53. Auden
My heart is racing as the elevator climbs to the seventh floor. We decided to add a few of my things to the pickup truck and drop off all of Storm’s things into the apartment so we can return the truck to Sean later today.
The first time I saw this apartment was when I signed the lease. It’s now painted and some of my things are in it. I sometimes can’t believe I’m here. At this moment in my life. Three years ago, I’d never pictured this because three years ago I wanted to end it all. All the thoughts, all the stress, I wanted to drown it out with vodka.
Now look at me. I hit a bump in the road, but other than that, I’m thriving.
I fish the keys from my pocket and unlock the door. It still smells like paint, but it’s our home. There are floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room where you can sort of see the community garden on the rooftop of the building next door. The kitchen looks so inviting, I’m excited to start cooking in there.
“You like it?” I ask Storm as he puts the coat hanger by the door and places a box at his feet.
He smiles. “It’s our home.”
“Save the gushy stuff for when I leave, let’s unpack the rest of the truck,” Glenn says, clapping Storm’s shoulder. “And let’s hope these elevators don’t conk out on us, either.”
Storm lets out a soft chuckle at my father’s comment. “What do you mean?”
I roll my eyes. “Stupid elevators decide when they want to work. We run on their schedule. It’s the only issue with the building.”
He looks around, taking in the open concept. “That’s what stairs are for.”
He smirks, finding my gaze. This is the first time in over a week that I’ve seen pure happiness on his face. I can’t imagine what Storm must be going through right now having to up and leave all his friends and family behind. He’s doing a lot for me and I don’t know how to thank him for leaving the only life he’s ever known. But that smile on his face shows me our decision was the best one.
It takes us a few trips up and down to unload the truck. One of the concierges at the door starts helping us load the elevator so we don’t have to do another trip down. Thankfully, Storm doesn’t have a lot of stuff and most of his things are in boxes, so after forty minutes, we’re done.
I can already see where everything is going to go. His vinyl set will sit by the back window next to the two accent chairs that are already there. The mirror with my lipstick on it—that surprisingly didn’t get smudged—will hang in the entrance with his stand-up coat hanger where I first found his black trench coat. Behind the couch, there’s a built-in bookshelf where boxes of our books are already sitting in front of. And all of Storm’s clothes will fit in the walk-in closet we’ll share. I’m excited and from the smile that hasn’t left his face, I think he is, too.
“All right, kids. I gotta get to work,” my dad says, looking at his watch. “Your mother’s making dinner tonight. Be home for seven.”
“I will,” I say, embracing him. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” He puts his hand out to Storm. His intimidation tactic of wearing his uniform did not work. But I commend him for trying. Storm is one of the good ones. “Take care of my little lady.”
“Always, sir,” Storm says. “We’ll see you this evening. Is there something we can bring?”
“My wife likes white wine.” Glenn nods at me before waving and closing the door behind him.
I step farther into the living room and look out the window. The first place I was looking at had a view of Central Park, but that was way out of my price range. From the bedroom window, at the right angle, I can see some of the trees from Central Park and that’s enough for me.
Storm comes behind me and wraps his arms around my neck. “This place is huge.”
I beam, leaning my head back against his chest. “It’s nice, right?”
“How can you afford this?” he asks, there’s a nervousness to his tone. I can’t blame him. He went from living rent-free for so many years and never having to worry about bills aside from his phone bill, to turning his life around overnight.
“I’ll be making enough every two weeks to pay for a month’s rent,” I reassure. “We’ll be fine, I promise.”
He kisses my head. “I’ll contribute, too. I’m meeting my new boss on Friday.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, kissing his arm.
He turns me, smiling. “For you, I’d do anything.”
Storm’s expression changes when he cradles my head and kisses me. Something is looming over him. I wonder if being away from his life is bothering him.
“You all right?” I ask, sliding my arms around his neck.
He waggles his eyebrows and tongue. “You wanna give me a handy?”
I laugh. “You wish.”
