Page 81 of Lessons In Grey
My cheeks burned brightly, and I quickly stepped into the place, the onslaught of emotions, the nothing I had felt in the car, the anger from this morning, it all faded away as I took it all in.
It was an open floor plan. Distressed, dark wood floors, an old granite kitchen with appliances that had all the character in the world, and a huge living room.
There was a balcony on the far side, exposed old red brick everywhere, windows so big, I would never miss a moment of sunshine.
It was already filled with furniture that matched the energy that already filled the area. My room was to my right, furnished with a beautiful bed set, black and neon green bed spread with furry neon pillows, fairy lights, plants, mirrors, and a gray shag carpet.
I sucked in my lips as I moved on to the bathroom. It was enormous too, just like every other room, but it had been updated. The shower was open, just a drain in the middle of where the water fell, the entire area lined in river stone and large rocks pressed into the wall. A rainfall showerhead. There was even a clawfoot tub. God, it was perfect.
I turned away from the bathroom towards the balcony. There was a large wooden table with wrought iron backed chairs just under an old, industrial chandelier right before the sliding glass doors.
I ran my fingers along the old chairs on my way to the doors before flinging them open and taking in the view of the city skyline.
God, the nuns had it good here.
I walked up to the metal railing, just one thick bar across the enclosed brick, and wrapped a hand around it, letting the chilling breeze of the upcoming winter kiss my skin painfully. I closed my eyes, wanting that wind to seep into every orifice of me, curlaround every bad thing, and pull it out, no matter how painful.
Charlie would have loved it here. She would have said it was just like me.
I stayed out there until my fingers numbed before turning back to the doors and stepping through, the heat of the room instantly making me shiver.
They had piled everything in one corner, Grey was putting the small shoebox I had left in the car on one stack as I took in the room. It was absolutely perfect, but there was one thing that would make it better. One small little thing. “I want to decorate for Christmas.”
Grey turned from the stack, Ash and Syn turning from the kitchen, each of them drinking a bottle of water.
Ash looked concerned and exhausted. “Tonight?”
I shook my head as I shut the doors behind me. “Tomorrow, I guess. I don’t feel like going to classes.” My grades were good, I could miss one day, that would be fine. I had to make it fine. I wanted to break that panic I felt every time I even thought about skipping a day of school, and what better way to do it than going Christmas shopping?
I looked around the room at the high ceilings, imagining the tree I could fit in here. “I want to get colorful lights and nutcrackers, lots of nutcrackers,” I decided, finding her eyes. “And Santa and his reindeer everywhere. I want the tree to be red and gold and covered in skulls with an antler as the tree topper.”
Her smile widened. “Damn, I love that. We’re done bringing everything up. Did you want us to stay?” Her eyes flicked to Grey and back suggestively.
My cheeks burned. “Um…”
“She’s going to go take a bath,” I heard Grey say, pulling our attention over.
His eyes were soft, his hands in his pockets, both jackets long since taken off. “You need a bath. The place is fully stocked, everything you need is in the cupboard, and there is a speaker inthere you can connect too. Aptly named ‘bathroom’. Go, We’ll be here.”
I chewed on my lip, glancing back to Ash and Syn, who both seemed to be agreeing with him.
“He’s right, Em,” Ash confirmed. “Go, if we don’t see you tonight, we’ll see you tomorrow, but you should go. You deserve it.”
After another moment of hesitation, I resigned, nodding. “Okay.” A bath did sound good. “Make yourselves at home if you want,” I told them, heading for my bedroom, slowing when I neared Grey. “If I don’t see you tonight, I’ll see you in the morning.”
Grey took my hand and lifted my palm to his lips, kissing it softly. “Relax and enjoy.”
I nodded, feeling lightheaded at the look in his eyes. “Thank you.”
He smiled, folding my hand closed. “I would do absolutely anything for you, Snowflake.”
It took me several seconds to break away from his intense stare and head for my room.
I grabbed a pair of leggings and an oversized sweater from the duffle.
When I headed for the bathroom, I looked over to the couch, seeing them all sitting there, starting the firstHarry Pottermovie.
Ash and Syn were nearly sitting on top of each other, being as cute as they could be while Grey sat at the other end of the couch, holding the remote.