Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Gavin
Standing in the spacious room, I looked around me.
I was impressed. The apartment was all open plan, wooden floors, and light-coloured walls apart from one wall, the chimney breast was bare brick.
The kitchen was quite small and minimalist but it’s not like I’d spend that much time in there, apart from opening takeaway cartons.
“Are you taking it?” Paisley asked as she took the place in.
I’m sure she couldn’t wait to see the back of me either.
“It’s the best one so far.” I’d asked Paisley to come with me because Nikki had done everything that she could not to be alone in the same room as me after the other night.
She hadn’t even spoken to me for a day after I walked away and left her there.
She got what she wanted. She wanted a fuck, she got one.
I couldn't deal with her hot and cold anymore. I didn’t want a relationship and she obviously wanted more.
We’re toxic together. I could see that but why couldn’t she? “Gav?”
My chin snapped up and I focused back on Paisley. “Huh?”
“Are you taking it?”
I pushed myself off the bare brick feature wall.
“Yeah,” I could see myself living here. It was a little more than I wanted to pay but it was exactly what I wanted, a ground floor, one bedroomed apartment with floor to ceiling windows.
It was all I needed. If this was in the UK it’d be some shabby flat with a poxy little window, and probably damp.
Unless you get one of those luxury apartments that they seemed to be throwing up everywhere.
“I’ll take it.” I nodded over at Paisley, still lost in my head.
“I like it, Gav. It’ll be perfect for you.” She strolled towards me, “Are you sure you’re making the right decision, though?” She asked, her brows met in the middle as she chewed on her fingernail.
I took her by the shoulders and smiled, “I’m making the right decision. That baby is going to be here soon, and it’s time to stand on my own two feet. You’ve got enough to deal with when Roman number two comes.”
She sighed lightly, “I know, but I just worry. And I know Roman does too.”
“I’m not being a burden anymore.” With a brief peck on her cheek, I leaned back and she looked me in the eye. “I deserve way less than what you’ve given me. I need to do this.”
With a nod in agreement, her arms thread around me, and she hugged me. “I feel like my child is all grown up.” Her finger brushed beneath her eye in a mock tear. “You know where we are if you need us for anything. You know that, right?”
“Always. You’ll be the first I call on. How’s that?”
“Perfect.’ She smiled. “Well, let’s tell the agent then.”
Before I left, I looked back into the apartment. I felt proud. All I had to do now was fill in the application.
Almost an hour later, Paisley and I sat down with the agent and filled in the paperwork. Roman and Paisley gave me a reference since they pay my wages, and I placed down six months’ rent in advance. All I had to do now was pack up my room in Roman’s house and wait for the call to get the keys.
As I drove back up the driveway to the house, I turned off the engine and sat there for a moment longer. “You okay?” Paisley asked gently.
“Yeah.” I breathed but paused, “Pais,” I turned my head to face her, “I just wanna say thanks. You haven’t had to do any of this for me. You could’ve turned your back on me.” My eyes turned downcast, “I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had. You had every right after what I did.”
She reached across; her fingers wrapped around my hand in a gentle squeeze. “No chance.” Her head shook. “I know we never saw eye to eye back at school, but I was never one to really hold a grudge. I think when all that went down, it was the angriest I’d ever been.”
“I’m sorry I nearly screwed your life up.”
“Gav,” her head tilted to the side as she stared at me, “Look at me. Does it look like my life is screwed up now? I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.
I have Roman, a baby on the way, great friends…
this is probably the best thing that bastard, Brantley, could have ever done for me.
And he didn’t even realise it. We sorted all that out before we even came out here, so let’s say no more about it and leave it where it should be, yeah, in the past.” I glanced up and saw Roman standing on the doorstep; he looked confused about why we were still sitting there as he slid his hands into his pockets.
Her fingers tightened around mine, “You know there was a time that I would’ve retreated inside myself.
The first time I walked into that suite, I just wanted it over with.
I never thought Roman would ever look at me in the way he did.
I was still shy, career focused and determined, and the tiniest slither of self-esteem.
Now, I wouldn’t change anything from the past year, even our arguments, because it gave me a completely different way of life.
