33. Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter thirty-three
Nash
We alternate staying at each other’s places for the rest of the week, each night a repeat of the first. It’s amazing, and definitely enough. But I think about more, about being inside of him. How could I not? I’ve felt him naked beneath me, held his cock in my hand, tasted every inch of his skin.
What we have, this isn’t just about sex.
It’s so much more than that. We didn't become close the way most people do, but somehow that makes our bond stronger. What we have, it’s special.
It’s just one of those things you can’t explain but you know is real.
That it’s meant to be. And I don’t usually believe in things like that, but Carter has me questioning a lot of things, and I don’t hate that.
I don’t go into the office on Saturdays, but I do have some errands to run. I drop Carter off at the shelter so he can do his volunteer work while I go get them done.
I’ve been trying to be better about not working on the weekends, taking off time when I can because these cases are hard, and if I bury myself in them, I won’t have much else.
I know how it goes. It’s exactly what I did in Chicago when it came to work, and I’ll do the same thing here if I’m not careful.
Only now there is more on the line. There’s Carter.
Which helps and makes things more difficult at the same time.
Because I can’t stop thinking about Ryan’s case every spare minute I have, as much as I shouldn’t.
Lilianna wasn’t at work Thursday morning, but I was told she worked on Fridays.
When I stopped in, she was there, and I was able to set up a meeting with her and Glint for Monday morning.
This is the last piece of this puzzle. Once they get her statement, along with all the other stuff we have on this guy, we should be able to search his place and get an arrest. If we’re lucky, the guy will be behind bars by dinner on Monday.
The furniture I ordered for my backyard is ready, so I drive to the store to pick it up.
I go around the back and the workers help me load it up in my truck and strap it down.
I get everything dropped off at home, breaking a sweat to get everything in the back alone, even in the cold.
I’m just finishing up when Carter calls to say he’s done, but if I’m busy he can walk home like he usually does.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay.” I hear the smile in his voice. He knew I would argue and demand to pick him up. I like that he knows me.
I end the call, get into the truck, and head to him. He comes out the moment I pull into the lot.
“Did you do everything you needed to do?” he asks.
“Yes. How was it?”
“Good. Busy, as usual. They had a bunch of animals dropped off yesterday after raiding someone’s house on a call about animal abuse. They pulled so many from the house that they had to move some to places out of state.”
“Shit,” I mutter.
“Yeah, it’s so sad. Like, if you don’t want the animals, just give them to someone who does. Why are you keeping them and hurting them?”
“I learned a long time ago that human behavior doesn’t always make sense, and it’s best to not try to make sense of it.”
He takes my hand, locking our fingers together.
“Can we stay at your house again tonight?” he asks.
“If you want to.”
“Your bed is more comfortable. And bigger.”
“But your bed is smaller, meaning you have to lay closer to me.”
“I do that anyway.” He smiles. I bring his hand to my mouth and kiss the back of it.
I pull into the driveway and we head inside, because if he wants to stay at my house, I won’t argue. Having him here is what makes me enjoy the house more, not the stuff I can buy to put in it. I don’t tell him that though. Maybe I should, but it feels like a little too much.
“I’m going to shower. I smell like the animals,” he says, but there’s something in his voice that holds a bit of mischief. Though, it could just be me.
“I’ll be out back.”
“Outside?”
“Yeah, I picked up the furniture.”
“And you’re going to put it together in thirty-degree weather?”
“That’s what coats are for.”
He rolls his eyes, gives me a kiss, and disappears into my bathroom.
Part of me wants to go in there after him, but I don’t want to insert myself into his space. We’ve showered every night together, to clean up, and I don’t doubt tonight will be any different. So for now, he can have his space.
I didn’t take my coat off when I came inside, so I just head out back.
I could wait to put this stuff together until it gets a little warmer.
I don’t want to ruin it out here if we get another big storm.
But it is outside furniture. I’m sure it could handle one storm, if it happens.
And thinking about sitting on the couch with Carter in my arms in front of a fire is too tempting.
So I get to work, tearing boxes open and putting the furniture together. It’s not difficult, it’s just tedious.
“Need some help?”
I look behind me at Carter who’s still in the house with his head poked out from the sliding glass door.
“You wanna come get your hands dirty, princess?”
