The day arrived for me to move away from home. I was much more emotional about it than I expected to be. But a lot had happened in such a short amount of time – a hell of a lot! So I just let myself feel the emotions instead of trying to determine whether they were good or bad. Even though I had made a conscious decision not to bury my emotions anymore, it was second nature to try to hide them.

Preston and Louis each drove one of my cars, and my father personally escorted me in his limo. I hadn't seen the house yet, except in pictures, so I was excited to check it out and make it my own. I knew that I was exceptionally lucky to have my own house as a freshman in college, and I made sure to tell my father how grateful I was. 

On the drive, I could tell that Daddy was worried about leaving me on my own. “Don't forget to take your cell phone with you everywhere, in case you get into trouble. And it might not be a bad idea to buy some pepper spray.” He took out his phone and made a note to himself. “I've told both Preston and Louis that they have double duty, so they will be looking out for you. In fact, I made them enroll in tae kwon do so they will be prepared to protect you. And for the love of god, Ashten, please don't go anywhere alone after dark.”

“Daddy,” I laughed. “Are you sure you don't want to move in?”

“Can I?” He asked playfully.

“I'll be fine. I grew up in New York, remember? And you can come and visit as often as you want to.”

“Darn right,” he winked. “It's my house!” I laughed and rolled my eyes a little. “You sure you're going to be okay without a cook or a maid or a personal servant?”

“Louis is a fabulous cook, and I will be putting Preston to work, too. However, I'm thinking that they won't be crazy about having to do my hair and make up.”

He laughed and then relaxed. We rode in silence for a while until I worked up the courage to ask about my mother.

“Do you think Mom will be okay? She doesn't seem like she's doing well.”

I knew by the way that he hesitated that she was getting worse. “I don't know how to help her anymore.”

“It feels like it's all my fault. She started going downhill after I broke up with Richard. It's like I ruined her life.”

“Hey, now, don't say that. Your mom sometimes has unrealistic expectations for her life, and that's nobody's fault but her own. Sure, she was disappointed about Richard, but she'll come around.”

“Just take good care of her,” I said softly. “We haven't been on the best terms, but she's still my mom and I worry about her.”

“You don't worry about a thing except getting out there and taking the world by storm!” He told me.

I asked him to keep me updated anyway, and he agreed. We also agreed to FaceTime and Skype whenever we could.

We arrived at the house, and I was pleasantly surprised. Daddy had told me it wasn't very big, but it was quite lovely. It was a charming brick townhouse with four bedrooms and a study. There were no servants' quarters, so the guys would just have to sleep in normal bedrooms and share the house.

The interior was mostly white and brick which made it fairly bright. The kitchen was small but pristine. The living room and dining room were decked in gray and white with a little splash of pink. I hoped the guys wouldn't mind too much, but after all, it was my house. My father had it professionally decorated, but he said I could change anything I wanted to. My bedroom was white with gray brick, and there was a small sitting room attached so I could have my private space to study or just relax. The guys' rooms were basic brick with white and blue bedding. And there was an extra bedroom, along with a study that would be helfpul when Louis started med school.

But my favorite was a private little courtyard in the back. It was minuscule in comparison to the grounds at home, but it was wonderfully cozy, surrounded with green on every side for privacy. I knew I'd be spending time out there frequently until it got too cold.

While Daddy showed the guys the security system, I tried to get settled into my room. A moving van had followed us, and the movers were unpacking our boxes, which mainly consisted of clothing and small items. I opened a box and got to work, hanging my clothes.

I started to get lost in the task at hand. It was very strange to think I'd be living here for years and that this was my house, my own place. I'd never lived anywhere but our home in Long Island. It felt like an adventure, like I'd just been handed a do-over card after feeling so trapped with Richard. I planned to make the most of it.

“Baby?” My dad wandered into my room, startling me a little.

I spun around quickly. “Yeah?”

“Well, it seems you're getting settled already. Do you need anything before I leave? I instructed Louis and Preston to go out and get some groceries before the holiday weekend.”

