AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Embarrassment slams into me. Aside from the crib, all his stuff is still packed up in boxes. I just haven’t had it in me to fully unpack in the month we have been living here. This man, this stranger, is witnessing my greatest weakness right this moment.
“Sorry about the mess,” I mumble, my cheeks flaming hot.
“No worries. Moving sucks,” he says, laying Tyler down and covering his tiny body with a blanket.
We both watch him sleep for a moment before we head out of the room. The man walks toward the front door, shaking his head the entire way.
“My name is Lucian,” he says once he is standing on the threshold, holding his hand out for me to shake. “I live next door.”
Nodding, I take his large hand in mine. “Cassandra.”
“Nice meeting you.” He smiles again before striding to his apartment and disappearing inside.
Closing and locking the door, I slide down the wooden surface. Sitting on the ugly, brown, industrial carpet I stare into my apartment, and sadness hits me in the chest. I finally understood why Lucian was shaking his head as he walked through. Unpacked boxes line the walls, stacks upon stacks of items that I fully intended to pack away but never got to.
My life and my apartment are a stunning mess. Something I definitely need to get under control.
But first, I need to sleep.
Chapter Two
Just a little DIY
Lucian
I got the first night of good sleep this month after leaving Cassandra and her boy next door. Sipping at my coffee at the kitchen counter I think of her and the way she broke last night. She truly is overwhelmed.
I don’t know why her son fell asleep the moment I cradled him against my chest but I am grateful he did. Both of us were in serious need of sleep.
I want to head next door and help her with everything that has been piling up in her life. I think of my own mother and can only imagine how hard it must have been raising us boys on her own, and half of us were almost grown when Dad died.
I don’t know where Tyler’s dad is but I do know that he hasn’t been helping her, that much is clear. But I also can’t just go stomping into her life and rearranging shit any way it pleases me. We don’t know each other for shit.
Besides, I need to get down to the shop. I have an early appointment.
Instead of going next door, like I want to, I hop through the shower before jumping in my truck and heading off to work.
The hours pass in a blur. The tattoo gun in my hand buzzes, stripping my thoughts away and just letting me be in the moment. My art flows from somewhere deep in my soul and the piece is finished sooner than I thought it would be.
“When is my next appointment?” I ask Mercedes after my client has paid up and left.
“You are wide open,” she says with a smile. “Actually, with how picky you are, you are set to have a long weekend.”
“It’s only Wednesday.” I frown.
I know I don’t work on just anyone but I thought I had more appointments this week. I may need to rethink the policy I have on clients. I can’t only work once a damn week. I’ll go nuts staring at the fucking walls in my apartment.
“I know. I have you booked up for the next two weeks but nothing for the rest of this week.”
“That seems like just my luck.” I smile, rapping my knuckles on the glass counter. “I’m going to clean up and head out.”
At least I have some prospects in the next couple of weeks.
“Have fun.”
***
“Fuck!”
