Page 7 of Finding Us
“You can take my bed tonight, and tomorrow we’ll go out and get all the furniture you need to set up your room,” he says. “I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“I’m happy to take the couch.”
“Humour me, Jaz.”
I screw up my face, because I know my brother is a man-whore. “How many women have you had in that bed?”
“None. I don’t bring anyone back here. What’s that saying? Don’t shit where you sleep?”
“Umm, I’m pretty sure it’s don’t shit where you eat,” I say, laughing.
He lifts one shoulder. “Same thing.”
“Not even close.”
Today was my first full day in Sydney. It started out uneventful because I got up early and cleaned. Connor’s always been pretty tidy for a guy, but this place definitely needed a good dust and vacuum. I also did an online shop because his fridge and cupboards were sparse. I couldn’t even make myself a cup of coffee, which sucked. I don’t function that well until I’m loaded up with caffeine.
My brother doesn’t cook much, choosing to eat out most days. That’ll change now I’m living here … I love to cook, and I’m looking forward to taking care of him like he’s always done for me.
It was late morning by the time we hit the stores, and I ended up choosing all white furniture for my bedroom suite, similar to what I have back home in Melbourne. It’s too early to be feeling homesick, but I thought having the same setup here, might help when that time comes. We ordered a bedroom suite for the spare room as well, so there’s somewhere for my parents and Cassie to stay when they visit.
Once we were finished shopping, Connor took me out for a late lunch, and on our drive home, we made a detour through the city centre so he could show me the building where he works and the gym he goes to. That’s basically what his life consists of—work, women, and weights.
The gym’s where he met his best friend, Mason. Connor talks about him often, so I’m looking forward to meeting him. He’s a single dad, who only recently found out he was a father. From the little I do know, the child was neglected by his mother and wasn’t in the best shape when he came to live with his father—which breaks my heart—but I admire him for stepping up and taking care of his son.
I’m FaceTiming Cassie as I unpack my clothes and hang them in my walk-in robe. My new bed arrived late this afternoon and Connor and I put it together, but the rest of my suite won’t be here until later in the week. At least I have somewhere to sleep, and Connor can have his bed back.
“Life just sucks now that you’re gone,” Cassie says, bringing her face closer to the screen and pouting her bottom lip.
“Ten more days and I’ll get to see you again.”
“Ugh. That seems like a lifetime away.”
“It will fly by. How did things go with your French hottie?”
She flops back onto her bed and groans. “French hotties are so overrated. I practically had to draw him a map to my clit, and when it came to the sex part … let’s just say I’m pretty sure he almost perforated my skin when he tried to penetrate my inner thigh.”
“Oh, no!” I bite my bottom lip to stifle my laugh. “That bad, huh?”
I have no clue when it comes to things like that, I’m almost twenty-one and still holding my ‘V’ card, as Cassie calls it.
“It was the worst. Anyway, I’ve been looking online for places to go for your birthday … I’m so excited. It’s going to be epic, and I’m thinking you should find a guy to have a one-night stand with while I’m visiting.”
“Cassie! Please not this again.” This has been her personal mission since she first discovered the opposite sex.
“Hear me out … I understand why you don’t want to have a relationship—even though I can assure you not all men are like your piece of shit father—but you have to let go of your ‘V’ card eventually. It’s the natural progression of life, Jaz. This way you’ll get a firsthand account of what you’re missing out on, and the best part, you’ll never have to see him again.”
“Connor will freak if I bring someone back here.”
“We’ll get a hotel room for the night. He doesn’t have to know.”
“I’m not sure about this, Cass.”
“Just think about it. Don’t worry, I’ll thoroughly vet him first … I’m a good judge of character.”
“Right, says the girl who picked up a guy who tried to penetrate her inner thigh.”
“Hah! On that note,” she says, standing, “I’m going to have to love you and leave you, I’ve got a pole dancing class to attend …solo.”
