SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Twenty-nine
I heave a sigh as I look around my bedroom trying to determine what items I may or may not need when my parents and I go to The Nest. I’m not happy that I have to go into hiding but I understand why. It sucks just the same though! I grab my jeans, tee-shirts, sweaters, underwear items, then for ‘just in case’ I decide to pack the only 2 skirts that I own and my knee-high black boots, only a couple of months are left before it will be to hot outside to wear them. After I have packed the most necessary items I go into the bathroom and grab the second most important items, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, shampoo and conditioner. Hesitating for a moment, I grab my make-up bag. One never knows when it may be needed!
Running back into my bedroom, I scan the room making sure I have gotten everything only to realize I haven’t grabbed my phone charger, laptop, and Kindle. Items which to most may not be considered essential, but they most definitely are for me! Placing my hands on my hips I think out loud, “I think I officially have everything I need.” With a nod of my head, I pick up my bags and head down the stairs and out the front door where I see Ash waiting for me.
Seeing him half sitting, half leaning against the hood of his car has me sighing appreciatively. From his soft dark hair to the tee-shirt and ripped jeans he is sporting, plus the black combat style boots upon his feet, growl, I think to myself. He grins widely at me, and I realize he isn’t wearing his sunglasses, which surprises me a little, not that I mind of course. Then realizing he is laughing because he was listening to my thoughts, I roll my eyes at him and ask if he is ready to go. My parents said before I walked out the door that they would meet me shortly thereafter. Ash arches an eyebrow; “what about your folks?” His pronunciation of folks sounds more like full-ks, causing me to giggle a little bit. He is just so stinking cute!
“Okay mister! You may be cute, but you are really starting to annoy me with your ability to read my thoughts.” I glower at him as he opens my car door, but I get into his car. He walks around to the driver’s side and slides into the car as well.
“Aw, don’t be like that. You are just as cute and adorable to me as I am to you.” I love that he says this to me but pretending I’m still mad at him, I cross my arms and harumph at him. He isn’t getting off that easily! Ash however just smiles as he starts his car up and then backs out of my driveway. We will arrive at The Nest in no time, and I contemplate if I want to ask the question that has been burning in my mind about the twin flame thing.
Deciding the question could be put off for a bit longer, I look out the passenger window only to see we are pulling up to Charlie’s house. Dang I didn’t realize I had debated with myself for ten whole minutes! I am shocked at myself for letting such a question bug me so much.
I watch as Ash bypasses Charlie’s driveway and I look at him curiously. “Why did you pass the drive?” He didn’t respond to me though, instead, he drives around part of the circular dead end and then takes a right, straight on to someone’s front yard. Or so I thought that was what he was doing, and I squealed a ‘what are you doing’ as he did so. My reaction caused him to chuckle and before I could say anything further, we pass through an invisible barrier once more, leading us into the actual Nest.
Slugging Ash in his upper bicep I can’t help but saying; “you ass! You scared the crap out of me.” I want to apply so many more curse words to the one I have already said but I am stunned silent as Ash pulls into a roundabout driveway and my eyes land upon the house sat in the center of said driveway. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a mansion, but it is quite a large house. It is an A-framed style house, sort of a dark grey wood siding and reminds me of the houses from the 17th century, I think people refer to the style as colonial. Just picture the house from the Witch House in Salem, Massachusetts. Well, that’s what people call the house today, back in the mid 1600’s it belonged to Judge Jonathan Corwin. Apologies, that is neither here nor there, just the image that popped into my head when I look at this house.
“Whose house is this? Are we staying with another shifter family or something?” I continue to gaze at the massive house trying to picture the people that would be living here, unsuccessfully, I might add.
“What? Oh, no. This is your family’s home. Well, it was your grandmother’s house before she passed away and then your mother took ownership of the place and then I guess it will become your home.” Ash glanced over at me and smiled. “Would you like to go inside and take a look around?”
Sitting for a minute, momentarily dumbfounded by what he just said. It has always been just me and my parents, so it is weird to think about grandparents. I mean I know they each had parents themselves, but I never actually thought about them being my grandparents; probably because I have never met them and neither mom nor dad speak of their parents. “When did mom’s mother pass away? I don’t really know much about any of them.”
“Um, I’m not really sure myself having lived in Australia, I’ve never known much about the American shifters. I only found out about your house here yesterday when Charlie called and told me about it. I assume your grandmother must have passed before either of us were born though, but I could be wrong. You’ll have to ask your parents if you want precise information regarding your family, sorry.”
