Shacking up with my Convict

Chapter 4

I'm sitting on living area floor admiring my handiwork after repainting the wall, using my partially painted hand to swipe sweat from my forehead. I figured while I'm holed up hiding away from the world, I could make my space a little more hospitable. Especially if I ever planned on having Bre over.

Shit.

I scrambled from my seat rushing for my phone and laptop powering it up as fast as the little Toshiba would go. I should get myself a new one. At least that's the promise I've been making myself for the last five years.

Both my best friend's are currently yapping away when I finally log on, and I know by Bre not acknowledging my presence, means she's upset

Meh, she loves me.

She'll get over it.

I sit patiently listening as she discussed the final preparations with Kasey, going through the invitation list. Those that have accepted, those still in limbo and those who weren't able to make it. The last thing on the list was the hotel booking, that of which was my piece of the cookie.

"I received the confirmation details in my email two days ago" I chip in. "And I've also added a bonfire. I know it wasn't what we had planned but I figured since we'd be spending the honeymoon together that at the very least we could have a few good memories"

Bre's eyes light up as she mulls the thought over, pen to her pasted lips.

"You're forgiven" she says finally.

Yes!

She squint's, staring at me through her camera, a frown on her face.

"Is that paint? Are you painting?"

Kasey likewise leans towards her camera and I angle the laptop do they could have a better view of the wall.

"Yeah, I figured this place could have a face lift"

"Did you speak with the landlord first?" Bre asks looking skeptic.

"Yeah, he didn't have a problem with it. Figured it was long overdue too. But there was no way I'll manage to sit up in a hotel while they do it"

"I could've paid for that" Bre cuts in.

"You'd pay for anything that gets me out of this place" I respond rolling my eyes.

"That's true" Kasey agrees laughing.

"Do you like it?" I ask feeling pleased with myself.

"No" Bre whines.

"Oh stop being so picky" Kasey chastises. "I think it's cute" she folds through a few leaves before glancing up at me. "Say Vi, did you change your number?"

"Yeah. Sorry I didn't notify you. I'm try to get everything sorted here as quickly as possible"

She gives me a thin smile before going back to her diary at hand.

"No problem. Take your time. " A glance at her watch and Kasey hurriedly packed her things away. "Sorry guys I have to run. Had a meeting I forgot about"

"On Sunday?" Bre asks looking astonished.

"Yes Bre. I'm a PA. There's no such thing as a free weekend. I'll catch up with you guys later" A kiss in the wind and her camera goes out.

"Liar"Bre says suddenly that catches me off guard.

"What, why would you say that?"

"Please did you see her clothes? Vanilla blouse, green plaid skirt with plaits and wedges. Unless she's going to be standing above that desk, she's going to meet a guy"

"Oh my goodness" I cover my face with my palm shaking my head. Leave it to Bre to think it has got to be a man.

"So" she says getting excited. "How was your first job?"

"Great, the photos are developing well. I can't wait to hand them over. Patrice is going to be quite excited about them"

"Good. I was worried there a bit that you wouldn't be able to get back on your feet in a while"

"Same" I admitted. "But it's been a good two weeks and I'm looking forward to another two more.

" It's been a month Vi" Brean deadpans blinking at me.

"Really?" I ask furrowing my eyebrows. "it's been that long already"

"You moved out two week prior to your deadline you gave yourself. So yes, one month"

It's been an entire month since I've made it away from Watson. Thirty full days. Apart from the little scare I had sometime ago, I was actually living freely.

"Didn't even realise" I mutter absentmindedly.

"Yeah, time flies when you're having fun" Bre waggles her eyebrows hinting at something and I snicker.

"Please, the only action I get is from the next apartment over through my window"

"Bumber. No date for my wedding then?"

"Nope. sadly not"

"Well, Jon's best man is coming and I haven't heard him say anything about a date either"

"Absolutely not" I say quickly turning down her line of thought. "No blind dates"

"How bad could it be?! He's hot its a bonus, if he's hideous, too bad we're already taking photos with him"

"you're horrible" I grumble folding my hands.

"I want to be happy at my wedding and I don't want you single. So either find someone before or on the day"

"But-" I start deciding to protest against that decision.

"Good bye Vi. Don't be late on Friday"

The screen went blank leaving me with my defense on my tongue and I reclined on the floor wondering how in heaven's name I was gonna get a date by Friday.

***

It was late evening when I finished the kitchen and half of the living area, putting away the paints and plastics for another time, cleaning up just in case I had a visitor. As if I had friends living in the city.

When my body finally hits the heaven of my bed, sleep comes quickly and I give into the lullying tide, desperate for rest. I wasn't sure how long I was out for when something made a racket inside the room, tossing and tumbling. My eyes sprung open, searching in the darkness, swearing within my mind that I was definitely giving my neighbor a piece of my mind once the morning comes. Instead, I find a silhouette standing further down the bed sorting through my drawers? Flabbergasted, I closed my eyes, hoping to God I was either seeing things or still sleeping. A horrible nightmare. When I open my eyes again, the door is closed and no one stands there.

I'm going crazy now, s**t.

I think of going to check the door, but I'm sure I've locked it before heading to bed. Of course, if someone did break in, maybe it was better if I stayed in bed. Just incase they might get ideas seeing me in my gown.

For a few more moments I lay still, ears c****d listening for shuffled feet, cupboard opening or closing, pots clancking as they search for something, anything but the flat is as quite as I've left it, heading in. I sigh with relief, turning in my bed and going back to sleep.

Maybe I'm dreaming after all.

***

The smell of fresh coffe, fried eggs and bacon wafts into my room and I grumble to myself about needing to get up. Only I remember the next moment that I live alone and who the f**k is using my kitchen?!

