The 18th Floor

Chapter Fifty Five

The rest of the week goes by in a blur, with me spending the weekends at Lucien's after physio. I don't like leaving dad alone for too long so I never stay more than two days at Lucien's back to back but dad always tells me to go and that he'll be fine alone.

The days have started to get a bit warmer, with spring around the corner our hours of daylight are also increasing. I snuggle in closer to Lucien on the sofa as we watch Netflix's latest trashy, reality tv, with Atticus on my lap asleep.

"This is perfect", I sigh out, taking in everything I have right now and the simplicity of it all. How much my life has changed ever since taking that one job offer.

"You're perfect", Lucien whispers kissing my forehead.

"I love you", I whisper back.

"Move in with me."

"What?", I ask, turning my head to fully face him now. And I look at him. His face soft and lighter than it was the first time we met. More energy and true happiness in those eyes and smile those lights his face.

"Move in with me", he says, eyes locked onto mine. "Move in with me, when you're ready, of course, all in your own tim-", I cut him off with a kiss.

"Yes", I kiss him again, my arms wrapped around his neck, my heart beating a bit faster at the idea of being with Lucien all the time. I pull back and look at him looking at me, as he strokes his thumb over the base of my cheeks.

"I love you too", he breathes out as if words cannot hold the weight of the words. I feel myself smiling stupidly at the man I've come to love.

"I love you so much Cyrene."

"Me too."

"I can't imagine a life without you in it, that is not a life I want to live. I don't want to ever lose you again. I don't ever want you more than an arm's length away from me. I want to be that person for you, because I know you're that person for me. You're my person."

"I'm in awe of you Lucien", I say with a kiss.

"Let's go to Greece."

"What?", I say even more confused now at the speed of which this is moving suddenly feeling a bit dizzy.

"I've been thinking about it for a while now, but how about we go for a short break. We can have a little holiday and you can finally meet some of my family back home", he says and I look at him as I consider the idea.

In theory, I would love to go. See where he is from, where he grew up and what his family is like, even if the idea of meeting them scares the shit out of me. But what scares me more is the travel. The prospect of having to rely on a multitude of other people to help me get there.

"Lucien, I don't know", I say and I feel the energy drop instantly.

"We can figure it out, leave it to me, I'll sort it all out. If you want to go of course. But, just think about it and let me know. It might be good for the both of us", he says. No pressure but pressure.

I would have to meet his family at one point, if not all, then especially his sister, considering that's the closest relative he has.

"I'll think about it", I tell him and I see a small smile creep back onto his lips.

"Great", he says as he leans back into the sofa and turns back to the TV

Great, well done Cyrene, I think to myself. He has probably been thinking of this for a while but hasn't asked because he knew what my answer would be like. But I know how much it means to him.

I watch him as he watches TV, rubbing my hands with one of his. This man is does everything for me, the least I could do is go with him to Greece. I would love to go, truly, but the thought of all that travel fills me anxious thoughts. But I won't be alone, he'll be with me.