His Queen (18+)

Chapter XXXI

THE VULNERABILITY

Say love is a beautiful thing.
Girl, you dey calm my temper.
Love is a beautiful tender feeling.
You dey give me ginger.

***

CHAPTER XXXI

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THE CAR RIDE to my old apartment was silent as per usual. I didn't mind it this time because I was too caught up in the memories of me driving down the same road we were on after all the good days and the bad. It was hard for me to realise that after two years, this was probably going to be the last time I was going to be driving down the road again. After so much time I spent convincing myself that NYC was going to be my home forever, it didn't even take a week in San Francisco for me to go back on that and decide that I was going to move back.

Two years in a foreign place was nothing compared to a month back in my home city.

Daniel pulled up in front of my apartment complex, the same place he had parked when he forcefully brought me back to California with him a month prior. I couldn't help but wonder if he remembered that. Maybe he had parked here purposely.

There was no point in asking. I learnt with Daniel that he didn't like being asked questions. Especially ones he deemed stupid and I didn't have the mental stamina to start unravelling his unnecessary sarcasm. It was either that or a dead blank stare, both of which I didn't want. I could live the rest of my life without knowing whether he parked there purposely or not. That wasn't the big issue at hand.

The big issue was the talk that we needed to have sooner or later. It had been due for a while but we always had one excuse or the other; focused on a different thing at the same time but now, when we were faced with nothing else but our problems and ourselves we were going to have to act like the mature adults that we weren't and talk through them. And I was shitting myself.

Ultimately, I was in the wrong. We both knew that, but just because Daniel acknowledged my existence now didn't mean he still wasn't pissed at me. The last thing I needed was for him to reject me again. I knew I didn't have any right to put a time limit on his emotions, but I wouldn't know what to do after another rejection. I'd feel so hopeless, I'd just give up.

The lift ride up to the eleventh floor was also quiet as was expected, but instead of a comfortable silence like the last one, it was tense. Clearly we both had something to get off our chests and with the way my heart was beating harder, I knew it was going to be more than just words.

The door pinged open on our floor and we both stepped out. Daniel allowed for me to lead the way as he was much less familiar with the place as I was. I walked confidently down the hall until I reached the door. I lifted up the faux pot plant just slightly before sliding the single key out from under it and unlocking the door.

Daniel stepped in after me, but walked ahead as I stopped to close and lock the door behind us. As I turned around, I couldn't help the way my heart beat slower at the sight in front of me.

Everything was... spotless. As if I hadn't been attacked in my own home and as if multiple lives hadn't been taken here. There wasn't even a trace of blood on the floor. All my carpet, tiles and wood flooring had been restored back to its original glory. In fact they seemed even better than I remembered seeing them. All of my faux plants, my centre tables and sofas were returned exactly to where they had been and I couldn't help the gratitude I felt. Not only towards Daniel, but also towards the people he had hired and the great amount of care and dedication they put into this work.