Chapter 27
Daniel.
Opening the door, I stop in awe when I see her sleeping on the sofa. My heart bounces with joy. The last few days of expecting her and finally she’s here. I tried so hard not to call her and demand her return.
I move closer to her. I can sit and watch her all night, but I need to wake her so she can sleep in a bed, preferably my bed but I know that won’t happen today, and I also know the sofa isn’t very comfortable.
I wanted to change it, but I also wanted her to return before I did that.
I move closer and gently run my hands down her cheek.
She stirs at first then jumps up, startled, until she sees it’s me.
We talked for a moment before she heads to her room.
If it wasn’t before, it’s apparent now that we are both fighting the attraction.
But she looks tired. I watch her race to her room and smile inwardly, knowing, I wasn’t wrong to have moved in with her; the insane attraction is there. She needs time to admit it to herself.
The next few days, we have dinner together and I get to learn more about the music program.
The air between us continues to build. I soon learn that her mom passed away two years ago, and she feels her parent had her despite knowing the possibility that she could be an SC carrier because they were grieving the loss of a brother she never met, who had died of a head injury after falling off his bike.
Her older, brother, Derin is her half-brother—same father, not the same mother.
His mom died when he was five before her dad remarried. In her words about her dad:
“He has lost two wives and a son. I know the possibility of losing a daughter scares him, so I indulge him, plus I like being daddy’s little girl,” she’d said with a wide grin.
She truly is daddy's girl. When her phone rings with his name, I watch her face light up—the same face hides with guilt when she catches my eye across the hall.
We've become masters at avoidance, retreating to our separate rooms like monks to cells.
Yet I find myself lingering in the kitchen when I hear her humming, and yearning desire even as I orchestrate those "accidental" brushes of fingers reaching for the same cabinet.
Each touch feels like salvation and damnation in the same electric moment.
I doubt either one of us is sleeping well, but the restraints continue. At some point, she requested that I do not let my sister know that we are living together. It was fine with me. I prefer it too. I don’t need Maggie interfering before I get a chance to make her mine.
Jacob has become our buffer, though I dislike it when he eats the pastries she bakes and leaves crumbs all over the sofa while playing the Xbox.
Sometimes, I kick his ass out just so I can get a few minutes with Anu before she goes to hide in her room, talking to Nkem giggling.
I have learned a few things: she truly dislikes doing her laundry.
She doesn’t understand why everything must be organized.
Her bedroom is always tossed with clothes on her bed, and she dislikes spicy food but, most importantly, when it rains, she panics and hides in a corner with headphones on.
I sat with her, watching her all evening till she slept the first time I witnessed it.
She hums daily while drinking her tea, and every morning I listen to hear her.
I still find myself happy each time I walk through the door and see her cuddled with a blanket and a cup of tea.
About a week after her return, I got a call.
“Hello.”
“This is Derin, Anu’s brother and I need to know why you are living with my sister,” he states. His tone is forceful.
“I’m her boyfriend.”
“Who left a well-furnished three-bedroom apartment empty to live with my baby sister.”
“Like I said, I’m her boyfriend.” I keep my tone neutral.
His voice rises. “Cut the bullshit. I know my sister; when she doesn’t want to alarm me or dad is when she pulls something like this, so spill.”
I can use this to my advantage, I think.
“I am her boyfriend and I’m living with her because she feels someone is following her, but she’s not sure and she doesn’t want to be alone.”
“I didn’t get that report.” Say what now?
“Are you watching her? Could it be your guys?”
“She knows subconsciously that I would’ve someone periodically check on her, so it must be something else.”
Now I’m worried about her too.
“I will have my guys keep an eye on her too.”
“Okay, but know that I’m watching you too. If you hurt my sister, I will come after you.”
“Noted,” I say. And I never would.
“Keep me posted if something comes up.”
“Will do.” I hang up and smile. I should have known that her brother wouldn’t just accept the fact a guy is living with her, but he seems to accept that I’m her boyfriend, so that’s good.Getting home that evening, I don’t mention my conversation with her brother.