Nowhere

Chapter 33

I wake up with Matt beside me in what's going to be my future room and my future home. Or maybe I should say instead my room and my home, not in the future, but right now, in the present. Matt wants to empty his room completely and have us renovate it into something that will fit both our styles and make us comfortable. Despite me telling him multiple times that it isn't necessary to do all that, he is still insisting. For me, some paint and new bed covers and cushions would be more than enough. But Matt's idea is starting to grow on me. I think it would be nice to have a place we can call ours.

Although, I admit I'm still concerned with the fact that the Knights haven't let me pay a dime for anything. I know they see me as part of the family, but it doesn't sit right with me. If this is going to truly be our life, that it's only fair if I'm a part of everything. However, I have no idea on how to address this issue. I've never shared my space with anyone. I've never had to split bills or rent or groceries or anything at all. How do most couples do this? How does this conversation even come up? These feelings are all the more aggravated because Rosemary House is not only our house, but a business, too. What should I do? And why the hell am I thinking about this in bed before I even had my first coffee of the day?

"Morning," Matt yawns beside me. "Have you been up for long?"

"I just woke up too." I snuggle against his chest, and he wraps an arm around me.

"What are you thinking about so intensely?" He asks, poking me in the middle of my eyebrows. I guess I was frowning. Or Matt can really read my thoughts. Every day I get more convinced that he can definitely read them.

Deep breath. Here it goes! "Matt, I've been thinking, and I think we need to discuss finances."

He chuckles. "You don't need to worry so much about it. Not right now. One thing at a time."

"I know. But I've been here for too long already without paying anything. If you are taking me in officially as part of the family, then I need to contribute as well. And I make really good money, you know? I want to help, and I can help."

"Okay." Matt smirks and gives me a kiss on the head. "If it is this important to you to get this sorted out, we'll take care of it. Let's have a family dinner and discuss the details. Is that okay with you?"

I nod. "Thank you."

We're in the kitchen having dinner, and all eyes are on me. Allan, Molly, Matt, and even Brody and Michelle are visiting today. Maybe this was a bad idea after all. I feel myself shrink and my cheeks blush as they look at me. They all laugh, and Matt holds my hand and kisses my cheek.

"Don't look so nervous, dear." Molly smiles.

I show her a timid smile and try to calm myself down. This was my idea, after all. Terrible idea!

The whole family agrees on splitting bills and groceries and on how much I should contribute, and Matt and I are fully in charge of paying the renovations he has in mind for us and no one else will meddle with that. As for the rest of the house and the bed-and-breakfast business, for now I'll stay away from it, and once Molly and Allan fully retire, we'll discuss it again. I sigh with relief, and they all laugh. I'm glad this is taken care of.

Since business is fully taken care of, we enjoy a nice family dinner. Michele and Brody are glad they have someone else to take care of Talia for the night so they can enjoy a full night's rest, and since both will work from home tomorrow, they can sleep in a little bit, and fully enjoy the benefits of having the grandparents take care of the baby.

"Before we go to bed, can I show you something?" Matt asks once we're done with helping Molly clean the kitchen.

"Of course."

Matt guides me upstairs towards the attic.

"Oh, so I'm about to know what you and your dad have been up to in here."

He chuckles. "Close your eyes. It's a surprise."

I close my eyes, but just to be safe, Matt still puts one of his hands in front of my face and the other on my back as he guides me into the attic.

"You can open them now."

As I open my eyes, I find an empty attic that smells of fresh paint and that it is dust free. There are still plastic covers on the floor and tape on the footers.

"The paint is still fresh, so careful not to touch the walls."

"Matt what-"

"I thought we could make you an office up here. There's a lot of space and the window has a nice view of the beach. And with the skylight it gets very bright during the day. For now, it's still a blank canvas. I want you to decorate it any way you want. So, do you like it?"

"I... I don't know what to say. Thank you." I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. "Thank you."

"I'm happy you like it."

"But don't you think it's a little much? I could do with something smaller. You sure you don't want to use the space for something else?"

"I'm sure. We both work from home and spend a lot of time together. So, I want you to have a place of your own. Somewhere you can work with no distractions and be by yourself."

I can't help but to smile. No words can describe how grateful I am for Matt and how grateful I am for him being so considerate of me. I kiss him deeply.

"Careful," he says with a smirk. "Not here. We don't want to mess up the paint."

My cheeks immediately turn red, and he chuckles. Matt kisses me passionately before we head back down.

Matt and I are sitting in bed with a laptop between us while looking at some décor inspiration and online stores. Now that I think about it, it is a little sad that aside from my childhood room, I never decorated anything to my liking. I never had a place that was actually mine and with which I was free to do whatever I wanted to.

"Do you have an idea of what you would like?" Matt asks as we look at inspiration for my future office.

"I never decorated a place. The places I've lived at were fully furnished and I wasn't allowed to change anything. This is a little overwhelming, to be quite honest."

Matt chuckles and gives me a soft kiss on the head. "Why don't we go visit some stores in person and see what you might like?"

I nod. "Sounds good."

"Now," he says with a grin. "What were we doing in the attic? Before we came back down?"

My heart flutters as Matt puts the laptop aside and then leans over me.

"I don't know. You might have to remember me."

"Is that so?"

He turns off the light as he kisses me. His body pressed against mine...