Page 44 of Talk About… Secrets
I was gone for this girl. Just like I had been since I turned seventeen.
She pulled away then, her forehead resting against my chest as her chest heaved. I did the same, praying she didn't wiggle in my lap so I wouldn’t embarrass myself.
I rested my chin on her head gently, soaking in the feel of my omega finally being in my arms.
“This drive will take even longer if I don’t get back in my seat,” she whispered, breaking the silence. “Just tell me this is real, first.”
“It’s real, Gracie. You’re finally mine.”
“Yours,” she agreed on a happy sigh.
Then she was crawling back over to her seat. I gave a silent thank you to past me for buying a bench seat as I slid her back in the middle and buckled her in. Her laughter was light now and I couldn't help but be proud that I’d helped her in some small way.
Once she was settled and my phone was in her hands with instructions to play music, I pulled back onto the road.
The ride seemed too short now as we drove, singing old familiar songs and caught up on our lives. She told me abouther job, about moving around, and how bad she wanted her own place back again.
“Shop with me. I need somewhere to live, the guys need somewhere to come home to, and you need a home base,” I said.
“Thank god,” she said. “I know my abandonment issues are so ridiculous but I need to know there’s space for us all, that you’re with me.”
“I don’t think it’s silly. Look at your life, Gracie. Your dads disappeared, your mom and her family are one step up from the devil, I left. You’ve been on your own, no one to rely on but Hailey and she had her own life. You just need someone in your corner who won’t leave. That’s where we come in. Where I plan to stay.”
She had a happy smile on her face as she opened up her phone to look up available listings.
“There’s a farm, but I’m out on that one,” she said with a chuckle. “I like small town life, not barnyard life.”
“Is there something close to the city center?” I asked. “You always loved downtown.”
“I do but I think within walking distance, not right on the main drag, would be better,” she said as she scrolled further.
It was quiet for a bit as I merged onto the highway. She hummed happily as she searched and her scent swirled around me in the cab, sweeter than ever and settling something that had been missing in my soul.
I was obsessed with her and I swear she was going to get sick of me before this even started. The urge to touch her, to kiss her, to claim her… was so strong.
“How do you feel about renovations?” she asked, startling me out of my not-so-savory thoughts.
“Depends,” I admitted. “I don’t mind hard work, it might be nice, but design is not my strong suit.”
“I always thought that it was so cool when old buildings were converted into homes. This one was the old firehouse before they upgraded and it was converted to a farmers’ market a while back, but that also moved. It’s been empty for a while, but so much space. There’s the main garage that could be a common area and maybe even a space to paint for Cade who’s an artist.”
“They usually have pretty big kitchens, too,” I agreed. “How does it look in the pictures?”
“Outdated,” she admitted. “But most of the walls are exposed brick, they market redid electrical, plumbing, and the roof, so definitely good bones.”
“Would it be liveable while we work on renovations?” I asked. The building would be incredible but I needed her by my side, and in our own place.
“It could be. There might be a bit of work converting it to a residence, but Mayor Adams is great at getting things done,” she said.
“We’ll be back in a few hours, think they’d fit us in for a late showing?”
“Never hurts to find out,” she said, hitting the number attached to the listing and arranging a meeting for four hours from now.
Which gave us just enough time to catch up, stop for fast food, and drive to the town we’d both be calling home.
Grace
The firehouse was one of the coolest buildings I’d ever come across. The fading brick façade and sturdy building had character. There were bits of faded signage and blue paint on the large parking lot, both of which spoke of years as the local firehouse.
