Chapter 25
TWENTY-FIVE
CAL
It’s been four weeks since Lt. Allen was taken in.
In that time, no one has reached out to either of us.
Honestly, they’re keeping much of it under wraps, but what we’ve learned from Grayson’s friends aligns with what Audrey told us.
After Allen decided he was done doing work for others, he began to take things in his own hands, eliminating anyone who could possibly stop him, and in turn starting his own empire where he could transport drugs and money using resources and people he should never have had access to.
The rumor is that Audrey took a deal where she would confess everything in exchange for a new life, and so far, she must have kept her promise of keeping me out of it.
“What are our plans today?” I ask.
“You mean you’re not going to lie naked on the bed?”
“I’ve been controlling myself… somewhat. I mean… trying to,” I say. “Grayson, I just look at you and my clothes explode off my body.”
“Understandable,” he teases.
I grin at him.
“What do you want to do?” he asks as he watches me.
Living with Felix and Lane gave me comfort to keep moving forward, but living with Grayson is a whole different thing. For as long as I can remember, I spent so much time alone that I never knew what it was like to not be alone.
At first, I was extremely anxious. I felt like I watched everything Grayson did, as though I was terrified that if I looked away for one minute, he’d disappear.
I knew it wasn’t healthy, but it was hard to stop myself. And I didn’t even realize he noticed it until he asked if he could go to one of my sessions with my counselor.
I finally managed to open up to her with him there to help.
I hated telling someone who wasn’t him or my closest friends, but the guidance she gave me and the things she taught me to help me cope made a bigger difference than I thought they would.
And after a couple of rocky weeks, I feel like I’m finally doing okay.
Earlier this week, Grayson left for three days to get a few things sorted at his place, and I managed to stay at my apartment alone for all of them.
I wasn’t plagued by that unexplainable feeling of dread, I wasn’t left feeling so impossibly alone, and I didn’t lie in bed for most of the day, feeling like I was unable to get out.
No, I went to my counselor’s appointment and AA meeting, I got groceries, I cleaned up, and I did some administrative work for the business that I’m quite confident Felix was never going to do.
And I felt so fucking good.
“I saw a house I really like,” Grayson says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Oh?”
“You want to drive by it like a stalker? It doesn’t go up on the market until Sunday.”
“Of course I do,” I say as he comes at me with underwear and pants. “Are you embarrassed by me? Trying to cover me up?”
Grayson laughs, letting the band of the underwear snap around my waist when he lets go. “I just don’t want anyone else to get to see what I get to see,” he murmurs as he leans forward and nips my neck.
I grin and catch him on the lips before lifting my feet, plainly expecting him to finish clothing me.
He slides my pants on and then nips the other side of my neck, so I kiss him again.
“I need a shirt now, too. Probably a turtleneck by the time you’re done gnawing on my throat.”
“Nah, I’ll stop chewing on you,” he says.
Once we’re both dressed, we put Traveler in the back of the car, and Grayson drives a few minutes before slowing the car down and parking on the side of the road as he points. “That one there.”
“Ooh,” I say as I eye the cute two-story home with a large yard that’s located in a nice neighborhood. “It’s not far from the detective agency and Felix’s house… although maybe too close. It’s really only like two blocks. He could walk here and cry about how hungry he is every night,” I joke.
“We could get a fence. He’s too tiny to climb anything over like three feet.”
“You’re right. But let’s not get our hopes up. It might sell immediately, or maybe we’ll hate it when we get inside.”
“Or maybe it’ll be our forever home,” Grayson says.
“What did I say about getting our hopes up?”
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” he says with a laugh. “I just really want to start my life with you.”
“You already have,” I tell him.
“I know… I just… I messed up for so long. I’ve wasted so much of my life not being with you. I need to experience it all with you. Let’s go on vacations, eat anywhere you want, do anything you want.”
“I don’t care what we do or where we live. I had a really nice house growing up. It was a huge three-story home. But it was so fucking lonely. We could be anywhere, and I’ll be happy as long as you’re there with me.”
He leans over and kisses me, and I know he feels the exact same way.
Evidently, Traveler feels like he’s being left out because he licks the side of my face, making me jerk back.
“Oh? Already disgusted by my kisses?” Grayson teases.
“It was so wet!” I joke.
“It was all of my love and you’re wiping it off!” He grabs me and pretends like he’s going to lick me. Traveler has no damn idea what’s going on but he’s positive he wants to be a part of it.
“I love you so much,” Grayson says as he kisses my face all over while Traveler tries his hardest to be included.
“I love you too.” I laugh while I fend off the dog. Then I use the man I love to shield myself from the dog’s kisses as I squeeze Grayson to me and threaten to never let go.
For so much of my life, I envied those around me—those who had a family to go home to, those who had people in their lives. But I realize now that it was because I was waiting for my person to bust their way into my life and promise to never miss a moment with me.
I feel so damn lucky to have met him and can’t wait to see what our future looks like together.