in shelves. “I think I can work with this.”
“Oh, yeah,” Briar agrees, stepping up to my side. “Let’s go get the rest and set up your closet. You’ll feel more at ease knowing all your clothes are taken care of.”
I smile at my friend and how well she knows me. Maybe it won’t be so bad living without Jamie. I still have Briar, still have my projects and the things I love. And like Dane said the other night, I still have Jamie. Just not this instant while she’s gallivanting all over the Bahamas with Parker.
A sigh escapes me. “All right, let’s go.” We leave our lattes on the kitchen counter and put both our arms to good use. In minutes, the three of us have all my boxes stacked neatly in my bedroom.
“If there’s anything else you need, let me know,” Dane says from the doorway. “Whatever it is, feel free to ask.”
“I appreciate that,” I say honestly. He’s being very thoughtful despite the way I’ve treated him lately. “I’ll let you know.”