AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Then you can stay.”
“What if I want to leave next week?” she asks.
“Then I’ll help you pack.” At my answer, she looks at me with a sense of ease. “I wouldn’t want that to mean that you and I stop seeing each other, though. If you decide that living here is too much or too soon, you’re free to go. But I won’t stop seeing you.” A small smile perks up on her beautiful face.
I walk her into the spare bedroom, nowherbedroom. I gesture for her to explore her new space as I watch the wonder fill her eyes.
“Holy shit!” she shouts from across the room.
“What?” I hurry over to where she’s standing, not sure what I’m about to find.
“This closet is bigger than my apartment.” She looks around with wide eyes, and I can’t help but let out a laugh.
I haven’t seen her smile so wide in a while. I make a silent promise to myself to do whatever it takes to pull that smile out of her as often as possible. I follow behind closely as she admires the walk-in closet. A round vanity sits in the middle, with glass drawers perfect for jewelry or makeup or whatever accessories she might like. I’d be overjoyed to fill this closet with anything and everything that brings this smile to Sterling’s face.
“It’s all yours,” I say and just as she turns to look at me with thankful eyes, the movers interrupt us by knocking gently on the bedroom door.
“We’re all done here. Miss. Cooper, we’ll need a signature and an email to send the invoice to.”
“Yes, it’s-” Sterling walks past me toward the movers to oblige but I stop her in her tracks, holding her gently by the wrist as I step forward.
“I’ll take care of it.” I scribble a signature on the electronic device and hand them my credit card.
“What are you doing?” Sterling speaks up from behind me, trying to fight her way through.
“I’ll take care of it, Sterling,” I repeat. The mover hands back my card and with a nod, they step out of the room and let themselves out through the elevator. As soon as the doors slide shut, I turn to face her.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she says.
“One thing you’re gonna need to know about me, sweetheart, is that I don’t do anything I don’t want to do.”
“Yeah, but if we’re going to make whatever this is work, you really need to stop stepping on my toes, Callan.” My name glides off her tongue with a little bit more sarcasm than the rest of her words.
“You think I’m stepping on your toes?” I ask as I lean against the door frame.
“Well, yeah. Kinda.” Her lips curl into a small smile.
“I thought you liked it when I get bossy.” I want to touch her, kiss her, everything with her. But this feels like unfamiliar territory to me. I’m so overcome with emotions, I don’t know which to feel first.
“Well, thank you for taking care of the moving expenses for me, Mr. David,” she speaks in an exaggerated fancy voice, verging on British. “Now if you don’t mind, I have to run to the store for a few things.”
“Well, I’d be happy to escort you, Miss Cooper,” I offer, in a tone that mocks hers.
I see the gears twisting in her brain as she looks at me behind a curious but nervous smile.
“Actually, I think I should go by myself.” Her voice shifts back to normal. She places the palm of her hand over my chest, pats it a few times and smirks at me. I love playful Sterling.
“Okay, but I actually need some things too,” I mention, wondering why I can’t tag along on her shopping adventure. “We can even make a list and have Gerald run the errand,” I suggest.
“Gerald does your grocery shopping?”
“If I ask him to. Sometimes he gets bored.”
She looks at me, still curious.
“I didn’t mean to overstep,” I say.
“You…didn’t really,” she hesitates. “It’s just, I need to get some personal things from the store.”