Oh, yeah, Labor Day weekend was a few days away. I cringed, not wanting to think of Louis serving me, even though I knew he would willingly do it for me anyway.

“No, thanks, Daddy. I'll be fine. Besides, I know your number.”

He smiled widely, but his face soon became sad. “I'm really going to miss you, kiddo. It won't be the same without you at home.”

“Well, I'm only a few hours away, and who knows? Maybe I'll move home after I'm done with college, if some handsome young man doesn't sweep me off my feet first.” I figured I'd add that little bit to throw him off Louis' scent.

He tugged me into a tight embrace, and when he pulled away, I saw that his eyes were getting misty.

“You're going to make me cry, Daddy. I'll be all right, really. Call me when you get home, okay?”

“Sure thing.”

And then he left. And all of a sudden, I was on my own. Just like that. No overbearing mother, no doting father. Just me. I felt a wave of panic, but then I remembered I wasn't alone at all.

“Hey, honey,” Louis said, walking into my room and looking around. “This is nice.” He noticed that my eyes were moist. “It's hard to say good-bye, isn't it?" He said. 

I nodded and walked into his open arms. He wrapped them around me expertly as I melded my body into his.

“So, this is the start of our life together,” he said, looking down at me with a twinkle in his eye.

“Holy shit,” I breathed out and he laughed like crazy at my choice of words. “At the beginning of the summer, I was in Paris, telling Richard how much I didn't want to go to Harvard. And now I couldn't be happier about starting this new part of my life with you.”

I stopped and thought about that after I said it. Was I really starting a new life with him? Was I beginning the rest of my life? Or was I being naive to think we might really last forever?

“What's on your mind?” He asked.

“So, we're kind of serious about each other....” I said.

“Mmmhmmm,” he agreed.

“But we've only known each other for a few months.”

“Yup.”

“So, are we missing something? I mean, it doesn't usually happen this fast...”

“I'm not missing anything,” he said, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “I can't imagine finding any reason I wouldn't want to be with you for the rest of my life. I love you and nothing is going to change that. But if you need space at some point, or if you need to step back, then I'll give you space.”

“I don't think that will be necessary," I assured him. "I love everything about you, Lou.”

I popped up on my toes and captured his lips. He pressed back into the kiss with affection that I could feel all the way to my fingertips. I slipped my arms around his waist and he drew me so tightly against him that my head fell back while he continued the kiss.

“Ahem.” We heard Preston clearing his throat. I stepped back and laughed while Louis smacked Preston's arm playfully.

“I guess we'll need to set up some ground rules around here,” Preston teased. “The first is no kissing ever! It's yucky.”

I looked at him like he was insane. “How about if we try to refrain from kissing in your general vicinity?”

“But it's still yucky,” he said, chuckling.

“Well, then I think the only other option is that we find you a woman,” Louis announced.

“Fine by me,” Preston said. “No kissing for you until then!”

“Right!” Louis laughed. “Now, we should get some food.”

“Okay, I'll just stay here and unpack,” I said.

“Oh, no you won't,” Louis said. “You're coming with us because today is your first lesson on how to live like the simple folk do.”

“Ha ha,” I said dryly. “I actually want to come.”

The truth was that I wasn't interested in shopping as much as I was in hanging out with my boyfriend. In public. Holding hands Not sneaking around.

Preston drove, but I didn't want to sit in back like the spoiled princess I used to be. So I sat in front and made Louis sit in back. We found a grocery store not too far from the house, which was convenient.

“Well, we're going to have to start with a little of everything since the cupboards are bare,” Louis said. He yanked a cart out of the line of carts crammed all together. I looked at it in revulsion. There were little stickers all over the cracked handle and there was a bit of rust eating away at some of the metal bars.

“We're going to put our food into that?” I said curling my lip in disgust.

Preston laughed at me. “It will be fine. Most things are in packages and we'll wash the fruits and vegetables before we eat them, okay?”

“All right,” I said, scowling a little. We hadn't even started and I was already losing my appetite.