He gasps and chuckles.
“I take offense to that!” He closes the door.
I shake my head, laughing again as I tear open another box and pull out the cushions.
The larger couch and two single chairs are put together.
Once the cushions are on, all I have to do is put the fire pit together.
The furniture is your basic outdoor wicker furniture set in a dark brown with red cushions.
I look everywhere for the cement bricks I got for the ground beneath the pit and can’t find them anywhere, then realize I must’ve forgotten them in my truck.
That’s when the sliding door opens and Carter walks out, all bundled up.
I stop and watch as he walks out confidently, with purpose.
“I’ll show you princess.” He lifts his chin, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Come on then.”
We go to my truck and grab the bricks from the back.
There are four square bricks to make a bigger one, just needing a platform for the pit to sit on so the grass doesn’t catch from the heat.
He carries two and doesn’t complain, even though I can tell they’re a little heavy for him.
I close up the truck and head to the back with my two bricks.
We lay them out on the ground, a safe enough distance away from the chairs.
“See, that was easy,” he says, out of breath.
“Stubborn.”
He grins smartly. I wrap my arm around his waist and pull him to me. Our jackets are thick, so I can’t feel much of him, but I do feel his lips when they meet mine. They’re cold, but still as soft as usual.
“So, what do we have left to do?” he asks, his breath making puffs of smoke in the air.
“Just the fire pit. Should be easy.”
I open the box and he pulls out the directions and then the pieces. We work well putting it together, and soon enough, we have a brand-new fire pit.
We step back and take a look.
“Good job,” he says, nudging me with his elbow.
“You too.” I put my arm around him and tug him to my side. “Easier than cooking.”
Carter barks a laugh. “Yeah, it really was.”
We stay there for a few moments, looking around at the backyard and our handy work.
“What do you think about a garden?” he asks.
“A garden? What the hell do you think I am?”
He chuckles. “It would look nice in that back corner over there.” He points to the corner opposite the shed where there is a big open space.
“I can’t grow things,” I say.
He looks up at me. “I can.”
I think he’s saying something without saying something. And whatever it is, it’s fine. I want it. If it has to do with him, if it’s something he wants, I’ll do it.
“Okay then. When it gets warmer, we’ll get a garden.”
We go through our normal routine. Make dinner together. Eat together. Find a movie and cuddle on the couch. It’s crazy that we’ve only been doing this for a week because it feels like we’ve been doing it forever and not in a bad way. It’s just so easy.
“I like this,” I say.
Carter looks up at me, seeming shocked. “You do?”
“Of course I do. I wouldn’t be doing it otherwise.”
“Well, I figured, but you don’t usually say stuff like that.”
“Like what?”
He shrugs. “Like… stuff with us.”
“What do you mean?”
He sits up, putting a little space between us but it doesn’t feel bad. It’s just so we can see each other while we talk.
“Well, I always assume you like being with me, having me over, watching movies, all the stuff we do, but you don’t actually say it. It’s not a problem, but sometimes I wonder. I just want to be sure that we’re on the same page.”
“We are.”
“You never, uh… you never initiate anything, so…”
I turn to face him more, lifting my leg up onto the couch so I can face him fully.
“It’s not because I don’t want to, I just don’t want to assume you’re okay with what I want.”
“You think I don’t feel the way you do?”
“It’s not that—”
“Then what?” he asks gently. Not accusing, just wondering. “I always initiate, so I assumed that meant you understood what I want.”
I nod. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just… this is new, and I’m figuring things out.”
Carter takes my hand and smiles. “I know that. And it’s why I’m glad we are able to talk like this.”
I lean forward, kissing him. I love kissing him. “I will do better. I promise.”
Smiling, he kisses me again, and we go back to watching the movie.
“Are you busy next Tuesday?” he asks.
“Like after work?”
“Of course after work.”
“No, I’m not busy.”
“Would you want to come to group with me?” he asks carefully. “You won’t have to say anything, if you don’t want to. And you’ll sit with me. It’s really calm and everyone is awesome and welcoming. They won’t make it weird and—”
I shut him up with a kiss because he’s rambling—asking me this made him nervous. It’s cute.
“I would love to go to group with you, Carter. Thank you for asking me.”
There’s a relieved smile on his face; one I will cherish forever.