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“You looked hot in everything you tried on, so we just had to buy it all.” Brian waves his hand over the shopping bags. He is right; I did buy almost everything I tried on. I didn’t want to, but he is a good shopper and practically made me. New shoes, a handbag, clothes, skincare, and makeup.
“Here, take your card back. Clearly, it is not safe with us,” I say, giggling, handing the card back to Eddie. He looks at me with a glint in his eye but doesn’t move to take it from me.
“Keep it. It’s yours. Use it for anything, whenever you want.” I still in surprise.
“If you are giving them out, I will take one,” Brian says, downing the remainder of his drink, giving Eddie a grin.
“I can’t take this.”I can’t, can I?
“Why not?” Eddie asks, seemingly affronted.
“And… Mom and Dad are going to start fighting, so that’s my cue to leave,” Brian says, jumping up from the sofa and grabbing his things. “Call me later and we can debrief.” Brian kisses me on the cheek before he walks over and hits the elevator button.
“Thanks, Brian. Glad to see you both had a good time.” Eddie stands and shakes his hand, ignoring the elephant in the room.
“Ohh, anytime, bossman. You know shopping is my favorite hobby, especially when it is done on your dime,” Brian says with a grin before stepping into the elevator and waving goodbye.
“What do you mean you can’t take the card?” Eddie asks, turning swiftly around to look at me as soon as the elevator doors close.
“It’s your money. One shopping trip to get me out of the house is nice, but I don’t need your money, Eddie,” I say, not sure if I make sense or not.
“I’m not taking it back. Keep it and use it if you want, or don’t if you don’t. But I would feel better knowing you have it and can use it if needed. I want you to go shopping with Brian, have girls’ nights with the girls, maybe a day spa afternoon or hair appointments. Whatever you need or want to do, I want you to do it and not think about the money side of things. Baby, I am being totally honest with you now when I say, money is not an issue, and I won’t even look at the statement. My people will just pay it,” he says, smiling, and I put the card down on the table, not yet sure exactly what to do with it. “Also… I moved you out of Harborside…” Looking at me with a hesitant expression, he starts to gather up all the shopping bags.
“Moved me out?” I raise my eyebrows as his warm hand envelops mine, and he pulls me off the sofa, walking me down to the bedroom. I rest my head on his shoulder and breathe him in. I love his smell. He always smells fresh, like he stepped out of a rainforest.
“I want you here with me. Every day,” he says as he opens the walk-in wardrobe and places my shopping bags down, and I see a whole side now designated to me. I see my familiar clothes—jeans, tops, a few shoes—but now they are all supplemented with additional things. Pants, sweaters, jewelry, accessories, shoes, dresses, a variety of things. I walk in silently, taking it all in.He has moved me in? In with him, permanently?My fingers skim over the fabrics as I walk the length of the hanging space. He has bought me an entirely new wardrobe, way more than the few bags I purchased today, and I grab a few things out to take a look, loving every single thing. They are all exactly what I would buy myself.
“Eddie…” Overwhelmed, I am still in shock at what I am looking at. We have only been together for a few months, at most—with those months being interrupted by bedlam and blackmail. But this place already feels more like home than any other place I have lived in. I know that is because Eddie is here.
“I had the girls go shopping for you today as well. If you don’t like anything, we can take it back, exchange it. I told them what I thought you would like, so I hope it all fits,” he explains quickly, and I see him swallow, clearly nervous.
“It’s too much. You don’t have to spend your money on me like this.” I frown.
“I want to. I want to give you everything. I want you here. That may make me selfish, but I want you to be comfortable here. With me.” His voice rises at the end, like it is a question not a statement.
“I am. I am happy with you. But are we moving too fast?” I ask because I don’t know. I have never had a relationship like this. It doesn't feel fast. It feels right, but should we?
“I would have moved you in within the first week had I not been such a fucking idiot and let you believe I was the maintenance man. Do you have any idea how badly I want you? I want us.” I can hear the vulnerability in his voice.
“Hmmm, well, I think we are both guilty of hiding the truth. Are you sure?” I ask again, looking up at him.
“I want you here. Do you want to be here?” I see his breathing speed up as his eyes lock on mine.
“I don’t want to be anywhere else but where you are.” The honesty feels like it comes from so deep within, my chest hurts as the words float out of my mouth. It is like slow motion, and I see the moment he understands. His lips part and widen in a large smile.
“I got you a few other things…” Eddie says sheepishly.
My brow furrows.What else could there possibly be?
He walks back to the bedroom, and following him, I notice some boxes on the bed.
“I got you a new cell phone. With a new number. It is private, so no one will have this number without you giving it to them,” he says, and my heart stutters. Steve or anyone from my former life will never be able to reach me again. It will cut all ties. It is something I should have done years ago, yet never could. I never had a safety net that gave me the confidence to let go of it all. Until now.
“I also put in a call to Dr. Catherine Wakeford,” he states and I freeze.
“What did she say?” I ask, as she was my other lifeline. The one who helped me make this move, the one who made it possible.
“She was fully supportive of whatever made you happy. She is writing you another letter of recommendation, so you can move away from Dr. Wilson. Maybe into the nursery ward to do more cuddling?” he offers, his smile small but loving.
