Page 3 of No Limits

“All right, so maybe more of a verbal lashing, but still…”

Another giggle bubbles up from my chest. At least Chelsea is making this fun. “I’ll be sure to let you know if it’s needed.”

“You mean,when?”

“Chelsea. Don’t regress.”

She holds up her hands in peace. “I know, I know. But this is shitty. You can’t deny that. I love you and I’m happy to be here with you and for you, but it shouldn’t be me. That’s all I’ll say on the matter.” A quick wipe of her hands and I know she’s dropping the subject. “Now let’s find you a couch!”

We denied assistance when we came in. I didn’t want a pushy salesperson helping us. Lochlyn gave me his card and told me to buy whatever I loved, no price point. It’s basically a blank check.

While he’s not stingy with his money, he’s sensible and knows I am too. He knows I won’t go crazy just because something is expensive or a pretty color. It has to be comfortable and what I see for our living room.

The problem is, I didn’t want to decide alone. I’m not always the most decisive person, so choosing by myself may be difficult. Do I want gray? Tan? Leather or fabric? A sectional or sofa and loveseat?

There are so many factors and thoughts that go into the process, so I was hoping Lochlyn would be here to help me.

This morning, he claimed it was an emergency, but that’s what he says every time he gets a call from a band that needs him. They can’t all be emergencies, and he’s come home and admitted that they’re not. But every time, no matter the day of the week, he’s off to assist.

I love Lochlyn, and his drive and determination have always made me proud of him and love him more. But things are getting a little tense at home with his persistent absence. We’re snippy at each other in ways we never have been before, even over little things like brewing coffee.

His dad wasn’t thrilled when he became a lawyer in the music industry instead of following in his footsteps. But Lochlyn made it clear that he was willing to be cut off to stay in Ithaca with me. The winning argument was that he’d still bea lawyer, even if not the kind and in the place his dad wanted.

It took a few weeks, but his dad finally came around.

The only issue now is how much he puts himself into it all. Because it’s more than he does everything else.

“What about this one?” Chelsea draws me out of my thoughts to a navy-blue fabric sofa she’s sitting on. It looks comfy.

I flop down next to her and shift around a little. “It’s comfortable. Is it a weird color, though. It stands out a bit.”

“You can paint the walls gray or tan and it’ll look fine.” Chelsea and Wes have been in their house for about six months now. Lochlyn was a little jealous that they bought a house before us, but I reminded him that Wes not only makes good money but doesn’t work weekends, so they had more time to shop around.

“It’s a top contender for sure?”

Wandering through, there are many I veto right away. It either doesn’t stand out as something I like, looks uncomfortable, or I don’t think isusenough to make the cut.

“All right, Shay, we made it through the whole store. And while you found a dining set you love, and a bedroom set, no living room. You can’t keep sitting on random junk.”

“I think the blue one is the best, definitely the most comfortable, but I don’t know about the color.”

“Well, let’s find out if maybe it comes in something you do like.”

We cut back through the warehouse size store to the living room area. The other choices were easy. The dining room set is a large mahogany table with six chairs and a matching hutch that jumped out at me, and I fell in love with it immediately. The bedroom set is all cherry wood with a long dresser, tall dresser, two nightstands, and a sleigh bedframe. We plan to shift our current set into the guestroom.

The living room is the only hang up.

“Okay, well, looking at the tag, it shows it comes in tan and gray too. Would you rather one of those other colors?”

I don’t know. And I wish Lochlyn was here with me.

“What’s the gray like?” I move closer so we’re shoulder to shoulder and grab the tag from her hand. It looks like a darker gray, on the swatch at least. “It is nice.”

Chelsea laughs and bumps her shoulder into mine. “Of course you like it. You and Lochlyn both gravitate toward these darker colors. Match made in heaven.”

I smile at her sentiment. We do both gravitate toward the darker hues. All the furniture I picked is dark, and as I look down at my wardrobe, I’m met with a black shirt.

I shrug at her suggestion. “It’s what we find aesthetically pleasing. But I do like the gray. I think I’ll see if they can get that one and just hope he likes everything.”

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