I tumble out of bed, flying my door and stormed into the kitchen to find- oh my dear God!

A naked back greets me, water dripping from his cropped hair, falling and running in delicious ripples down his back before soaking into the towel tied around a sturdy waist.

The stranger turns suddenly and my feet carries me backward, my ass hitting the counter as he reaches above me for the cupboard.

Eyes the color of the shifting seas, beautiful blue-green gazes at me in pure astonishment before softening, dragging down my body appreciatively.

"That asshole did send you after all didn't he?"

What?

"Who the f**k are you?"

His eyes pause against my bosom as if weighing them and while I didn't so much mind the attention, I didn't like the fact that he was eating me alive with his gaze. My cheeks burned beneath his stare, never having exactly received this type of attention from a man before. As if he'd devour me here once and for all.

Dear goodness, he was sucking all the air from the room looming over me like that.

"And such a dirty mouth too" his fingers reached out stroking my lower lip and I sucked in a breath as he lowered his head. "Bet you could make me sell my soul with this mouth of yours couldn't you sweetheart?"

What?

My mind kept drawing blanks before what he said processed finally and I slapped his hand away from my mouth; hurrying from beneath him.

"Who the hell are you? Get the hell out of my apartment!" I yelled at him but he beamed, c*****g his head to look at me, shaking his head.

I inched closer towards my cell on the small table dialing 911, still spinning off-balance from his words or his gorgeous looks for that matter.

God, the man wanted to give me a heart attack with that mouth of his.

"Get out this instance or I'm calling the police"

The stranger went back to the food at hand, grabbed a dish and plated himself breakfast, sitting at the counter.

"You're the stranger here. This is my apartment"

"What?! No, you're not" I shrieked at him before backtracking on all those male clothes I had thrown out. "Are you Morgan's boyfriend"

He paused his chewing, frowning before taking a drink of coffee.

"Of course not. She was a pretty girl, but no"

"How did you even get in? Did you use the key beneath the mat?"

"Didn't you take it up? It's not thereby the way".

Yes, I did. It was the only way I could've gotten in. So he knew about it which means he's not a stranger.

"I'm her roommate"

I snickered then. What did he take me for a fool? Please.

"You're lying. Morgan didn't have a roommate. She didn't say anything to me about you"

"Well neither did she about you but here we are"

My eyes slid down his body uncontrollably, observing the tattoos on his arms, how vieny they were, strong and toned before they landed at his waist that was wrapped with something that seemed oddly familiar.

Duck no!

"What in hell, that's my towel you ass. How dare you!"

The strangers eyes slid to his waist before he shrugged, getting up to do his dishes.

"Well, it's not like you left me much choice. I can't find my clothes" he glanced at me over his sturdy shoulders. "Any idea where they might be since my drawers contain everything that's feminine currently"

I laughed. "Your drawer?"

"Yes, my drawers" he answers finished and now leaned against the empty sink.

At least he knows how to clean up after himself, even if it's my food he just partook of without permission.

I chuckled once more.

"That room is Morgan's"

"Nah, that room is mine"

"It's morgan's and the only clothes I threw away were her stupid boyfriend's that didn't bother to come back to claim them"

The stranger unpastes himself from the sink, his hands swinging at his side as he glided towards me.

"Did you just say you threw my clothes away"

"I threw his clothes away, meaning the other guy"

His eyes take me in once more, not as an appraisal but more like figuring out whether I'm real or not.

"Where's Morgan?"

I took a step back immediately at the sudden depth that the tone if his voice took on. Deeper, darker, less playful.

"She's, she's not here"

"Did she say when she's coming back?"

I rub my arm walking away a little. Why was he reminding me of this? Wasn't this uncomfortable for him too, talking about her like that? Or maybe....

"Morgan's dead" I whisper and the paled expression that suddenly envelops his face says it all. "She's been dead for two months now. A car accident"

He wasn't in the loop after all.

"F*** that explains why she hasn't come to see me" He runs a hand through his damp hair muttering beneath his breath.

"How are you her roommate and don't know this?"

"I've been occupied" he grumbles walking towards our rooms.

"Yeah, occupied enough that you couldn't even attend her funeral. Some great friend you are"

He walks into the room that I've rearranged to my suit, and I walk in after him, intent on reclaiming my towel.

"Will you please return my towel to me now!"

He glances at me after searching the top of the ward robe and comes up with a few keys and a watch.

"You sure you're ready for what's laying beneath?"

I blush at his words but berate myself to falling for his smoothness.

"On second thought keep it. Was gonna discard it anyway"

I hurry out before embarrassing myself any further. How could Morgan live with a guy like that? Where did she even find him, to have him as a roommate?

He walks out again dressed in black jeans, tee and brown boots, keys swinging in his hand, regarding me as he tucks a lock behind my ear and I jump back in horror.

"Relax I won't ever touch you without your consent"

"Only you did touch me" I shot back.

"No I didn't" his eyes pauses between my legs and I glare at him. "Until then, please don't say I have. I guarantee you'll know when it happens"

My eyebrows raise at his statement that seems so sure and true.

"Don't pretend you don't know what I mean. You're innocent, but not so much"

Where the hell did he get off judging me?! Asshole!

"Where did you say my clothes were again?"

His green eyes move above me searching the flat for its contents. I grin internally feeling how beautifully devilish my retribution would be. And justifiable so.

"In the garbage" his eyes flit back to me, registering alarm. "I'm sure it must have reached the landfill by now"

"Mother fucker"

I laugh between my palms and he turns heading out the door.

"See you in a few hours sweetheart"

"I'm changing the locks," I call after him. "Just so you know"

"It's just a door. They break"