We began in the refrigerated section. The guys chucked items into the basket as if they hadn't eaten in weeks. They were tossing in milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs. I just stared in confusion, and then I started scanning the shelves to see if there was anything I recognized. I went over and grabbed a container of Greek yogurt that I liked. I set it gently into the basket and they both stopped and looked at me with exaggerated expressions of surprise on their faces.

“Oh, stop. I'm not entirely helpless,” I said, waving them off.

The next stop was the frozen food section, where there were a lot of things I hadn't seen before, like little tubes of ground beef and gigantic pails of ice cream.

“Oh, corn dogs!” Preston yelled, throwing some into the cart.

I picked up the box and wrinkled my nose. They looked awful. I had never figured out the appeal of corn dogs. Plain hot dogs were bad enough.

Louis threw in some cans of frozen juice.

“Why don't you just get cartons of juice? I only like fresh squeezed.”

“These are cheaper; they're only $1.99."

“How much can a carton of orange juice possibly cost?” I scoffed.

“Cartons are around $5.49.”

“That's nothing. Go back and get some cartons of juice.”

“Did you just order me to go and get juice?” He asked with a goofy little smirk.

“I'm paying, so what difference does it make?”

“I thought you were going to try to follow a budget,” he reminded me.

“I am, but not yet. One thing at a time, okay? It's going to take a while for me to adjust to all of this.”

“All right,” he conceded.

Soon, all three of us were throwing things into the cart haphazardly, and then we had to fetch another cart so we could keep adding items. The guys picked out tons of junk food; I couldn't imagine how they stayed healthy. I just tried to find things that I recognized. I didn't know a single recipe, so I left the ingredient-type food to Louis.

We went through the soft drinks aisle and then on to the alcohol. Together, they picked out a wide variety of beer, wine, and other liquor.

I just stood there and stared at them, perplexed. "You do know that you aren't allowed to drink on the job, right? Especially if you're going to drive, Preston!"

"It's not that much," Louis countered.

"It looks like you guys are going to have a party this weekend," I observed.

Louis and Preston flashed a strange glance at each other.

"What was that for?" I asked.

"Nothing at all," Louis replied, quickly pushing one of the carts toward the meat section.

The meat section is where the clashes began. I wanted them to buy some good steaks that they could grill over the upcoming holiday weekend and they were all chintzy about it, claiming that porterhouse and tenderloin were too expensive. We had squabbles over organic vs. non-organic and whether lamb chops were a common household meal. Louis even had the audacity to claim that I supported child abuse because I wanted to eat lamb and veal.

They started to pick out packages of sandwich meat and I examined them, not quite recognizing what anything was. "Our lunch meat didn't look like this. It was always wrapped in paper."

"That's because Lucinda shopped at the ridiculously expensive little deli in Oyster Bay," Preston scoffed. Then he looked at me, a slight show of alarm on his face. "Oh, sorry Ms. Ashten. I didn't mean to offend you."

I started laughing and said, "Did you hear yourself just now? I'm not Ms. Ashten, and you don't have to be afraid of me."

He gave a sheepish little laugh. "Oh yeah."

We finally ended up with everything we all wanted. When we left the store, we were loaded down with enough food to last us until Christmas.

When we got home, Louis insisted that he and Preston carry the bags in, even though I wanted to help. I just started unpacking, trying to establish places for everything to go.

Once that was finished, I told Louis that I was feeling pretty wiped out from the emotional day.

“Go take a nap and we'll make some dinner,” he said.

I gratefully obeyed, snuggling into my new bed under the down comforter. Even with the lingering heat outside, the air conditioning made the house cool and the comforter felt perfect to soothe me to sleep.

Louis woke me a bit later with a kiss on my forehead. "Hey, sleepyhead."

I opened my eyes and smiled lazily. “I'm glad this wasn't a dream. I'm going to like having you wake me up every day.”

“Hungry?” He asked.

“Yup,” I said, bounding out of bed.

They had grilled some steaks and made some baked potatoes. It was a delicious dinner, and I had no idea how hungry I was until I started eating.

