Chapter 46
It was a rare day that Stephanie didn’t have to work, a rarer one that she didn’t go to the gym, anyway.
But today was going to be far too busy, which would leave her no time to even think about work.
But this morning she and Court had signed paperwork on a little house that was perfect for them, or would be after a lot of projects.
This afternoon, she was moving the rest of her stuff into storage.
Court had offered to help, but Stephanie had wanted to do it herself. She had moved into the apartment alone, and it had only felt right to move out on her own. Until she got there and felt overwhelmed and alone.
Which was how she found herself waiting for her brother Dylan to come over.
What had started with a do you want my sofa had turned into him helping her move.
Not that she asked, but he had actually volunteered.
It had been months since she had seen anyone in her family, and she was more than a little nervous.
Whether their parents had told him who she was dating, Stephanie didn’t know, and Dylan hadn’t said.
He was just excited for a free couch and would pay for it with bruit strength.
She just hoped that he wasn’t on their parents’ side of the Court situation, she enjoyed spending time with her brother.
She was tossing another bag of garbage in the dumpster when his red truck pulled into the parking lot. It looked like he had just come from work, still in his shirt that said his name on it.
Noticing her right away, he got out of his truck, waving as he came her way. “I can’t believe you're leaving this place. You loved it.”
“I did and still do, but I’m moving on. I bought a house.” She admitted.
Dylan let out a low whistle. “No way, you can afford a house? That gym must be doing better than anyone expected it would.”
“You’re right, the gym is doing great, but not that great.
I’m moving in with the person I’ve been dating for a few months.
And not because I can’t afford my own place, but because I want to live with them.
” She knew she was sounding defensive, but she felt defensive about it.
Yes, she wanted to move in with Court, but the house was out of her budget without her.
“You got back together with that guy even after he backed out on Dad’s birthday weekend? You're more forgiving than I am.”
“His name was Christopher, and no, not him. The person I’m moving in with is Court. Um, Calvin’s Courtney. We’ve been together since the birthday weekend.” She held her breath, waiting for the rejection just like with her parents.
Instead, Dylan actually laughed. “No way. Does Mom know?”
“Yes, but she and Calvin are upset about it. We haven’t spoken in weeks, and I don’t know if they’ll ever come around.
They claim we shouldn’t be together since we’re family.
As if they considered her family until it was convenient.
” She waited for his response, because she didn’t know how she’d feel if he said the same hurtful words to her.
Instead, he grinned at her. “I guess I had no chance with her?”
“Not a snowball’s chance in hell, actually.”
“You know, after you left, they acted as if neither of you had even been there. It made the rest of the weekend awkward. But not us kids, we talked about Court and how we shouldn’t have done what we did. I hope to tell her we’re sorry one day. Will I see her today?”
“I don’t know what I was thinking. Since I moved in alone, I thought I should move out alone. Kind of symbolic, and stupid.” She headed for the apartment, reveling in the last few minutes there. This was the first place she lived in alone, and it would be the only place she lived alone.
Following, he asked, “Did you move the rest of your stuff?”
“No, we’re starting fresh, neither of us is taking furniture. Everything will be new, ours. And we will both have a say in what we want in our house.” She opened the door of the apartment, its contents in complete disarray. Mostly boxes filled with her life and a few remaining pieces of furniture.
“Isn’t that going to be expensive? Do you have that kind of money?”
“No, but well, she does.” She admitted, though she didn’t know how much, that the amount the bank had approved them for on a house had been closer to seven figures than five.
She had been happy Court hadn’t wanted to spend it all, because Stephanie was already stressing enough over money with the new house that was considered cheap.
Dylan laughed at her. “Oh, I see how it is. You've got yourself a sugar mama. Wait, Calvin’s Court has the kind of money to keep a woman? I thought she wanted money from Dad or something. Mom kept saying that was why she was there.”
“No, that’s just what Mom thought. She just wanted to talk to him about what had happened in the past. Get some closure.” She didn’t want to say too much. That was for Court to tell if she wanted to tell.
“She’ll come around, you know that, right? About you and Court. She knows she has no control over who you love and never will. Give it time.” He said distractedly as he looked over the boxes of books she had lined up. They were the heavy ones.
His words were exactly what she needed to hear, not that she wouldn’t stop seeing her parents for Court, but she didn’t want to lose contact with them. What happened between her and Court couldn’t be stopped, and wouldn’t change now? They had to realize that.
“She’s different, Dylan. This is different. I don’t know how to explain it. But from the beginning, we were drawn together in a way like I had never felt before.”
“You don’t have to. I can see this one is it for you. Because you have never moved in with anyone before, you love this one.”
