Page 52 of The Other Side
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“Do you know what’s on the other side of the wall?” Chance asked when he heard me ascending the trapdoor stairs twenty minutes after he’d taken his leave.
“No.” I was still grumpy from a restless sleep and early morning wake-up call.
The clack of pool balls echoed through the long room. Chance rounded the table to line up his next shot. “I figure there’s another room over there. Probably the stairs too—there’s no way they got all of this bulky furniture, let alone the baby grand, through your trapdoor, or even a window.”
“I’ve looked for stairs, but I’ve never found anything.” I set a cup of black coffee on the pool table next to him, hating that I’d noticed how he’d taken his preferred morning beverage, just as he had mine. I’d made myself another cup after finishing the first one he’d brought me, and as if on autopilot, brewed enough for more than myself.
“My charms must be working—you’re already warming up to me.” He grinned, setting the pool cue against the table before grabbing the steaming cup of coffee.
I had been too tired to really take him in earlier, but the cut of his slacks perfectly emphasized his lean legs, and his black V-neck sweater, without a button-up beneath that day, exposed just a hint of his clavicle. And he was scruffy.
It was as if the universe had carved him from my dreams and dropped him right in front of me. Why did everything have to be so complicated?
My cheeks heated when his brow arched. He’d caught me staring.
“Shut up,” I snapped.
“I didn’t say a word.” Chance chuckled.
Deciding it was too cold, I gathered what I needed to start a fire.
“Can I watch you?” Chance had abandoned his game of pool to sip his coffee next to me. “I don’t know how to do it.” He took a seat on the edge of the big leather sofa that faced the hearth.
Of course, he wouldn’t know. He’d have servants for that.
“How have you been staying warm in your room then?”
“Flannel pajamas and three blankets.” He laughed.
“Fine, come here.” I beckoned him over.
He watched with rapt attention as I explained and demonstrated the process, noting things I had learned along the way, like having to make sure the flue was open while in use, but to make sure it was closed when there wasn’t a fire, especially if he wanted to avoid bats in the summer.
“Sounds like you know that from personal experience.” He smiled over his cup of coffee.
“That’s a story for a different day.” I shook my head, recalling how freaked out I had been when I found one flying around only a few weeks into summer break. Thankfully a quick web searchrevealed that opening the windows so they could sense the fresh air would help, and it hadn’t taken long for the bat to exit the lounge of its own accord.
I showed him how to best position the wood and kindling to catch and burn longer, as well as what the tools beside the fireplace were used for.
“I’m surprised you made it the entire time without making fun of me for not knowing how to do any of this.” He waved his hand at the now roaring fire.
“I did, I just didn’t say any of it out loud.” I stuck my tongue out at him in jest.
We both settled on either end of the couch. I curled my legs under me, and Chance rested his on the coffee table, stretching his arms over his head as he yawned.
“I’m sorry about what happened to Daniel,” I said softly.
“Me too.” His tone was somber.
“You said you were close, but only recently?” I hoped I didn’t come across as being nosy, although, let’s be honest, I was. But I thought if I understood Daniel the way Chance appeared to, maybe it would help us figure out what had happened…and maybe it would make it easier to trust Chance.
“Daniel is—was…” Chance paused. “Was one of the few people in my family I’m on good terms with. His mom, my aunt, was the black sheep of the family. She married young, and my grandfather didn’t approve, so he completely cut her off, and the rest of his family did too, to stay in his good graces. I didn’t even know I had an aunt while I was growing up. But a few years ago, she died in a car accident, and I guess Daniel’s dad didn’t stick around very long after he was born.
“He had to be placed in the foster system for a while, as It took the better part of a year for the state to actually get ahold of my dad, who had been named his legal guardian, without his knowledge. At first I thought it was a mistake, given how manylayers of people stood between him and the public, but now I’m sure he knew earlier and thought it might go away.”
“Wow.”
