On a Monday.
This should be illegal.
I groaned, flinging back the covers, and followed the noise to the windows which overlooked the driveway and the front of my house, where I found Freddie directing a dozen workmen and two massive flatbed trucks filled with trees, reversing toward the front door. I wish I could say this was the weirdest thing I’d ever seen her doing, but that would be a lie.
I quickly brushed my teeth and took a piss before grabbing some shorts and a hoodie, and ran downstairs.
“Fred?” I was still rubbing my eyes when I opened the door.
She turned around, confused. “Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you were in the city.” She took in my face. “Sorry, did I wake you up?”
I nodded. “Yeah, but it’s okay.” I looked around, knowing it was better to not ask. “How long are you going to be?”
“Give me five minutes and I’ll be there, just let me sort these guys out.”
“Okay.” I walked back in, straight into the kitchen.
The sun was shining through the glass paneling which stretched across the back of the kitchen, and I flipped the switch making them glide open on their tracks, letting the outdoors in.
I scratched my beard, breathing in the fresh air, walking out to the backyard across the patio and onto the paving stones which ran down the length of the garden. The sky was cloudless, the early morning sun drying the final drops of dew off the newly laid grass. In the distance I could see the water in the pool sparkling blue. It was going to be a beautiful day, and I suddenly had a new appreciation of the space Freddie helped me create.
I’d bought this house before I’d met Lucky, but renovated it after. I remember turning up every day, trying to push away the loneliness that would creep in if I let it, wondering if this would ever be a house I’d share with someone, build a life with, grow a family with, occasionally daring to imagine I’d share it with her.
If I’d ever see her again.
Since Freddie had found her three days ago, the ache had disappeared in my chest. Since I’d kissed her two nights ago, I’d struggled to contain the overwhelming excitement which consumed me every time I thought about her.
Something I’d tried to limit to once every two minutes.
The crippling nerves I’d had about seeing her again, worrying whether she’d remember me, worrying whether she wouldn’t be how I’d remembered her, had been eviscerated to fuck the second she’d looked at me; her big turquoise eyes shining, thegolden flecks flashing with fire, flaming arrows shooting straight to my heart.
I had to consciously stop myself from calling her just to hear her voice; trying to hold onto a shred of self-control.
But I wanted her here. I wanted her with me.
More than I’d ever wanted anything else.
After I’d left her outside her apartment, I’d gone home and straight into a freezing cold shower where I’d stayed for nearly an hour. The ache which had made camp in my chest was now firmly in my balls, and I was surprised my dick wasn’t severely chafed from the amount I’d jerked off in the last thirty-six hours.
But now I’d tasted her again, I knew without a doubt I was never going to taste anything better.
Just like I knew I wanted to do this properly.
I hadn’t had sex for eleven months, the longest I’d gone since I’d lost my virginity. Fuck, it was the longest I’d gone after a week, so I could wait a bit longer if Lucky was my prize at the end of it, because I was going to win her.
I was going to make her mine.
I looked at the time on my phone. Seven twenty. She would have just finished her first class. Before I could stop myself, I typed a message and hit send.
Drew: Good morning, Lucky Charm. How was class today? X
I put it in my pocket so I didn’t stare at the screen like a loser waiting for her reply. It was bad enough I wanted to.
Because that’s who I was now.
I spun as I heard a noise, to see Freddie carrying a large box through the archway into the kitchen and sprinted back inside to take it from her, placing it on the kitchen table.
“Shit, don’t tell Coop I let you carry this.” Although it was much lighter than it looked, it was still big enough to topple her very small stature.
