Page 26 of Six Wishes

CHAPTER13

I’ll call you

Chloe

“What is up with Zach and Hunter?”

Zach took off half an hour ago, and I am currently following Van around his house as he is picking things up and making sure they look just so. I am starting to learn that the man obsesses over things if they are out of place.

I am also noticing that Van is walking with a limp. It’s barely there, and I don’t think very many people would notice. Maybe because I’ve been analyzing him for hours now, but I noticed the tiny wince and grunt he let out when he got off the couch earlier.

“Hell if I know.”

We are in the bedroom now where he takes the comforter off the bed, then walks to what seems to be a linen closet where he pulls an identical comforter out which he places neatly on the bed, making sure that it is lined up perfectly in all four corners.

“What are you doing?” I have to ask because I don’t get it.

Van picks up the comforter he took off the bed, and now we’re walking toward the large laundry room that’s got the biggest washer and dryer set I have ever seen, at least the non-commercial kind. Very impressive operation he’s got here, I have to admit.

I continue to watch in awe as he folds the comforter in a certain way, then shoves it in the washer. With the soap already in the dispenser, he gets it all going.

“What?” he catches me staring at him and he seems confused as to why.

“Why did you take that off the bed,” I point toward the washer where the apparently dirty comforter is spinning, “and put an identical one on?”

“We had sex on this one,” he points behind him with his thumb. “It had a stain on it after we were done.”

Okay, now I feel embarrassed because I didn’t notice any of that when we rushed to put our clothes on.

“We need to wash the clothes we have on, too,” he eyes me up and down like he’s about to get me naked again, only this time for purely sanitary reasons.

I lift my right wrist up to check the time on my smart watch. I can’t believe how late it is. Also, I got some calls I need to return, especially to my mom who seems to be losing it more with every new message sent.

“I’d love to stay and do some laundry with you, Van,” I look up and see that he’s smirking now. “But I need to head on home. I got stuff to do, and all my clean clothes are there.”

He eyes me up and down like he’s trying to decide if I’m lying or not.

“I really need to go, Van. It’s late. I need to call my mom and clear this mess going around online,” I start laughing, but then sober up when I see that he is watching me intently.

“I hope you know that I was serious earlier. I’m your boyfriend now, so you better not go get yourself a Brian on the side.”

“A Brian… What are you talking about?” I try to be as serious as he is, but I just can’t.

Van walks closer to me and I take a step back until I hit the wall behind me. He grabs the tag of the zipper on my hoodie and starts playing with it.

“You’re my girlfriend,” he mutters against my lips. “And I’m your boyfriend.” He gives me a soft kiss that makes me not want to leave here tonight. “I won’t go chase puckers around, and you won’t go chase Brians around. Got it?” He pulls my zipper all the way, then brings the tag up, forcing me to get up on the tip of my toes unless I want the hoodie over my mouth.

It’s really amazing that even with me lifted like this, I am still shorter than he is. I could fall in love with this man. He is so easy to love.

“Got it,” I grin, and he lets go of me. I am almost disappointed when he takes a step back, then motions for me to walk out of the laundry room ahead of him.

He directs me toward the kitchen where he presents me with a pen and pad of paper. “Write your address down.”

I grab the pen and pull the pad of paper to the left, then rest my elbow on the counter and start writing. When I am done, I place the pen on top of the paper and push it up. I look at Van only to see that his eyes look all glazed over.

“You okay?” I wonder if the trouble with his knee is worse than I thought.

“I don’t know why,” he rubs both hands up and down his face, “but watching you writing with your left hand is hot as fuck.”

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