Loving the Campus Monster

Chapter 23 (Our home)

Laura

It took us a little longer than we thought to get things sorted out before we could start to move into the cabin. We had to call all the maintenance people to come out and check on things before they started turned anything on since the place has been sitting alone for years without anyone taking care of it since his father died. All the propane tanks outside had to be filled and the panels had to be worked on before they could turn on the heat again, and some of the pipes had to be replaced since some were rusted or frozen over from nonuse and the cold weather. Ross had also made appointments with some trade people to inspect the services around the house and gardeners to cut down the bushes going to the cabin, clearing out the driveway for us.

In the few days leading up to moving into the place we were slowly bringing the house back to life and making it our own by redecorating the inside once we got the power back on. It was amazing to me that I was going to be living with Ross and in our own house. I never thought I would have my own place this soon, let alone that I will be living with a man. It was shocking and unbelievable.... but so, so amazing.

Although Holly didn't quite feel my joy when I told her about it.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Holly's expression was that of genuine concern when I told her what we had planned when we first got back from looking at the cabin.

"I know it may sound great, but isn't it very isolated out there, deep in the woods? With no one around? What if you get attacked by a wild animal or something?"

"That would have been a concern if I were staying out there all alone, but I will have Ross there with me, remember?" I remind her as I go through my clothes and books in my room that I will need to pack to bring with me once we start moving into the place. Ross was at his apartment now talking to Cory about him moving out and going through his own things to pack.

Holly frowns. "Ross.... That's another concern. I know you guys are together and all that, but isn't it a little early for you guys to be moving in together?" She asks, as she sits on my bed, watching me go through my things in the closet.

I send her a look over my shoulder. "Says the one who's moving in with her own boyfriend that she's only dated for a few months."

She gives a sheepish smile. "Toche." She then sighs and gets up from the bed to come over to me. "Look know you don't need my permission to do this, but I can't help but worry for you. I just don't want to see you get hurt again."

"Oh Holly." The sadness and guilt in her voice makes me drop the clothes I have in my arms on the bed and go over to hug her. I know she still blames herself for what happened to me and has been trying her best to protect me ever since then, but I don't want her to keep feeling this way. I don't want her to feel guilt for the rest of her life for the mistake that I made. I just want her to forget about it so we can both move on with our lives.

I pull back to look at her. "I know your worried for me, but you don't need to be. Nothing is going to happen because I'm not going to be alone, I'll have someone there to watch over and protect me. I know you have some misgivings about Ross, but you can trust him to take care of me Holly." I look into her eyes so she can see how much conviction I have in this. "Ross has protected me more than once already, so you can trust him to protect me again if I need it."

He's saved me in more ways than she could possibly understand.

She sighs and gives a reluctant smile. "Your right. I know Ross can be a lot of things... unpredictable, a cold-hearted, an asshole, just to name a few, but when it comes to you... I don't know, he's different, he's...nicer. I can see a change in him, and I know I can trust him to protect you from harm since he's done it time and time again, but..." She takes my hands in hers and looks up at me. "I just don't know if I trust him fully to protect your heart yet."