Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 47107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
“Shut. Up,” came from the kitchen, in a bored deadpan.
Some of the guys who were still carrying what I’d packed snorted, but they never stopped working. A few guys started to grab boxes, ones that I had unpacked the day before and hadn’t gotten around to repacking, picked them up, realized nothing was in them, and started packing them.
I was counting twenty guys. At least.
“Look.” Zeke nudged me, his head indicating the papers in my hands.
I looked, and then gawked all over again. “What?”
They were my lease papers and I looked at the last one. CANCEL had been stamped over it.
“Told you I could get you out of your lease.”
“You called your lawyer friend?”
“No. I didn’t need to. Once I looked up who owned this place, it was as good as done.”
“Who owns it?”
“My brother-in-law.”
Another groan from the kitchen, and a shout, “Nate is my brother-in-law, you asswipe.” Blaise added a glare as he walked out from the kitchen, out the front door, carrying a box.
Zeke shrugged. “I’m basically adopted into that entire family.”
I needed a moment to fully process everything. Guys were walking all around us, and half my stuff was already outside. A couple others began lifting the heavy items as they came in, and they took the kitchen table out. The chairs were next. A whole group began talking about the best way to handle the couch, and I was almost in culture shock. Having help was not in my world. I was so used to doing everything for myself, on my own, for my mom, my grandmother, and now this? With Zeke? I’d barely done a thing, and most of the packing was already done.
Everything I’d unpacked the morning was already in boxes and out of the apartment.
Holy shit. So this was happening?
I went to look out the patio door, and saw Zeke’s Jeep was being filled up, along with a U-Haul and another truck, that Blaise was shutting its front door. He looked up, saw me, and gave a wave before heading back inside.
“Zeke.”
I was remembering back to high school. I’d told Zeke that I had watched him back then, but I was sure he didn’t realize how much. Like when I’d waited on him and his friends at Manny’s, at the restaurant, the gas station, the pizzeria, all the places. I’d noticed him, and I’d watched. I’d never really been jealous. I didn’t like to feel that way, but I had been wistful at times. But Zeke had always scared me. He was big and mean and a fuck boy. Then Blaise had come to town, and Zeke started to change. Blaise brought out another side of Zeke. The changes were little at first, then bigger and bigger until they were past high school, into their college years. And when Zeke would come into Manny’s on their holiday breaks, he was almost a different guy. I mean, still Zeke, but…not at the same time.
My throat was swelling up because I hadn’t fully processed exactly who Zeke was, and him coming into my life. Roommates. Sex. He’d been wonderful after the funeral, before the funeral, and now this? I couldn’t comprehend this.
My head was down, folding over. I said again, “Zeke…”
“Hey.” Zeke pulled me to the side, then down and into my bedroom. His voice was soft, but his whistle was short and curt to the two guys inside. “Get lost.”
They saw me and scrambled.
Zeke shut the door then stood with his back to it. “What’s going on?”
I didn’t know what to say, how to say it. “This is a lot, and I really appreciate it.” My voice was squeaking at the end, and the tears had slipped out. Gah. Tears. I hated them.
“Hey. Hey, hey, hey.” He reached for me as he sat on my bed, pulling me into his arms and onto his lap. Reaching up, he brushed some of the tears away before cupping my face in both of his hands. “I’m not sure what this is about, but it’s all good. I sent out a call, and you’ll be moved into my place by this afternoon. The lease was no problem. Swear.”
“I can’t move in with you. This is all, just so–this is all–”
He frowned. “You don’t want to move in with me?”
I opened my mouth but froze. Nothing was coming out.
What was I doing? The ride. Plap. That’d be me, but he’d gone and gotten me out of the lease. He had people here. Half my place was already emptied out. He’d done this. All of this. And Jarrod. And being there with the move and my grandmum.
I shook my head, whispering, “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.”
“Oh. Ava.” He pulled me against him, smoothing a hand down my back. “You don’t have to do anything. Let me handle it. For real. I got this. I got people for this. I totally got this.” His head inclined. “And for the moving in, we can take it a day at a time? You’ll take the second floor. It’s all yours. I already called to get that cleared away for you. I mean, you’re kinda half doing this for me.”