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Chapter 38
Calida
We didn’t speak during the car ride to his house. I kept expecting him to say something, to question why I wanted to leave, but he didn’t. When we arrived, he reached into the backseat to grab my bag.
“If I’d known I was having guests, I would have cleaned,” he commented as he led me into the house.
“It’s okay. Besides, I lived with your sister. The entire house was her closet and hamper.”
“I’m not that bad, but cleaning is one thing I do like to put off till the last minute.”
He flipped the switch in the hall, which flooded the dark house with light. I was expecting some sort of college frat house mess, but it wasn’t even close. A few dishes piled in the sink, what looked like a week’s worth of mail was scattered on the island, and a few items of clothing, mostly shirts and socks, on the floor and couch.
“You should be on the next episode of Hoarders.”
“You’re such a comedian.”
“I know. I should take my act on the road.”
“Right. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I’m gonna take your bag upstairs.”
I watched as he walked away. Once he was out of sight, I headed into the kitchen. Pulling open the dishwasher, I discovered it was empty, so I proceeded to load the dishes.
All the feelings I had the first day I walked into this house were still there. It felt homey and had a warmth to it my own house lacked. I didn’t have that underlying anxious feeling when I was here compared to when I was home. I could never fully relax there. Even when faced with the expectations Mal had for his house and our relationship, I was more at ease here. Our relationship. I was in a relationship with Malcolm, one I wasn’t looking for a way out of now.
I rinsed my hands off once I finished loading the dishwasher realizing, Malcolm hadn’t come back yet. I picked up the few items of clothing and headed up the stairs in search of him. He sat on his bed, shirtless, head hanging down and resting in his hands.
“Are you okay?”
He seemed startled by my voice. “Yeah.” His eyes went to the clothes in my arms. “You cleaning up after me?”
I shrugged. “I was coming up anyway, easy enough to bring them. I, um, cleaned the kitchen, too. Well, loaded the dishwasher anyway.”
He gave a slight laugh as he got off the bed. “Thanks, you didn’t have to do that.”
“I know, I just did it.”
He took the clothes from me then headed into the bathroom. It could have been my imagination, but it felt like the air was different between us. He seemed to be in deep thought about something when I entered.
“The bathroom will hopefully pass your strict standards,” he joked when he came back. “You can head in there to change or do whatever nightly routine you might have.”
“Are you annoyed that I’m here?” I blurted out before I could think twice about it.
His eyes widened before his brow crinkled. “Never. Why would you think that?”
“Because when I came up here, you looked...I don’t know, you just seemed unhappy or something. Never mind. I’m being stupid. Forget I said anything.”
I moved to grab my bag off the bench at the foot of the bed and found myself wrapped in Malcolm’s arms.
“I want you to live with me, Ginger. That’s where I hope we’ll eventually get to. Until then, I’m more than happy to give you as many sleepovers as your heart desires.”
My hands came up to caress his biceps. I gave them a squeeze. “I like your arms,” I said, squeezing them again.
His arm tensed, causing his muscles to contract.
“Show off.” My hands moved over to his chest before I stretched up to give him a quick kiss. “Sorry.”
“For what?”
