It was only a house move. I was still going to be in the same area, only in a nicer estate and in a nicer and bigger place. I would still see all my friends, and still be able to work perfectly fine... So why the hell did it upset me so much?
“Are you ready to go?” Alec asked me and kissed the crown of my head.
Am I ready?
No.
Will I ever be?
Probably not.
“Yeah,” I whispered. “Let's go.”
I pulled back from Alec and gripped onto his extended hand. We walked over to the door of the apartment and I turned around to look at everything once more. Alec gave my hand a squeeze and with a shaking hand I reached for the apartment door and stepped into the hallway, closing it after me. The lock clicked into place and I let out a little sob.
It was done.
We were moved out of my apartment... no, it wasn't mine anymore. It was just an old apartment now.
Holy crap.
I sucked in a deep breath and just as I was about to walk down the hallway with Alec, the doorway across the hall from us opened, and Mr. Pervert stepped out. He was holding an envelope and a bouquet of flowers.
“Hey Keela,” he said and made a point of not looking at Alec. “I... I got you these flowers as a goodbye because I knew you're movin'.”
I stared at the flowers then at Mr. Pervert, and burst into tears.
“Thank you,” I said and stepped forward, throwing my arms around the man who creeped me out for years.
Maybe I was wrong about him, maybe he was—
“Hey, don't sniff her fucking hair. Bro, come on. I don't want to kick an old man's ass, but I will.”
Scratch what I just said—Mr. Pervert was still creepy, but he was a nice creepy. I mean, he did buy me flowers. I stepped back away from Mr. Pervert as he deeply inhaled and I shivered in revulsion. I shook it off and leaned forward and took my flowers.
“Thank you.” I smiled.
Mr. Pervert nodded and handed me a white envelope.
I raised my eyebrow. “The last time you gave me an envelope it changed me life.”
Mr. Pervert blinked in confusion, but said, “It's just a farewell card.”
I surprisingly chuckled. “Thank you, again. I love the flowers and the card, they're great.”
Mr. Pervert perked up and Alec growled, “My woman, back off.”
Oh, Christ.
Alec's, me Tarzan you Jane, attitude was back.
I ignored Alec and smiled to Mr. Pervert. “It was... lovely being your neighbour.”
“It was wonderful being yours,” he replied.
Gah.
“Bye.” I smiled.
“Take care.”
I turned and walked away then shook my head when Alec chose to walk behind me instead of beside me.
“Don't shake your head, if he wants an ass to stare at he will have to make do with mine.”
I laughed as we headed out to the stairs and descended them.
“You're crazy,” I said.
We left my apartment building and joined everyone else who was standing next to the moving van.
“Where the hell did you get those?” Bronagh asked me causing everyone's gaze to turn my way.
I grinned and proudly held up my flowers. “Mr. Pervert.”
The lads all looked to Alec and laughed.
“How badly did you want to hit him?” Nico asked.
Alec growled, “I’m still contemplating going back inside and kicking his ass.”
I rattled my head. “Relax, he was just being nice.”
“Nice my ass,” all four brothers said in unison, which cracked up the girls.
“They all share the same narrow mind,” Aideen teased.
I fell into Alec and laughed.
“Ha. Ha. Ha. Shut up,” Kane deadpanned making me laugh harder.
When the laughter subsided Aideen spoke up.
“Okay, Keela, me and you are goin' in your car. The girls are going with Ryder and Nico, and Alec is drivin’ the movin’ van while Kane is drivin’ his SUV,” she said, taking leadership. “Does that sound cool?”
I nodded my head. “Yep.”
“Excellent. Let's get on this, bitch,” she announced.
We all snorted.
Alec kissed my head. “We'll be right behind you.”
I nodded my head and walked over to my car. I unlocked it so Aideen could get in then I opened the back door and laid my flowers on my back seat along with my bag and laptop case then closed the door and got into the driver's seat.
“How are you doin'?” Aideen asked as I started the car.
I put the car in gear as I shrugged my shoulders. “I don't want to say anythin' positive because I'd be lyin'.”
Aideen sighed as I pulled out of my car parking space for the last time.
“I think you're puttin' way too much thought into this. You can live in the newer, bigger, and way better house with Alec and just remain engaged. You don't have to plan a weddin', you don't have to do anythin' but enjoy one another.”
I processed that thought.
I glanced at Aideen as I drove. “I never thought of it like that.”
“Of course you didn't,” she mumbled. “You were too busy seein' the horror in movin'. It's not a big deal. You can have what you want, just ten minutes away from the apartment complex.”
I thought about it and realised Aideen was right. Moving was just stressing me out, but once it was done, it would be over and I could get to enjoying Alec at a leisurely pace.
“You have no idea how much better you made me feel,” I breathed.
Aideen reached over and rubbed my shoulder. “I'm glad, I hate seein' you upset.”
I lightly smiled. “I know, but the weight of me worry just faded away thanks to you.”
Aideen was silent for a moment until she said, “Now we just have to deal with your nightmares.”
My hands tensed around the steering wheel of my car. “Can we not talk about that, please?”
“Fine,” Aideen reluctantly said, “but now that we know Bronagh is in the same boat as you, you have to talk to her.”
“I will,” I said firmly.
Satisfied, Aideen nodded her head once then turned and looked out the car window.
I already made a decision to speak to Bronagh about my nightmares back in my apartment. When she admitted she suffers from nightmares too, I felt... overwhelmed with relief. I was so relieved I wasn't on my own, and what went on in my head wasn't me losing my mind, but the effects of my past playing horrible tricks on it.