Page 5 of Learning to Trust

"Good. Remember, you will need to be here to give her a new key, and I assume, the changed security code. Tell her she is not to allow your ex inside for any reason."

“I’d forgotten about Alise. She’ll be here around eight, so I’ll go into the office a little later.”

"Good." Andrew pushed onto his feet and started toward the front door. I set about cleaning the dining room and kitchen before swiping up the bedding and heading to the laundry—a space I rarely set foot inside. Fortunately, I was familiar with using a washing machine thanks to my college years.

***

I located Andrew changing the deadlock on my back door, and he smiled as I approached.

“Go and get a bottle of water. I’ll have one, too, please.”

I trotted back to the kitchen, grabbed two bottles from the fridge, and handed one to Andrew when I returned. We twisted the caps off in unison and downed half the water before screwing the caps back in place.

“I’ll keep going, and while I do, I want you to go next door to my place, introduce yourself to my friends, and help them unpack boxes. They’re expecting you.”

I started to panic. Apart from Tristan and Sebastian, I hadn’t been around men outside the office for years. I frantically searched for an excuse. “I have my sister arriving at eleven.”

“I’ll come for you when she arrives.”

The authority in his voice warned me not to argue, and I turned to leave.

"Make sure you keep up the water over there; my fridge is stocked."

I mumbled, “Okay,” as I left through the front door.

Nerves assaulted every inch of my body as I approached Andrew’s house. The removal truck I’d previously seen parked on the front was gone, and the front door sat open. Voices floated in the air from inside.

I banged on the door frame and rang the doorbell. When Heather was alive, I would let myself in, but I didn't think it was appropriate now. A few moments passed before a tall, brown-haired man appeared. He was slightly taller than Andrew, and I tilted my head back to look into his eyes. He grinned and held out his hand, which I shook.

"You must be David from next door. I'm Kyle, Andrew's best friend, or at least that's what I tell him. Come on in and I'll introduce you to the others."

I followed him into the kitchen, keeping my eyes on his back, not his backside because I was still coming to terms with the fact I'd been ogling Andrew's ass so soon after a breakup and didn't want to try and explain to myself why I had another in my sights. It was strange walking into a room I knew so well and finding a bunch of men there instead of Heather.

Boxes were stacked against one wall, all labeled, most with ‘books’ scribbled in black ink.

The other three men were seated at the table and stood when I entered with Kyle. Fuck, they were all giants. What was in the water where they came from? A redhead was introduced as Cody, a man with a black buzz cut as Leon, and another with graying brown hair was Simon.

I licked my lips when I saw the beer bottles in front of them. I wasn't usually a drinker, but it had been a shit couple of hours. The scotch was wearing off fast. I wasn't ready to become fully alert and wasn't prepared for the crippling pain to return.

“Have a seat. Drink?” Kyle inquired as the other men returned to where they’d been sitting.

“Please.”

He opened the fridge, and when he joined us back at the table, he set a bottle of water down in front of where I sat.

“Andrew said you hit the booze hard after the altercation with your ex, so it’s water only. Sorry.”

I waved him off and accepted the water. "It's okay. I can understand why you want to do as Andrew says. He certainly has a 'don't argue with me' attitude. He said you were unpacking boxes."

“Yes, we stopped for a break. But, since we aren’t being paid, we figured we’d help ourselves to Andrew’s beer as compensation.”

Everyone laughed, and the stress I'd been feeling started to weaken. I felt comfortable around these men.

"I'm guessing you saw what happened earlier?"

Cody nodded. “Yep. We were unloading the truck when we heard you shouting. You sure were angry.”

“And loud,” Leon added.