18. Chapter 18

Chapter 18

ALEX

O h, what’s this, two alarms going off?

I reached over and hit the stop button then rolled onto my back. I stretched my body all the way…

“Oh,” I said, surprised when a hand touched my stomach.

“Good morning roomie,” he said and I swallowed the lump in my throat feeling a little anxious about agreeing to this .

“Good morning.”

“Time to get up and go to the gym. I don’t want you to think I’m hindering your routine.”

“Thank you for waking up with me and going to the gym.” I wonder when the enthusiasm is going to wear off and he starts trying to get me to stay in bed.

“Well, as much as I like the gym, you motivate me to go more. So, thank you for that. I’m trying to focus on the things you do that I can benefit from. Is that okay with you?”

“Of course. If I didn’t think I was so perfect and had everything under control, I would feel the same way.”

He started laughing and rolled on top of me, kissed me quickly before he got off the bed, pulling me up with him. “Go get dressed and I’ll make us a pre-workout drink and get a bottle of water together for you.”

This isn’t bad, but it could just be the move in ‘starter package’. The complacent package comes next. Getting out of my head and going with the flow is what I should really be doing. He’s always sweet like this, I just hope I don’t make him crazy. The little plan I have in my head could really screw all of this up.

I put on some workout clothes and grabbed a swimsuit as I headed out to the kitchen. We went to the gym, and I got in a really good workout with some laps in the pool, a good stretch in the yoga room, and about fifteen minutes of relaxation in the sauna. I was surprised that Roman didn’t meet me in the sauna. He seemed a little preoccupied, so I let him do what he needed to do. Maybe he’s having second thoughts about moving in together. Good.

He barely said a word to me on the ride back up to the penthouse, so I had to break the silence.

“Roman, are you alright? What happened?”

He shook his head. “Oh, sorry, nothing. Just going through my meetings for this morning and some emails on my mind. I may have to go to Texas again this week, but I’m going to try and get out of it and send Harrison instead.”

“You know you can go if you need to? I’ll be fine.” He gave me a weak smile.

“Yeah, I know, but it’s a little too soon for me to leave you.”

I didn’t know what was going on, but I didn’t think it was as simple as meetings and emails. He was entirely too distressed.

***

ROMAN

I had a lot of texts this morning from Grant. He wanted a meeting, as did Harrison and The Santoros. I only met the Santoros once at the hospital when Alex was there. I wasn’t sure what this was going to be about except they were very much interested in helping me keep an eye on Alex as well. I checked my emails and saw several from Amelia with meetings set up that were new this week. There was one in Texas that was tentative until she could find out if I was going to be able to reschedule the other meetings. There was no information in any of these meetings. For some reason that had me worried. What the heck could be so urgent that all these people are trying to get in touch with me so early. It’s not a normal occurrence and with all this vendetta bullshit it’s starting to freak me out.

I barely even saw or talked to Alex when we got to the gym. I concentrated on my workout and let her concentrate on hers. She seemed like she was doing fine and not bothered by anything. She clearly wasn’t attached to any of these meetings or else she would’ve been asking me if I knew something.

Alex was on the Burrow Township relocation project now, so if the meeting had anything to do with that Grant would have surely asked Alex to be there.

What the hell does he want with me?

***

ALEX

I didn’t push for any more information. I got ready for work like normal. We quietly ate breakfast as I thought about our conversation from last night. Should I really move in? This court hearing is really going to test our relationship. Picking a fight with my attacker will sound completely mental. Not just to him but to everyone and there’s nothing anyone can say to me to get me to change my mind. With my mind already made up maybe the best test of our relationship is for me to agree to move in. If we can get past my plans for Tanner, I’m sure there’s hope for our future.

“Roman, it’s fine, whatever it is, but are you going to take me to work and pick me up or can we just stop at my place and pick up my car? I’d rather just do that.” He seemed to snap out of whatever it was he was concentrating so hard on.

“Oh sorry, yes. We can stop and get your car. I mean, wait, I haven’t thought about how I want to do this yet.”

I was getting a little irritated with his protection plan, so I put my head on his shoulder and kissed his cheek as I batted my eyelashes at him .

“Take me to my car. I have shit to do and it’s going to require me to drive around and look at properties. I’ll have Darius with me, remember?” He still had a worried look on his face when he gave in.

“Okay.”

He pulled me into a firm hug and nuzzled his head in my hair. He seemed to groan a bit also and I pulled away gently, looking into those beautiful, but tortured, eyes.

“Please stop stressing. Whatever it is, just stop.”

“The problem is that I don’t know what it is.”

“Then it’s nothing. Plus, I’m going to need you to be ready to listen to my first day back at work stories when I get home. Our home.”

His eyes lit up and he said, “Seriously? Are you saying yes then?”

I nodded. I needed to get him out of this funk, and I knew this would do it.

“But we both have to have an out clause after the court hearing if things don’t go well.” He looked frustrated with me.

“Um, this is not a prisoner type deal so, yes, we can both get out of the arrangement at any time like a normal couple would if things don’t work out. Why would we need a clause? Are we putting it into a contract or something?”

I snickered. “Habit, sorry. Always negotiating when it comes to housing.” Thank God he laughed about it, because I was being dead serious. After this court hearing, he may not be too happy with me.

“How about after we take the kids back on Saturday, we go get some of my clothes? Or we can just wait until after the two weeks are up and decide then.”

“Nope, the sooner the better.”

Of course he wants everything now.

“Do you think I should sublet my apartment?” I wasn’t ready to make a permanent decision .

He said, “Or, I can just pay your early termination fee, and we can put your furniture in storage. You can also do whatever you want to this place. I had a designer here when I moved in, but if you want to change anything to make you feel more at home, go right ahead.” I hadn’t even thought about all my furniture. Even if things didn’t work out, I was thinking about buying a house anyway. This way, I could save some money until I decided what I wanted and where I wanted it. Would we be buying it together or separately? Oh no, too many questions in my head, this isn’t good.

“Alex, are you ready to go?”

Wow, that was overwhelming. Yes, get me out of here.

“Yes. I just need to grab a bottle of water and my things, and I’ll be all set.”

He kept his arm around me all the way to the garage and into the car. I noticed him looking around when we got into the garage though. Was he sensing that eerie presence too? In the car he leaned over and kissed me and said, “Thank you for saying yes to moving in.”

“You may change your mind about that.”

“We’ll talk about the rules when we get home tonight.”

What?

“Excuse me? Rules?” He turned his head away so I couldn’t see his expression.

“Yes, the house rules. Your cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the man of the house rules. One rule is making sure you have my slippers and a martini ready when I walk in the door.”

Clearly, he was kidding but playing along could be fun.

“Well, what if you get home before I do?”

“Then I’ll be sitting on the couch naked waiting for my blow job.”

I burst out laughing .

“So, in the last five minutes you’ve completely lost your mind.” He pulled into the valet, kissing me before I got out.

“I’m only kidding, but if you want to do any of that you’re more than welcome,” he said through the window as I was passing.

“You may get pleasantly surprised.” I kissed those luscious full lips through the window. I gave him a wink and headed up to my apartment for a minute before having the valet guy get my car.