“It’s late. I’ll help you find what you need upstairs in the bedroom, and I’ll sleep on the couch,” I say. Before she has a chance to protest, I jog up the black metal staircase to my bedroom in the loft.
I quickly pull out a fresh towel, toothbrush, shirt, and pair of shorts and set them all on the bathroom counter. Walking back into my bedroom, I scan it quickly. I recently changed the sheets, and I keep a tidy house, so she shouldn’t have anything to complain about or uncover any secrets from sleeping up here alone.
When I turn around, she’s already standing at the top of the stairs, looking at my dark grey queen-sized bed.
“You should find everything you need in the bathroom.”
She nods, meeting my gaze with unnerving calm. “I’m sure I will.”
There’s a lump in my throat as I watch her step into the bathroom and shut the door. She’s making this too easy.
Did she have a change of heart? Or is she planning to murder me in my sleep?
I jog down the stairs, texting Hayes and Gage with an update. I barely make it downstairs when the annoying, spoiled princess I’m used to returns.
Thumping music blares from my bedroom, rattling the walls and furniture. It’s after midnight, so I’ll definitely be getting an earful from my neighbors for this.
Groaning, I sprint back upstairs. I can’t believe I need to scold my soon-to-be wife like a damn child.
“Rialta,” I shout through the door, rapping my knuckles against the door.
The music gets louder, as does her voice singing along with the obnoxious tune.
“Rialta!” I try again.
She still doesn’t answer me.
I grab the doorknob and shove my shoulder hard against the door, surprised to find she didn’t bother locking it.
When I open the door, she’s in nothing but her black bra and thong with the toothbrush hanging from her mouth. Her now-brushed hair cascades around her in long waves as she sings and shakes her ass in my tiny bathroom.
“What are you doing?” I ask, even though it’s obvious. She’s driving me insane.
“Getting ready for bed,” she calmly answers in between lyrics.
“You’re waking up the entire apartment building!” I shout over the sound of the music.
“What?”
“I said…” I sigh and grab her phone, turning the music off. My Bluetooth speakers finally give my ears a respite.
“Don’t touch my stuff!” She yells, reaching for the phone back.
“Then stop being so inconsiderate.”
She rolls her eyes and snatches the phone back from me. “This is who I am. I like music. I like singing. I like dancing. I like having fun. I like living. If you can’t handle that, then too bad. It’s not my fault you can only deal with dark and gloomy shit like this boring ass apartment.”
My hands fist by my sides, and I see red. My doctor needs to put me on some blood pressure meds to deal with this chick embedded in my life and personal space.
“We need to find a different place to live once we get married. We won’t survive here,” I say.
“No, we don’t need a different place.”
“No? You just said you hated my dark, gloomy,boringapartment.”
“No, I said an apartment like this is all you can handle. I didn’t say that I didn’t like it. I do.”
“It’s too small.”