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The only problem was he had nowhere to go.
That had been the story of his life. Nowhere to escape to. Nowhere to hide. No one to talk to half the time when he could have used it the most.
Zane didn’t want him moving into the cottage until today and he couldn’t fight with the guy. The people who had been renting it didn’t finish cleaning it out until earlier this morning anyway.
Now they were here painting and he’d move in tomorrow. He wanted to move in today and was thinking of staying anyway.
It’s not like he had anything more than clothes and sheets and towels in a few boxes.
He’d sold everything he had to move here and that wasn’t much. He’d been living in furnished apartments his whole life, if not on the base.
Thankfully, Zane had some furniture in storage that didn’t go to Lily’s when he’d moved in there. That was part of what they were going to do once they painted the bedrooms and living room today. Nothing major in his eyes. He could deal with the colors the renters left.
“It’s only paint,” he said. “And I told you it was fine.”
“I don’t like the blues and browns they put in, but because it is only paint I didn’t have a problem. We’ll get this knocked out today.”
They were just priming those three rooms and painting them a light gray. Then they’d move the furniture in that was in the big barn where it’d been stored. Zane’s old bed was there and he was thankful for that, but he had a mattress being delivered today. He’d bought a TV a few days ago and then some things for the kitchen.
Simple stuff. Coffee maker, plates, utensils. The things you can buy in a big package of everything. Like a gift for a new homebuyer.
He was a simple man and would get the rest as it came. He had all week to get it before he started the academy next Monday.
“We can move fast,” he said. “I was thinking, if you don’t mind, maybe I’ll stay here tonight anyway. I can get everything set up and out of your way.”
Zane laughed and turned to him. “I told Lily you were going to say that.”
“I don’t want to overstay my welcome. You’ve got kids to deal with and Lily doesn’t need to be waiting on me too.”
Zane’s wife was a born mother. She’d been asking him nonstop what he wanted to eat, what he liked, to help himself. He’d never felt more welcome and yet uncomfortable at the same time.
Luke was a loner and liked it that way. Growing up the way he did, he wasn’t used to anyone helping him or even offering. Sure the hell not waiting on him.
“Lily is a caregiver. I told you before, she raised her sisters.”
He’d heard the story. That Lily Bloom was the oldest of three girls. Her mother had worked a lot and wasn’t around. Then Holly Bloom was killed when Lily was a senior in high school and eighteen. She married an older man to keep the family together, and her first husband died and left her the flower shop.
Before Carl’s death though, Lily and her sisters had already started their own business and had grown it much bigger. Now it was huge and still expanding.
Those girls, they came from somewhat of the same life as him.
Maybe not as harsh, but he could see it and there was hope for him yet that people could look past someone’s upbringing.
Even though Heather had been on his mind a lot, he knew she was too good for him and for that reason he was glad they didn’t exchange numbers over a year ago.
She didn’t seem to mind though. Unless she just wanted to get in bed with him.
Though she didn’t seem the type either.
“She did. She’s wonderful,” Luke said. “You hit gold with her.”
“I did. Never thought it’d happen. You’ll find someone if you want to.”
He grinned. “I can always find someone to warm my sheets.”
Zane smirked. “Can’t we all, but that isn’t what you need in your life and you know it.”
Zane was the only one who knew much about Luke’s life. And even then it wasn’t everything. No one knew it all. No one ever would.
