Skylar.
To: Griffincaleb@gmail.com
From: Skylarlodge@gmail.com
Subject: Therapy
The end of summer couldn't have come any faster. School starts in a week and I can't wait that long to not see those lying snakes.
I have been spending my last week of summer hunting for a new apartment. I think it's about time I moved out of the house, they never wanted me anyways.
"Thank you Ms. Stone for meeting me this late," my realtor greets me.
"I think I found the perfect apartment for you," she is all smiles as we enter the Mayfair building.
"Just Skylar is fine. Ms. Stone are my sisters," am surprised that my voice doesn't come out pitched at the rate at which I hate the Stones name.
A short elevator ride later we stepped into an empty studio apartment.
Sunlight streamed through a wide window, catching on the gleam of polished wood floors. The air held a faint trace of lavender and new beginnings. To the left, a slightly raised platform for a bed.
The kitchenette stood sleek and unassuming along the opposite wall, with glossy cabinets.
Tucked behind a sliding door, the bathroom —white tile, a rainfall shower, warm lighting, and a mirror that caught the light just right.
It wasn't grand. It wasn't furnished. But it was whole. It was ready.
A place to breathe. A place to begin. Just waiting for me to move in and make it home.
"The previous owner just vacated today and it matches your needs. Close to your school, has good security and the building is quite peaceful," she says as I walk around the apartment.
"The place looks amazing, especially the view of the landscape," I say standing by the window.
And it's also so far away from people that know me. But I don't say this out loud.
"If you want it I recommend you put in a down payment before the end of today as other people would also like to have this place," she stands beside me.
"How much is it?" I am so very glad that Martin started an emergency fund for me.
"Just 4000$, I will let you think about it," she steps out to answer her ringing phone.
Shit! I was short a thousand dollars.
I continue walking through the spacious apartment. It's exactly the kind of place that I wanted for myself and the only place that I have liked since I started apartment hunting.
Hi monkey! Want to have dinner with you sister and I?
A text from Martin pulls me out of my mind.
Can't, am crazy busy.
I quickly reply with a lie that is getting a little old now.
I need a thousand dollars, can you send me?
I try my luck not sure if he will help.
Okay.
He replies a while later. And even though I know he hasn't asked what it is for, he is going to check my account before my next allowance.
"Have you decided?" My realtor asks, standing by the door to the balcony.
"I will take it," I can't help the flutter and sudden tightening that starts from my stomach flowing to my chest.
With Erik not around for the week I find it easy to move out of the house without the stones knowing.
~~~~~
"Congrats on the win," I tell Caleb as we enter Erik's studio apartment at the Mayfair building.
The apartment is clear of any furniture just like the day I came by to see the apartment except for the many people milling about in their Halloween costumes, red solo cups in hand and music booming from somewhere around the studio.
"Thanks. Didn't see you for the second and third period," he comments casually as he gets my drink.
"Stuck with Liz," I blush at the memory of being found snooping.
"At the hornets locker room?" I can hear the laughter in his voice.
"Yeah, yeah. I get it you know," I snatch my drink from him pretending to be mad.
"Wish it was mine you were snooping around in," he laughs following behind me as we head to the balcony for some fresh air.
Couple of guys came over wanting to talk to him and I stepped aside not far so that he was in my line of sight.
If a few months ago someone would have told me that I would be craving someone's attention as I am right now or missing them this much I would have pegged them as mad.
Actually a few months ago the prospect of liking someone or hoping for a relationship was a dream I dared not to dream.
"Your mother just fell open," Erik says, turning me face to him.
"Don't you have someone to annoy?" I slap his hand away from my face.
"Sadly Amy is a little occupied,"
"Amy?"
"Yeah, Amelia your room mate,"
This has my attention fully on him.
"What?"
"Amelia and I are dating,"
"Since when y'all just meet last week,"
"And that was enough for me to know she is the one," he winked at me walking away leaving me gaping at him.
"Wanna get out of here?" Caleb is by my side.
"Yes please," he takes my hand in his and walks me out of the party.
We Uber back to the University and head over to the hockey house.
"What movie do you wanna watch?" He asks as I settle in bed while he sets up the projector.
"Am feeling like a horror movie," I say, reaching for his night stand and pulling out a couple of sneakers that I found out he stocks there.
He puts on the taxes massacre, turns the lights off and climbs into bed with me, we settle with his hand wrapped around me and my head on his chest.
He runs his hands up and down my arm before moving to the waist and lifting my top a bit to draw circles there. My skin is covered in goosebumps and blood rushes to my head making me a bit woozy.
"How is it?"
His voice was low and raspy, obsidian eyes hooded as they gazed down at me, his long eyelashes casting shadows on his cheeks.
"Kiss me," I said breathlessly, the thought of having his lips on mine again made my stomach flutter.
His hands gripped my hips possessively, pulling me closer to him. I heard his intake of breath as our hips touched and the space between us disappeared.
"I want you," he murmured before his head dipped down to claim my lips.
The soft glide of his tongue between my lips coaxed me to open up to him, and when I did, I let myself drown.
Everything blurred into sensation: the rough texture of his hands as they slipped under my shirt, his fingertips slowly drifting along the skin on my lower back, the delicious warmth from his body, the gentle bite of his teeth, the slow licks of his tongue.
It was a passionate kiss, hard and deep. It made me long for something I wasn't ready for. His hands were all over my body. My head was spinning, my heart beating too fast.
I was so immersed in the kiss that my body let go and I ended up releasing gas.
I pull away so fast at the shock and end up cutting his lip by mistake. I have never been this embarrassed in my life.
"Am so sorry, i-" i start my string of unplanned apologies.
"Shh. It's okay nothing to be embarrassed about ," he whispered, kissing my shoulder. "For now, let me just kiss you."
I laughed nervously. "Okay."
He kissed everything except my lips. I was straining for his lips on mine.
"Caleb, kiss me here…"
"Where?" he murmured.
"Right here." I pointed back to my neck, but I really didn't know exactly where. I wanted him to kiss me everywhere. I felt hot, like my blood was boiling and my skin was on fire. His lips were soft. So, so, so soft.
"Mmm…" he purred, smelling the skin on my neck. "You smell so good, taste so good."
Then he lifted me, placing on top of him so that I could straddle him. His arms dug into my thighs as I dug into his hair and pulled, his lips never leaving my skin. He was so very close.
"Caleb, kiss me…my lips."
He gave me a searing kiss, then pulled away. "Let me make you feel good." His hands went to caress my legs. "I want to make love with you so bad, ocean eyes. It's all I can think about."
And like that my stomach decided to release even more gas.