Page 56 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
“This bathroom,” I breathed. As I explored, I realized that some of the artful decorations in the tub, toilet, and shower areas were railings and non-slip features and the thoughtfulness hit me. There were lots of non-slip rugs, too.
I came back out to the bedroom and entered the walk-in closet. It was big and beautiful, with two separate clothing areas, a dressing table, a pink chaise, and so many built-in drawers and shelves. Opening a few of them, I found places for shoes, accessories, and even a built-in jewelry box.
“Was the closet already like this?” I asked. It was the perfect closet for me.
“Um, mostly. They freshened it up and added stuff, like the pink couch. I haven’t looked in the closet in years until yesterday when I hung up your dress.” He nodded to the cloth bag hanging by the ornate full-length mirror. “It’s drafty and smells weird.”
Mercy fiddled around with the different sections of drawers and shelves, and examined the clothes closet area.
“The dress.” I unzipped the dress and beaded fabric spilled out. “Oh, AJ.”
“I can’t wait to see you in it. Grif can’t wait to see it draped across his bedroom chair.” His breath was warm on my neck as he came up behind me.
An expensive designer dress like this didn’t go on the floor.
“It’s exquisite, thank you.” Should I turn around and kiss him? The urge to kiss him tugged at me.
There was a click and a whoosh of strange-smelling air.
“Shit, I found the secret room,” Mercy squealed.
“What?” AJ stood at her shoulder. One section of shelves had swung open.
Zipping up the dress bag, I joined them. The room was small and dark, lit only by the closet light behind us, until Mercy found a switch on the wall. It smelled odd and a bit musty.
A soft glow illuminated the cream-painted room. Taking up most of the room was a tree that was both sculpted into the wall and painted. A circular reading nook resembled a giant knothole. Inside the nook, there was enough room to put a small mattress. The space was cozy, with more shelves and drawers.
“I had no idea this was even here,” AJ breathed. “I never toured it. Literally, I got a key card in a box at my graduation dinner after I finished business school. My parents told me that I was moving back to New York and had two weeks to find a job if I didn’t want to work for them. I’d already planned on moving back and had been interviewing, but getting a place of my own as a present was a plus.”
Ahomefor a graduation was an extraordinary present.
It dawned on me. The window seat, the amazing closet, the hidden room. “This was their omega’s room. From whoever had this before.”
“That makes sense. All I know is that a pack with young children lived here and moved to the suburbs. And, well…” That guilty look took up his face again. “I’d always sort of wondered if my room was the pack bedroom.”
“Look, there’s a note.” Mercy pulled something off the tree. “Welcome to your new home. Even though I understand if you knock this down and rebuild it, I left it for you. I thought you might need some comfort in your new home, with your new pack. Once, I was in your shoes, moving to a new place, to live with my new mates. As exciting as it was, it was a bit unsettling, and this has brought me a lot of comfort over the years. We tore out the carpet and put in wood flooring and repainted the walls. I hit it with a couple of de-scenting bombs, but it might need a few more. Enjoy. Lots of love, Cecelia.”
“Oh.” I put my hand over my heart. “That is the sweetest note.”
“It is. This is amazing,” Mercy said, exploring the small space.
“Maybe Grif should have my room.” It needed a fluffy rug and some fairy lights. Maybe some poufs.
“Your room? No. Might he like a secret nest in your closet? Possibly. Given how the closet has two distinct sides, and the bathroom has two sinks, the omega shared this room with someone.” AJ got close to me again, making warmth creep through me.
“True.” I’d be okay with Grif having a nest in my closet if that was something he wanted. Some gammas had nests.
Mercy prowled the small space, frowning. She got out her phone, used the flashlight, and then pressed it on the wall opposite where we came in.
“But wait, there’s more,” she exclaimed, as another wall popped open. “It’s another closet. A dude closet.”
“Oh, Grif’s? That would be tidy.” The scent that hit me when I entered the closet wasn’t Grif’s rain.
It was AJ’s vetiver.
“I think I’m in AJ’s closet. Oh, fuck, your room is big. You could build a little office in here, no problem.” Mercy’s voice sounded muffled.
“Mercy, you shouldn’t go into other people’s rooms without permission,” I told her.