“Well, let’s go look around then, shall we?” I open the car door and hop out. Slightly anxious, I walk up to the front door and try the knob. To my surprise, it’s unlocked and swings easily open for us. Grabbing my suitcase, I walk into the entrance and stop short. “This place is absolutely beautiful!” I exclaim even though I am literally standing in the entrance, having not gone beyond this point. I just have this feeling, ya know what I mean?
Ash is standing right behind me, and I hear him chuckle at my claim. “You seriously haven’t even seen the rest of the house. How can you say that it’s beautiful?” He shakes his head at me but smiling too. “From what I was told, Charlie stopped by here last evening and ‘freshened’ the place up a bit, whatever that means. She also said we would be able to tell which room would be yours. Do you want to go upstairs and see if she was right?”
Nodding my head yes, we go up the steps and I realize how out of shape I am as we reach the second floor. “Ugh, I really need to start exercising.” I stand for a moment catching my breath, (for real).
“I think Charlie said there are three bedrooms with each having their own private bathrooms. Your parents’ room is to the right of the stairs and yours and the spare room are off to the left this way,” he nods his head to the left and then we walk down the hallway. Ash opens the first door to the left, but I already know that isn’t my room. Something is telling me mine is the one on the right side of the hallway and that is exactly where I go.
Flinging the door wide, I gasp. “Holy wow! Ash, come look at this room. It’s like a mini apartment. This totally has to be mine.” The widest grin has spread across my face and standing in the center of the room I just spin on my heels and try to take it all in. I want to say that the black metal, four-poster king-sized bed is centered exactly right in the middle of the room, against the wall that the hallway is. Directly across from the bed is French doors that appear to lead out onto a balcony/deck area. The doors themselves are enveloped with black satin curtains and sheer linings I guess is what it would be called, underneath them.
The carpet is a dark grey color and so freaking soft. I could sleep on the floor, that’s how soft it is. Glancing to my right I see a set of slitted doors and go to take a peek. A flipping WALK-IN CLOSET! “No way!” A squeal of pure joy escapes me as I stare in awe. “So, when my hiding out is over, I think I’m going to have to move here permanently! I am totally in love with this house!”
Looking at Ash, I see him smiling at me. He has taken a seat upon my bed, and I like how he looks there. I shake my head from that thought. “You should check out your bathroom. From what I gather, you’ll love it just as much as you love this room.” He nods his head towards the black wooden door that I have yet to open. I clap my hands and jump up and down a couple of times in giddy excitement before I take a deep breath, place my hand on the golden handle and push the door open.
“What the hell!” I can’t help but shout the statement. The bathroom is only a little smaller than the bedroom. Everything is marble. Sink, tile floor, the shower. The shower is mind blowing. I think four people could fit comfortably inside of it. There are shower heads everywhere you turn. But seriously, that isn’t all. There is a bathtub that looks like a small hot tub and it too, is surrounded by white swirled marble. I am even blown away by the toilet if you can believe that! It is a shiny black porcelain and has a heated seat. What! “Oh, my, God. I don’t think I’m ever going to leave the bathroom!” I laugh as I come walking back out and see Ash sitting exactly where I had left him minutes before, grinning widely at me.
Is it wrong that I just want to jump on his lap and have a crazy make out session at this moment? As much as I would love that too, I hear Ash say in my head. Your parents should be here any minute now. And remember, I promised your father that you will remain a good girl. I roll my eyes at him but sight at the same time. I know he’s right; they should actually be here by now.
“Yeah, I wonder what’s taking them so long. Let’s head down to the kitchen before I make you break your promise to my dad.” I grin, giggle and then dash out of the room before he has a chance to stand up from the bed and hurry down the stairs.
“Weird, isn’t it? We’ve been here for nearly an hour. I could have sworn they said they would be right behind us.” Concern is taking over me and I give Ash a worried look.
“Hm, well maybe they are running late, got caught up in some last-minute work thing. Why don’t you call them and see what’s taking them so long?”
I nod my head, “yeah, I think I will. Wait, where is my cell? Oh no, I think I left it in your car. Here they could have been calling me this whole time and I never heard it ring because I left it out there.” I’m starting to feel frantic as I run out the front door and fling the passenger side door open. Fumbling around trying to find it I feel like screaming that I hadn’t realized I didn’t have my phone on me. With a sigh of relief, I finally feel it and pick it up where it had somehow fallen in between his cup holder and my seat.