Before You Go

Chapter Fourteen

"I expected a lot more beauty products on the counter." Carter says when I enter the bathroom. He's standing in front of the sink with his arms crossed over his chest, his head tilted to the side.

"I'm a girl, not a walking cosmetic store." I roll my eyes and drop my toothbrush in the cup beside his.

"I still can't believe we're actually living together now." he says and holds my hand, grinning at the reflection of us on the mirror that's mounted above the sink. "We'd have to change your mailing addresses too."

"I forgot about that." I groan.

"I'm flying on the second, be back on the third. I'll help you with it, don't worry." he says, swinging his arms over my shoulders to give me a squeeze. "Let's go grocery shopping. We're going to be spending our first ever new year's eve together and we only have a few hours left to prepare. Let's get wine, steak, and some cake."

"Someone's excited." I laugh, exiting the bathroom and into the bedroom.

We finish unpacking half of my stuff- just the necessities: clothes and personal care items. We'll get to unpacking the rest tomorrow. We left the bags and boxes at the corner of his living room- more like our living room since we now live together.

"We're living together now!" Carter excitedly says behind me, wrapping his around my waist and rests his chin on my shoulder. I lean my head against his. "This is so exciting."

"We have to get going before the stores close."

"Five minutes." he mutters and holds me still. We stay in the position for only a few seconds because the door rings. He groans. "Who the hell would that be?"

"Let me get the door." I say.

I walk out of the bedroom, down the hallway, and to the door. I open the door, not bothering to check the window to see who it is.

The color of my face drains, and I stop breathing. I grip the door tightly.

"Val." Michael says when I open the door. His hands are inside the pockets of his jeans. "Hey."

I just stare at him, my lips sealed shut. My grip on the door doesn't loosen, and I don't move.

"How are you?" he asks when he realizes that I'm not going to say anything. "I went by to your old apartment. Your neighbor said you moved out months ago."

I furrow my brows a bit, wondering how it could have been months ago when I just moved out this morning.

"Ah, yes. I did move out because I was supposed to be moving in with you before you walked out." I deadpan. "How did you find me? Why are you here?"

"Finding you was not easy." he says with a small smile. "Can I come in?" he gestures his hand inside and moves his leg forward, expecting me to move aside so he could make his way but I don't move an inch.

"You can't." I sternly say. His face drops and he nods slowly. "Why are you here?"

He frowns, looking very disappointed at my response, and nods at my decisoon. He looks at his feet on the ground and shifts his weight from one foot to another. When he doesn't talk after a few seconds, I close the door. He sticks his foot in between the door and frame, stopping me from closing the door completely. I pull the door open again with an annoyed look.

"Wait," he says. "Give me a minute."

"Talk." I say irritably. "You have exactly one minute. We still have somewhere to be."

"It's new year's eve, where do you have to be?"

"Are you really going to waste your time by asking me that?" I arch my brow.