Good. He’ll take care of you.
Royce and Cormac say hello.
And to message them sometime too. They think it might be a good way for you to get to know them while we’re working.
I can do that.
I miss you already.
Parker
I’m going crazy with the two of you gone. I miss you both so much.
I sigh, not sure what else to say. What else is there to say? Nothing we say is going to change what’s happening right now. There’s no way for us to fix this—or at least not me and Damon.
Speaking of Damon…
I glance at the time, and realize he should be here in thirty minutes or so. I might as well get ready for bed while I wait for him. Maybe grab a snack.
Pushing to my feet, I wrinkle my nose.
Okay, I think I need a shower. Then all the other things can happen.
I still don’t bother to grab my bag, not wanting to deal with it as I head up the stairs to my room. I’m still staying in my childhood room, though it’s been redecorated since then. It just doesn’t feel right to move into my parents’ room. Eventually, I will, but I’m not ready for that yet.
I grab a sleep shirt, grinning when I realize it’s the one I was wearing the day I last saw Parker and Damon. I’ve been sleeping in it for all these years, and it’s more than a little threadbare. I just couldn’t bring myself to throw it away, and now I’m glad I didn’t.
Quickly grabbing a pair of underwear, I head for my ensuite. Each of the bedrooms have their own bathrooms, something I adore about it. When I was a kid, I thought my bathroom was overkill but as an adult? I couldn’t be more thankful for the massive tub and large walk-in shower. Not to mention the towel warmers and heated floors.
Money might not be able to buy happiness, but it can certainly buy luxury.
I turn the shower on as hot as I can stand, allowing it to warm up as I get undressed. Staring at myself in the mirror, I smile at the marks on my pale skin. Yes, they’ll fade, but for now, they’ll remain as reminders of one of the best weekends of my life.
Knowing my time is limited, I step under the shower’s spray and almost moan as my muscles relax beneath the heat. While I enjoy baths, showers are my favorite. There’s just something about standing beneath the water as it cascades over my body. If I had more time, I’d stand here, letting it beat down on me for a while. But since I don’t know how long it’s going to take Damon to get here, I quickly wash myself before grabbing a towel off the warmer and drying off.
Dressing is quick and easy since I’m planning to wear so little. I brush my teeth before heading back downstairs.
The first thing I do is grab both phones, knowing I should’ve brought them upstairs with me. I don’t have any messages, so I carry them into the kitchen with me where I make a quick snack and grab a water.
Returning to the living room, I flick on the TV as I eat my cheese and crackers. Some horror movie I’ve never seen is playing, and I decide to leave it on. I do love a good horror movie—or even a bad one.
It draws me in so quickly that I jump when a knock sounds on the door. Giggles spill from my lips as I climb off the couch and throw open the door.
Damon looks just like he did when I left him a little over an hour ago. He wasn’t kidding when he said he was grabbing a few things and heading over.
“And what’s so funny?” he asks, lifting his eyebrows as he cocks his head.
I wave him inside, shutting the door behind him. “I was watching a horror movie, and it sucked me right in. I jumped when you knocked on the door like I didn’t know you were coming over. It was funny to me.”
“A horror movie, huh?” he steps into the living room, setting his bag on an end table as he looks around. “This place hasn’t changed at all.”
“Nope, and I haven’t had the heart to redo it just yet.” I shrug. “It makes me feel like I’m forgetting them or something. I’ll get around to it eventually. Just like I’ll move into my parents’ room eventually.”
Damon grins as he turns back to me. “Does that mean you’re in your old room? I’ve had so many fantasies about fucking you in that room.”
Oh. Is it hot in here, or is it just me?
Clearing my throat, I return his grin. “It’s changed quite a bit since I was a teenager. The bed’s definitely bigger.”