“Mm, I can’t wait to live with you,” he says, scrunching his nose. “Just so you know, I poop with the door open.”
“Oh, God.” I laugh, palming my face. “You’re shit out of luck because girls don’t poop.”
His laugh is loud and contagious, his eyes are squinting and watering. I guess this one hit home on the funnies. He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles, there’s that look again. Something’s bothering him.
“Wanna start unpacking?”
“Only if you tell me what’s on your mind.” I poke his cheek a couple of times. “Are you nervous about the move? Because if so, I can’t deal with leaving you again.”
“I wouldn’t dream of leaving you, baby.”
“Then what’s up?”
He gulps nervously, sighing. “My brother got out on Saturday. My parents didn’t even tell me. So you know shit was gonna go down if I stayed behind. I swear you’re literally my guardian angel sent from heaven to save me in so many ways.” He rakes his fingers through his hand. “You saved my life twice now.”
I swallow thickly, nodding as I try to keep my cool. I fear for my life from someone I don’t even know. “Happy to be of service,” I say, trying to lighten up the mood.
“I wanted you to meet my parents when we went back to pick up my things, but that’s not gonna happen for a really long time.” He takes my hands, playing with my fingers. “Not until Denny and I can make peace.”
“I’m sure things will be okay.”
He takes a breath. “There’s a lot of pent-up anger on his part because he’s been in prison for so long. I’m scared of what he’ll do if he sees me…I don’t know what I’d do if he hurt you.”
I smile, squeezing his hand. “I’m here to listen if you ever want to talk about it.”
“You know everything there is to know about me,” he discloses, lifting a shoulder. “I just don’t wanna talk about Denny being out and ruining our moving day.”
As terrifying as it may seem, Storm leaving Campbellton has got to be the best decision he’s ever made. Being with me has saved his life in so many ways. As crazy as our love story is, it’s everything I could’ve asked for. Even with the paranoid fear, I wouldn’t change a damn thing.
He taps my ass as he continues to roam through our apartment, and leans on the table in the kitchen, shaking it and pushing on it as if checking its sturdiness. I chuckle because I know exactly what he’s doing. As soon as we’re moved in, I know it won’t take long for us to christen this entire apartment.
“I was thinking of putting your records here,” I say, pointing to the area with the two accent chairs. He looks back and nods. I continue telling him about where I think everything should go, where it would look good, and what he thinks of it. He doesn’t say anything as I go on and on about our things. He simply smiles and nods at everything I say, admiring me roaming around the apartment, pointing and outlining the walls and general area.
I push my lips together when he follows me into the bedroom, and I stop pointing things out. I cover my face with a laugh, embarrassed at how I’m expressing my excitement.
“Don’t cover that gorgeous face,” he says, removing my hands.
“I’m embarrassed.”
He chuckles, sitting back on the bed with me in between his legs. “Why?”
I curl my lip up. “You’re not saying anything.”
“I like watching you plan,” he says, laughing. “And while you’ve been planning, I have also been planning.”
“You don’t like my ideas?”
“I love your ideas,” he says, rubbing his hands up and down the back of my thighs. “But my ideas are funner.”
I run my fingers through his hair and he leans his head back with a grin. “How so?”
“We got a lot of furniture to christen.” He kisses my chest and lifts me, my legs wrapping around his waist. “We can very well start now, no?”
“Mmhmm,” I hum.
He nibbles softly at my neck and lets his tongue trace my jawline. “I like that we don’t have the curtains up.”
“Where to first?” I ask, getting off him and undressing as I walk out of the room. He follows me and lets his shirt fall to the floor as I step out of my shorts.
“Right fucking here,” he growls, pushing me into the wall and taking me from behind. We make love against the wall, leaving everything else untouched until we’re officially living here.
Life took a turn for me the past couple of weeks. I met my birth father and then someone I never thought I would ever meet and fell for almost instantly. I’m about to embark on a new career in just a day and a half. Everything is coming together and I couldn’t be happier than this moment right now.