A different outlook on life.” she smiled as she turned my face to hers, “It gave me my future. How could I be angry with that?”
It was my turn to smile now. I guess in the end, I pushed them together. “I’m glad you’re with Roman. I think, well, I know you’re the most genuine person he could have ended up with.”
“Yeah well, you’re all stuck with me now. You guys are my family and this baby,” her free hand moved to her belly to rest against her bump, “is going to be the luckiest child around, because it has all of you guys to look out for it.”
I looked up and saw Roman still watching us from the doorway. “He looks confused.” A grin twitched at my lips.
Paisley glanced at Roman and then at me, and we grinned at each other. “Yeah, he does.” she giggled, “he probably thinks we’re plotting against him,” she giggled again, “come on let’s go tell the others.”
As we got out of my Mustang, I pointed the fob at it and locked it. “Maybe you could sort out whatever it is that’s going on with you and Nikki, you know seeing as you’re all grown up and settling down.”
“I never said I was settling down.” I argued as I met her at the front of the car, “but please, leave it.” I asked quietly and grinned. I didn’t want a conversation about Nikki to ruin our bonding session.
“What’s going on here then?” Roman asked in an amused tone as we walked up.
“I’m having a sordid affair with your wife.” I grinned wide, totally unashamed.
“Pfft, she’d eat you alive, mate.” That earned Roman a smack across the chest and made me laugh out loud as I passed him on the doorstep. He pulled her into his embrace, as I went through to the kitchen. I needed coffee.
“Gav,” Paisley called after me, “can I tell Roman about your new place?” I glanced back, the huge grin stretched across her face made me smile, so I nodded and went through to the kitchen.
I grabbed a coffee from the pot. She’d got a fan-dangled new machine too that she’d bought for her hot chocolates, but I preferred the fresh stuff.
As I blew away the steam that billowed from the top of the cup, I tentatively sipped my drink with my back pressed against the counter.
I listened to Paisley as she waffled on to Roman all about the apartment.
Every minor detail. I’d tuned out about halfway through.
“You know Gav, we could go looking for furniture as soon as you get your keys.” She made her way through the kitchen and over to me.
“Yeahhh…” I dragged the word out. I sounded bored, “we could.” Probably because I was.
As I breathed slowly, I took another sip and let the caffeine do its job as Roman rolled his lips inward in a tight smile, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, his hands caressed her belly as his chin rested on her shoulder.
“I can’t wait.” I said with a forced smile.
Paisley’s head tilted to the side and twisted her lips in indifference.
“Are you going to drag me around the shops?” My brows pinched, hoping that the frown on my face was going to make her mind change somehow, but no, I knew the answer straight away.
“Fuck that.” I rolled my eyes towards the ceiling. “We can do that shit online.”
“But Gaaav,” her whine had me focusing back on her, “it’s so much more fun this way.”
“Yeah, for you.” My scowl deepened, I could feel the tightness of it on my forehead, “Rome, sort your woman out.” I tipped my cup back, and drank the last dregs of coffee then placed it back on the counter, breathing a tired sigh.
He shrugged. The fucker wasn’t on my side for this, as usual. “Fine. But it’s not taking all day.”
“Yaaay.” She clapped her hands, and my eyes rolled again, but my head shook this time. How can you be that excited about shopping for furniture?
“You,” I pointed at Paisley, now wrapped completely in Roman’s embrace, “you need to get out more.” She shrugged, but all I could do was smile a little. I was not looking forward to this. At that, I turned my back on them and poured more coffee.
The front door shut with a loud bang, and instantly, every head in the kitchen turned to the doorway.
We knew who it was before she appeared. The familiar sound of heels clicked on the tiled floor, alerting us to Nikki’s presence.
She glided in, all business-like. Her skirt sat just above the knee while her blouse buttoned down the front and was tucked neatly into her skirt.
“So, what’s the big news?” News? She said as she glanced between us. Her gaze didn't stay on me for longer than thirty seconds, though. Just then, Rhys made an appearance and slipped through the patio doors from the back and leaned his back against the doorframe.
“Nik.” I greeted her, but she didn't answer. I bit back the snigger of her ignorance and waited for someone to give her an answer. Because other than me finding a place to live, I didn’t realise there was any other news.