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“I don’t have a frame for it yet. This is what people do who don’t have bed frames.”
He looked around the space as if seeing it for the first time.
“You have the lamp sitting on a cooler.”
My face flushed the smallest bit, but I pushed it away. Wasn’t like he’d never been poor; he’d shown me where he once lived.
“It serves dual purposes,” I joked, lifting it to pull out a bottle of water. “See, it’s like having a mini fridge up here.”
He walked over to the window and picked up the sheet that had been hanging over it. I liked to unpin the side in the mornings after I dressed so I could have natural light in the room.
I watched him as his motorcycle boots pressed into the carpet, heading toward the closet.
“You’re still living out of your suitcases?”
This was starting to feel a little redundant, so I didn’t answer.
“You’ve been here for three months; how come you haven’t moved in?”
His gaze was soft and curious. I shrugged, pulling on a sweater, desperately wanting out of my shorts and into some sweats. I wanted to take my bra off and get under my covers and prop my phone up so I could watch Never Been Kissed. I had been making my way through nineties and early two thousand rom coms.
“This was always going to be temporary. I wanted to stay ready to leave in case you came back and kicked me out.”
Killian’s jaw went slack for a moment before he recovered, clearing his throat. I thought he was going to say something else, but instead, he turned and started downstairs, flipping lights as he went.
The office space across from the room was empty, so were the linen closets. He took the stairs one at a time, until his heavy tread was echoing over the hardwood.
“You’ve got to be fuckin’ kidding me.” He scoffed.
I watched from my perch near the stairs, close to the room. I was beyond ready for bed and the sooner Killian let himself out, the better.
“No couch. No fucking television.” His voice trailed as he transitioned to the kitchen. “Two plates, two spoons, two forks, one bowl, and a single coffee mug.”
Rolling my eyes, I decided I’d heard enough. I’d never lived alone, and I came to Rose Ridge with exactly zero things to my name except my clothes. Callie took me to the thrift store, and I grabbed a few things, and of course she wanted to make me her pity project and buy me a whole apartment’s worth of shit, but I refused.
I’d eventually build up my stuff, but why buy new stuff I’d have to move when I wasn’t planning on being here for very long?
“You’re living like you’re not getting paid by the club. Why the fuck is that, Laura?” His arms went wide as he looked up at me and slowly slid his leather cut off his shoulders. He placed it gently on the counter, since there was no table or chairs for him to lay it over. Next, he slid his boots off, and my heart began raging in my chest. Why was he acting like he was staying?
“I get paid, I’m just saving up.”
“This isn’t living, this is squatting.” Killian was in a pair of white socks, a pair of denim jeans and a plain white t-shirt. I could see his tattoos running down his right arm, and the way it dripped down his hand and fingers.
I loved the way it looked on him, and how his left arm didn’t match. It was strangely perfect.
“I already told you that I’m moving out soon. I’m not sure why you’re so bothered by how I’m living.” My voice was starting to grow thin the later it became. I just wanted to sleep.
Killian muttered a curse as he replied, “you did say that didn’t you.”
His head dipped, like he was finally giving up, then with a weary expression he said, “Fine. Just get your ass in bed, you’re exhausted.”
I didn’t need him to tell me twice. I shuffled back to the room, taking my sweatshirt and bra off, tossing them in the closet as I went. My shorts went next. I was in just my tank top and underwear when I clicked the light off and crawled into bed.
Sleep weighed down my eyelids, and I was nearly out when I felt the bed dip and a rather giant-like presence fill the opposite side of my mattress.
I let out a groan as I fought the overwhelming urge to ignore him and slumber.
“What are you doing?”
