Page 67 of Riverside Reverie

I also ordered a pillow-top mattress next, arranging for it all to be delivered in two weeks’ time. It made my decision to move more real and more definite. I hadn’t told my parents yet, but I had furniture ordered.

After we finished at the furniture store, Theo took me out for a late breakfast, insisting that we had to eat something before hitting up the grocery store. He’d pointed out how dangerous it was to go grocery shopping on empty stomachs, and I knew he was right. We went to Rudy’s again, and Bonnie seemed excited to see us walk into her section.

Once we had eaten breakfast, we went to the grocery store.

It should have felt strange, running all these domestic errands with Theo, but it felt right. Theo made sure to toss in an extra-large box of condoms to our cart with a cheeky grin.

It was quiet when we returned home. Desmond was still sleeping, trying to get as much rest as he could before his midnight shift, and Jasmine was gone to work for the day.

I helped Theo unload the groceries, then switched my laundry over. Everything I’d brought was enough to fit into one load.

Jasmine had returned from work by the time my laundry was in the dryer. I felt a little guilty, ditching Theo, but he seemed unbothered by the prospect.

“If anything, I owe Jasmine an apology for occupying most of your time,” he insisted, seeing me off with a kiss. “I promise, I’ll survive until later. The back door will be unlocked, come in whenever you’re ready for bed.”

“I’m ready for bed now,” I said, my hands running over his bulge with intent.

“And I’ll hold you to that, later,” Theo grinned back. “Go hang with Jas, I’ll see you in a bit.”

I nodded, forcing myself to walk away from him, even though my hands itched to slip into his pants.

Jasmine was waiting next door in the living room with takeout boxes from her favourite Thai restaurant set up on the coffee table. “Oh good, I thought you were going to ditch me, and I’d have to eat all this Thai food alone.”

“Where’s Talia?”

“Not back from Eliza’s yet,” she replied with a coy smile. “Did you find furniture?”

“I did,” I pulled my phone out of the pocket of my jeans before I sat down beside Jasmine, opening up my gallery to show her the photos I’d taken.

“Ooh, fancy!” Jasmine said with approval. “When does it get delivered?”

“Two weeks,” I put my phone down on the coffee table and reached for a box. Jasmine had ordered my favourite, Thai fried rice.

She nodded, chewing on her chicken pad Thai. She finished chewing and swallowed before speaking. “So, that means you’re looking at moving here in two weeks?”

“About that,” I answered. “Unless…well, unless things get even more unbearable at home.”

And I had a sinking suspicion that they would. Something told me my leaving would cause more drama in the house. Brinley thought she had more time to torment me, and me leaving would be like removing her favourite toy.

“Of course. You can seriously move in tomorrow, I’m sure Talia wouldn’t mind. You could crash on the couch until your furniture arrives, or get them to deliver it sooner. Or keep staying with Theo.” She winked at that last part, and I flushed with embarrassment. “How’s that going, by the way?”

“Good, I guess. I really enjoy spending time with him.”

“So you’ve said,” Jasmine chuckled. “You guys really seem to have hit it off. I was right in thinking you’d be good for each other.”

“It’s too early to tell,” I frowned.

“Not really, he’s already made you more adventurous and confident. You might not see it, but I do. You’re a different person than the defeated girl I picked up on Friday to drag into the backwoods,” she commented, her tone kind. “I was really worried about you. Brinley really did a number on you this time, but I’m so glad your shine has returned.”

I couldn’t deny it—getting away from the situation back home had been even more healing than I could have imagined when I’d said yes to the camping trip. I felt more like me; a version of me I hadn’t seen in so many years. I felt ready to take on new opportunities, to make a life for myself that was completely my own.

“Well, I don’t know if he’s made me more adventurous and confident, or if being here with you has,” I lifted a shoulder in a shrug, pausing to take another bite of food. Jasmine’s eyes lit up at that, and she grinned. “But we barely know each other.”

“You guys have a lot in common. You’ll get there,” Jasmine said.

“I do think he’s awoken something in me, though.” I admitted.

“I bet he has,” Jasmine snorted. “I told you that good dick therapy would help.”

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