“Wow, I'm impressed, boys,” I said. “This is fantastic.”

“You sound surprised,” Louis said, raising his eyebrows. “You should never underestimate my powers.”

“You're a dork,” said Preston.

“Thank you,” I said to Preston with a giggle.

After dinner, we unpacked the rest of our things and explored the house a little, checking out where dishes and other items were located. They showed me the security system, although they assured me that they would always be on top of setting the alarm before bed or before we went out anywhere. Then the guys grabbed beer and I poured myself a glass of wine, and we went outside to enjoy our cozy little courtyard. It already had a bistro table and chairs, along with a covered swing. It was so pleasant, like our own little retreat, as if everyone else was a thousand miles away. Well, except for the occasional honk of a car horn in the distance.

“So, we're like room-mates now,” I remarked.

“Well, I'm still your chauffeur,” Preston said. “And according to you father, I'm your bodyguard, too.”

I chuckled. “Sorry. He's kind of overprotective since the incident with Richard.”

“Well, I'm particularly thankful that he knows about that because now, I'm all set for college,” he said with a happy grin.

“You deserve it, Preston. You both do. I'm glad something good came out of that horrible night. But does that mean you'll be leaving us to pursue your dreams of higher education?” I asked lightly.

He looked down and I knew I had put him on the spot. “I told your father I'd finish out the year. But I'm already registered at Penn State for second semester.”

“Nooo!” I cried, the wine making me a little less reserved. “You can't leave us!!!”

Louis pitched in and said, “Sounds like it's the thing to do, starting half way through the school year. We must have started a trend.” He looked at me and winked. “But we'll miss you, man.”

I nodded and lifted my wine glass. “To Preston, the best damn chauffeur in history.”

We all raised our drinks and toasted to Preston.

“Look at you,” Louis teased me. “You're drinking like a pro now!”

I just rolled my eyes and took another sip.

When we decided it was time to call it a night, Preston went inside, I presume to give Louis and me a little privacy.

Louis stood up and pulled me to my feet. Then he cradled my face and gave me and unbelievably tender kiss. “I love you,” he said after breaking away.

“I'll never get tired of hearing you say that,” I said gratefully.

“Good, because I'll never stop saying it,” he promised.

We walked inside and stopped by my bedroom door. After another exquisitely warm and tender kiss, we said good-night.

Louis left and I shut the door. I brushed my teeth and changed into a new set of pajamas - just plain jersey knit shorts and a tank top, but they were very comfortable. I was just sliding under the covers when I heard a knock at my door.

"Come in, Lou," I quietly called.

He walked in and asked, "How did you know it was me and not Preston?"

"Preston has never had a reason to come knocking on my door," I said with a gleam in my eye.

He shut the door behind him and jumped into the bed like a little kid. 

"And what do you think you're doing?" I asked, trying to sound stern.

"It would be a shame to waste this opportunity. I mean, here we are, first night in a house together without your parents, not having to hide anything from anyone. It would almost be a crime if we didn't take advantage of that, right? I mean, just for sleeping of course."

I grabbed him around the middle and yanked him down next to me. Then I kissed his ear, and then that little sweet spot on his neck, and I whispered, "It would be all right with me if it wasn't just for sleeping."

He let out this awkward little half-chuckle, half-groan. "Damn, woman, you are going to be the death of me."

"Well, you're the one who came leaping into my bedroom!" I scolded.

"I, Louis Tomlinson, do not leap. I never leap."

"Whatever," I laughed.

Then we snuggled up together, turned out the light and went to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, the gif is obviously pictures of the new house. I want to live there!!!

I could use some prayers if any of you are pray-ers. I have fibromyalgia, and right now with the changing weather, I'm sore and achy quite often, and it makes writing more difficult. My hands get shaky and numb, my shoulders get so stiff that when the chiropractor adjusts me, it sounds like popping popcorn! But I will never stop writing, so I have to figure out ways to stretch and exercise to alleviate the pain. Thanks. :D

XOXO