The phone rings just as the sun has begun it’s slow descent in the sky outside my apartment, golden rays fluttering along the cool breeze of the window I constantly forget to close.
Noodle still rests on my chest, contentedly purring away, kneading biscuits in my soft stomach until I grumble awake. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept in until such an hour. I really must’ve been exhausted from all the excitement of the past few days.
Gently, I lift the now grumpy black cat and place beside me on the couch as I bumble sleepily around my ringing cell.
It’s not in my purse, nor on the kitchen counter. When I finally find it, it’s directly beneath where I was laying only minutes ago – buried in the lumpy couch cushion.
“Where are you?” Maddox asks, deep brassy tone slightly ruffled.
“What?” I answer, rubbing sleep from my eyes.
I’d fallen asleep in the gorgeous dress, marring it with wrinkles unbecoming such a luxurious fabric. I gaze sadly at my reflection in the mirror, pitying it. Maybe I could scrape together enough cash to get it properly dry cleaned.
Where even was a dry cleaner? I’d never so much as stepped inside one my entire life.
“I went to the café. You weren’t there.” He pauses, sighing over the soft sound of his radio playing, “It doesn’t even look like you opened the place.”
“I overslept.”
“It’s past four in the afternoon, Ava. Do you always sleep all day long?” His words are curt and short and, for some reason, wounding.
Apparently the billionaire had woken up on the wrong side of his luxurious, expensive bed.
“No.” I shrug, though he can’t see it, “I was just totally exhausted. I’m just as shocked as you are.”
“Are you home? Come downstairs.”
“Why?” I inquire carefully, trotting down the hall towards the bedroom I didn’t sleep in last night, shedding layers of clothing in the process. With a second thought, I bend down and scoop up the long burgundy gown, laying it on my bed instead of leaving it in a heap on the messy floor beside damp towels and forgotten hairbands.
“I want you to come over, to see where you’ll be staying. Spend the night, see how you feel.”
My stomach lurched up into my throat then down to my toes in one swift, off kiltered motion that sent me skittering sideways.
Spend the night. With Maddox. At his house.
Oh god.
“Ava?” He asks, irritation now pulsing clear in his words, no longer hidden.
He was definitely in some kind of mood. When I would get like that as your typical angsty teen, my mom always said I was like a bear with a sore head. Then she’d make me a cup of strong tea and send me to my room to calm down.
Maybe that’s what Maddox needed, some nice hot tea. No one could inhale the scent of fresh chamomile and lemongrass and not relax.
“Sorry, I’m getting dressed right now.”
Without answering, he hangs up the phone, leaving me staring at the blank screen in surprise. Maddox, who I admittedly didn’t know all that well, had never been like this before. Maybe the realities of our situation were finally hitting him.
Or maybe Noodle had said something nasty to him last night, perched all sweet on Maddox’s broad shoulder.
As if on cue, the golden kitty snuck through the crack in my door, slinking along near the wall to hide in the pile of fallen clothes in my closet. He watches me with glowing green eyes, like he’s actually sad I’m leaving again.
Usually, the crotchety old man kitty likes as much space as he can get.
Sliding into a pair of the least cozy, least distressed jeans I can find, I tug a red cable knit sweater over my head and run a brush through my tangled hair, wincing as it yanks at my scalp. Then, I splash some water on my face and dab on a bit of tinted moisturizer before kneeling in front of the mewling feline.
“I’ll be home soon.” I promise him, stroking under his chin in that one place he loves. He continues to gaze at me through slitted jade eyes, “But then we’ll have to start prepping you for the big move.”
It ached my heart to have to move him. He hadn’t done well when I’d moved into this apartment. Noodle hated change as much as I did.
“We can get through it together.” I assure him, though the swish of his tail was distinctly unconcerned.
Sighing, I smooth my hair against my scalp, grab my purse, and bound out the door and down the stairs.
Maddox’s dark grey Porsche glitters like a cloudy night sky under the afternoon sun. It’s unusually warm outside now, and I regret my choice of a sweater.
Unlike before, he doesn’t get out of the car to open my door, his stern eyes following me as I dart around the car and slide into the passenger seat.
“I’m glad to see you can make it outside without falling on your face.” He muses, faintest hint of a smile on his full lips, and for a second I think I’ve imagined his sour mood.
But when I laugh he stares forward and ignores me, steering the car towards the highway.
“So.” I ask, struggling under the heavy weight of the silence between us. I swallow thickly, trying to come up with some nice questions that won’t irk him even further, “Tell me about this house you’ve got.”
“I had it built about three years ago.” He shrugs, his voice gruff and still so curt.
I nod, feigning interest, “So you designed it yourself, then?”
“No. I hired people for that.”
He doesn’t look at me, he doesn’t look anywhere but the road. I’m almost jealous of the other cars.
It was impossible not to feel like a silly, stupid little girl right now. I’d thought… I’d honestly thought that he and I were getting somewhere. I wasn’t sure exactly what that ‘where’ was. But it was somewhere that he can I could share and coexist at the very least.
Now, he didn’t seem to want anything to do with me.
It made my hackles raise, but I bit back the irritation. With both of us moody, neither of us had any luck at bridging this sudden gap between us. I couldn’t help but to feel as though Maddox Dodge were worlds and moons away and I was grasping at him from the Earth’s distant surface.
I could see him, but I couldn’t touch him – not really.
Here I was, agreeing to marry him and give up my home to be with him, and he couldn’t even look me in the eyes.
This did not bode well for our marriage.
Was I signing myself up for two years of misery?
“I’m sorry about last night.” I say softly, his eyes flickering towards me in slight surprise.
“Last night?”
“With Noodle and Reagan and everything. I’m sure it was overwhelming.”
He doesn’t respond, parking the car outside the most lovely, huge home I’d ever seen in my life.
Bricked and fashionably rustic, vines curl along the outer walls, at least three chimney stacks lining the arched rooves. Columns created a path towards the looming mahogany front door, the circular drive a smooth paved ring round a pond and flowing fountain.
It’s too gorgeous for words, my heart thundering in my chest.
This was going to be my home?
I couldn’t believe it. It was fancier than even the hotel Mom and I stayed in for my high school graduation trip to Vegas. I could only imagine what the rooms inside would be like.
“I’ll give you tour and help you get settled.” Maddox said softly, interrupting my flying thoughts.
I nod, climbing out of the car to walk with him towards the home. He pushes open the door, stepping to the side to allow me in before him. The entrance is lit with soft, glowing light like that of the restaurant from before. Halls lead on both sides and directly in front of us. To the front, I can see a wide foyer with light painted walls and a modern kitchen. To the left is a winding staircase and to the right is a hall of rooms and offices.
“This way.” He gestures towards the staircase, his fingers finding their home in my back as he leads me to the stairs.
I welcome the touch, stepping closer to the comfort of his side. The staircase is easily wide enough for both of us to walk together, however he lingers just slightly behind me.
On the second floor, another hardwood covered hall extends outwards, though only a single door rests here.
“This is our room.” He says plainly, pushing open one of the heavy double doors.
The room is larger than my entire apartment.
Windows dot the walls, letting sunlight flow through the room as if it were a solarium. Over the four-poster grand bed dangles a diamond crusted chandelier, throwing glitters of sunlight around the room like a fancy disco ball.
Though it is beautiful and elegant, the walls are sparsely decorated. It feels much more a hotel room than a bedroom where open would live. Did Maddox really spend his nights in this place, staring at the moon and his empty walls?
I turn running my fingers across the golden woven comforter that Noodle would love to dig his claws into, intending to ask him that very question, only to find him gazing at me silently from across the bed.