Page 84 of Burn It Down
17
I’m getting a little tired of lies. Gigi lied to me last night. Mags had lied to Gigi for me; Gigi saw a handful of letters and roses. Mags tucked away many, many more.
All were handed over to Diggs, who still had no leads. I felt like that prick knew more than he was telling me. I was lying to Gigi about the visit from Bree and her constant texts afterwards. It was becoming a fucking nightmare.
After Gigi had been followed, I thought I knew who was behind it all. Bree had no reason to scare Gigi that way; she wanted the truth, whatever it was, to come out and hurt Gigi.
I was not going to allow that. I couldn’t be the cause of her hurting again. I didn’t exactly know what the truth was about Bree, because I couldn’t remember.
I thought it safe to say it was nothing good. Either I fucked Bree and couldn’t remember, which was bad enough. Or worse, Itriedto fuck Bree and she had proof.
Still worse, all of the above. Gigi told me once Bree liked mementos of her flings. Photos or even videos that could come back to haunt the idiots she fucked. I hoped I was not one of those idiots.
The stalking didn’t fit with whatever Bree was up to. It was meant to scare Gigi. The notes had gotten increasingly hostile. At first, the stalker just said they deserved more. Wanted more from Gigi.
Now they talked about what they wanted to do with Gigi. Sick, twisted shit they would do to my woman once they got her. Little did they know they wouldn’t be getting her.
Christmas was just a few weeks away. Sitting safely hidden away in the icebox at work was an engagement ring. Charli made sure I got something perfect. It was smaller than I thought Gigi deserved but Charli insisted Gigi would love it.
With a dainty diamond band holding up a round three carat diamond, circled by a flowering setting of sapphire and emeralds, it looked perfect. Unique, like her beautiful eyes. That two-toned setting is what sold me on it. I could not wait to put it on her finger.
Then, I would move her somewhere that would become our home. Today, Cage and I were using a day off to house hunt. The condo was great, but too much had gone on there. I’d taken too many bunnies to that place. Bree had been there. Jordan had been at Gigi’s. I wanted a fresh start.
“Charli should be here helping. I don’t know what chicks like.” Cage grumbled as he sipped at his coffee, the steam billowing in the snowy air.
“I know what my chick likes. I want to be close to you guys, close to the station. For now. Maybe someday all of us move out by your Pops? Gigi needs the city right now; her photography is going so well for her, and she loves having so many places to shoot.”
That pricey little camera I had gotten her had paid for itself by now. Since the beginning of the holiday season, Gigi had been taking photo shoot requests. Holiday cards, holiday weddings, she was shooting it all. Gigi was happier than I had ever seen her, and it looked fucking beautiful on her.
Gigi said once she had always wanted two things. To take photos that mattered to people. She was doing that now. Even I felt shit when she showed me the sweet family photos or the artsy ones of the park or skylines. The other thing?
Gigi had wanted me. Now, realizing we were worse off apart than we could ever be together, she was getting that too. Whether it made sense or not. I loved her and would give her whatever I could. Starting with a future.
“I like this one. It’s close to the station and the Cottage. Close to Auburn Park too.” Cage pointed out a house.
For a week, I had compiled a list of houses I thought would be perfect. All near the neighborhood I wanted to stick close to and with certain requirements.
Space for Gigi to set up a studio and a dark room. A garage for all my toys, and a kitchen that Charli could teach Gigi to cook in. I loved my woman, but her favorite meal, besides me, came in a bag or a box.
“Yeah, I like that one. Open house, let’s check it out.”
Half an hour later, I was in love again. The place was perfect. It was a two-story house with three rooms and plenty of space. There was a sprawling back yard with a patio and a huge garage. The third bedroom rested on the upper level near a bonus room. Perfect for a studio for Gigi. I was making an offer before we finished the tour.
“You think Gigi might want to see the home you plan to bring her to?” Cage smirked as I signed some paperwork, making the offer legit.
“Probably. Hopefully my proposal is romantic enough it won’t matter. Wait,” I panicked as we headed back out to the truck, “Am I fucking it up again? Bro, don’t let me fuck it up again.” Cage laughed and threw a snowball that hit me square in the face.
“Bro, shut up. Gigi won’t care. This is huge, man. Buying a house. Settling down. Fucking crazy. Finn Fucking Cooper getting married and buying a house. Insane.” I lobbed a few snowballs back his way, but Cage was quick.
Laughing, we climbed into the blazer and headed out. I nearly collided with a little Mini Cooper, but I didn’t care. They laid on the horn, but I just flipped them off. I was too happy to give a shit. I was counting the days till I could put my ring on Gigi’s finger and carry her into that perfect house. Our home.
Nothing was stopping us from getting our happily ever after.
Christmas felt special for the first time I could remember. I always spent the holidays with the Coopers, but this year would be different. I would hopefully become one in more than a similar name.
I was nervous as shit, but more excited than I knew what to do with. My offer on the house had been accepted, and Gigi’s designer sister, Regan, had gone all out on the house.
It looked amazing and would be my ultimate Christmas gift to Gigi. It was still weeks away, but I could barely wait. The place looked like our home.
