Page 11 of Fragile

“You’re such a charmer,” I smiled as he moved past me.

His nose scrunched as he saw my stuff. “Is that it?”

I moved to stand by his side and looked down at my paltry worldly goods. “Yep, that’s it.”

“Well, at least we can do it in one trip. I see that fricking lift is still out; thought I was going to have a stroke walking up all those stairs. I don’t know how you do it.”

My grin widened, “Me too. Especially after training for ten hours.”

He returned my smile and then looked around. “Do you have everything?”

I scanned the room and checked my rucksack where I’d placed my essential paperwork and dance certificates. I must have packed everything as the small room was now empty.

On that note, we both grabbed my bags and made our way out into the hallway.

After I had pulled the door closed and locked it, I explained that I needed to leave my key with Simon. I was so pleased Ash had come early and would be with me when I saw him. After Simon’s last attempt to grope me, I was well and truly done with it.

Simon seemed flustered when I handed my key over and Ash loomed beside me, protecting me without knowing it. I hadn’t told anyone of the harassment I had suffered at Simon’s hands. I didn’t believe in bringing other people into my drama. Well, not if I could help it.

Simon was disappointed when I told him I was leaving and asked me to wait so he could check I didn’t owe any rent. The type of place I had lived for the last six months was not the kind that required a security deposit and so I wasn’t expecting any money back.

When he asked for my forwarding address, I explained that he didn’t need it. I had already registered with the post office for their re-routing service. The last thing I wanted was for Simon to know where I’d moved to. No, thank you. His was a small chapter in my life, one that I would be scrunching up so tightly that I would never have to read it again.

As we made it down the stairs and out into the clear blue London sky, we were approached by a large stocky man. I would put him around the thirty-something mark and he had stern eyes. He had been standing next to a large Range Rover with blacked-out windows. It looked like something a gangster would drive.

He nodded to Asher and took the stuff he was holding before turning to me.

“This is Marco. Marco, Leonie, or Leo if you prefer. She’s coming to live with us for a while,” Ash introduced and I waved a ‘hi there’, managing to hold back my giggle, he even had a gangster’s name. Funny.

Once my stuff was safely in the boot of the car, we slid into the backseat together and I glanced up at the building I was leaving behind, feeling so happy and excited about pastures new. No more coming back to an empty building and a pervert. I would have Asher and would never feel unsafe again. The fact that my dance company shared the same building as the place where Ash was studying Fine Art meant we could travel home together too when our schedules matched; another plus. Travelling on the Tube when it was dark had never been my cup of tea; not really. My looks and body had always encouraged the wrong type of attention. I was looking forward to having some roommates; even if one of them was large and moody and extremely good-looking.

Even after that brief awkward first impression, all would be good, I was sure of it. Determination to make it work pumped through my veins.

The car pulled out into the traffic and I turned to Ash. “So, how did the coming out talk go with Gabriel? I take it he already knew?”

Ash shuffled against the seat, the cream leather creaking against his legs. The interior of the car was top of the range. “Yeah, the bastard had his suspicions. Probably didn’t help that the guy I shagged the other week called the house to say I’d left my watch at his place. I only found out when he texted me this morning. If he’d had any doubt that would have done it. Plus, our kiss of course.”

I chuckled. “Yes, it wasn’t really one that would sweep a girl off her feet.”

Asher held up his hand in a halting motion. “Please don’t judge, I’ve been told I’m a maniac with my tongue,” he bragged with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

“I’ll take your word for it,” I replied.

“You going straight to the apartment Mr Asher?” Marco suddenly said as he negotiated the bad traffic.

“Yes, please.”

Marco’s eyes met mine briefly in the rearview mirror and I turned away to stare out of the window. I felt hot and smoothed back my hair with my hands. I had left it loose and it fell across my shoulders in chaos. When I wasn’t at practice, I would leave it down. It spent too much time scraped up into a bun which usually resulted in a headache. On a normal day, it was nice to leave it loose but as I’d been packing, part of it was sticking to my back with sweat, even in the air-conditioned space.

“What did you think of Gabriel then?” Asher questioned, sliding in the seat and recatching my attention.

How did I answer that?

I released a puff of air. “Well, not much really. As in, I don’t know yet. I try not to judge people until I get to know them better.”

Asher snorted. “What about first impressions?”

Hmm. That was a tough one. My first impression of him had been, big, mean, and moody.

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