“I didn’t know you’d found help.” Court said from the door, her hair swept up in what Stephanie had come to think of as her work hairstyle. For a woman with such a short hairstyle, she managed to style it differently for every occasion.
“If I say I’m sorry for what I did before puberty, would you consider forgiving me?” He asked, tossing his drill on the floor before standing and offering her a hand, “I’d hate for my sister to be living with someone who hated me for being childish as a child.”
Court folded her arms and leaned against the doorjamb. “Are you going to play any more tricks?”
Hand still waiting for a shake, Dylan smirked, “Not as many, but you’re going to be a part of Steph’s life, and she’s one of my biggest targets.” he looked over at her, “She scares easy, how can I resist that?”
Stepping forward, Court tentatively took his hand, as if that in itself would be a trick. Once the firm handshake was over, they both smirked, and Court slipped off her blazer. “You can’t.”
As Court planted a light kiss on her lips, she watched her brother for a reaction. When none came, she asked, “I thought you had to work today? That meeting you couldn’t get out of?”
“Rescheduled. I realized I was needed here more than there. You shouldn’t have to do this by yourself, even if you said I didn’t need to help. I want to.” She asked, looking at Dylan.
“She called to see if I wanted her couch, and how could I say no to that? I invited myself over to help. I mean, how many trips will she have to make on that deathtrap motorcycle?”
“She’d probably leave it all and go for a ride instead.” Court teased her and dropped her blazer off the couch. “I heard you drove over her last one. Any way we could make that happen again?”
“It was Aaron, but I think she would suspect me right away. It can’t be a brother. What do you drive?” Dylan asked with a teasing grin towards Stephanie. It seemed the two were becoming friends quickly.
“Stop it, you two. We need to get moving, or this will never get done.”
Two hours later, they had loaded everything she was going to take into Dylan’s pickup and Court’s car.
Stephanie’s own car had already been full when Dylan had shown up.
Now, a few blocks away, they were pulling up to a house that Stephanie wasn’t sure she wanted her brother to see yet.
There was a lot they needed to do to it before anyone saw it.
First of which was to mow the lawn that hadn’t been touched this summer and possibly last. But Court had been talking since they found the place about all her plans.
She had gone from not wanting any projects to having so many projects she had to write them down.
Last night she had kept Stephanie up late on their last night at Court’s condo watching videos on hardwood floor installation.
Stephanie had just wanted to get some paint on the walls, and the locks changed. There was no telling who had keys, because she and Court didn’t.
“Nice place.” Dylan sounded skeptical when he got out of his truck.
“It will be given time.” Court said, her blazer gone and her sleeves rolled up. “This weekend we’re pulling out all the carpets.”
“This weekend?” She asked. They hadn’t discussed that. Not that she wanted to keep the old musty carpets, but they hadn’t picked out any flooring yet. And she had hoped Court would want to hire some of the big stuff out.
“We need to start right away. Why would we wait?” Court asked her in surprise at her reaction.
“We’re barely moved in. And I work this weekend.” She argued, feeling like she wasn’t going to get a say in anything because she’ll be at work.
“Right now is the perfect time for projects, Steph.” Dylan agreed with Court.
It hadn’t taken but two trips to the car for Dylan and Court’s relationship to be strong enough for them to plan to spend time together.
It seemed they were both fans of a band she had never heard of, and they were going to see them in a few weeks.
Grabbing a box from Court’s car, Dylan added, “Besides, I don’t work this weekend, so I can’t help. Pulling carpets isn’t a one-man job. Or woman.”
“Thanks for helping, Dylan. I don’t know if I would have gotten this all done by myself.” She decided she would call her brother more often, and not just to help her move. That she wanted him in her life more.
“Anytime, you just have to ask.” She nudged her shoulder. “And Court’s right, get this stuff done right now. You don’t want to have to live with those carpets.”
Court wrapped her arms around her in a hug. “I want you to have the home you want as soon as I can make it happen.”
Letting herself settle in, she felt better about everything already. “You’re the home I want. Nothing else matters.”
Court kissed her. “It will when you want to do a little morning yoga and your bare toes touch that carpet. I promise those toes will never touch that dirty carpet.”
“But you don’t know what you’re doing.” She argued, even if she had no idea either.
“Nor do I know how to be in a loving, healthy relationship, but I got the hang of that pretty quickly for you.” She let her go and spun her around in a few circles, like they were dancing.
Not that they had been able to get the hang of dancing together yet.
So far, they usually just held on as the world vanished around them.
Stephanie couldn’t stop smiling. Her life was so perfect right now, dirty carpet and broken locks notwithstanding. “You're comparing remodeling to a relationship?”
“They are virtually one and the same, aren’t they?” Court swooped her up in her arms, carrying her over the threshold. Stephanie couldn’t stop giggling as she did.