Page 27 of The Most Dearest
“Okay.” I was brimming with excitement but determined to stay calm. He was taking a real hit with this. A hit he deserved. Dad had offered me the money, and Miranda said her landlord was going to evict her so his daughter could move in, so her and her housemate Skye had nowhere to go.
“Okay,” he said uncertainly. “I'll move out on the weekend. There're a few rentals available that I can move straight into. And Cordy, I am sorry. You like him, don't you?”
“Yes, I do.”
He did look sorry. I was sorry too. Sorry that I'd moved in with this asshole. Sorry that I'd put my heart on the line for a cheating pig. But I had my house. I had my thriving new vegetable garden. I had a wonderful family, a great job, and a very sexy neighbor.
Chapter 27: Damon - Goodbyes
Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us anything.
Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare
That Saturday, Harrison moved out. His parents came to help him but barely spoke to anyone. Not because they were angry or upset; it seemed that they were ashamed. They barked orders to Harrison, who scurried around like an obedient son. His car apparently still bore the scent ofEau de Miranda's Revenge, but still he sat in it, breathing in the stench of his consequences. Cordy and Miranda had gone shopping, I suspect to avoid his parents, so I offered to stay and ensure he left peacefully and completely.
I loved being with Cordy. She was fun and was regaining the carefree nature that Harrison had stomped all over. I was secure in our relationship, which was fortunate because although he'd waved the white flag, I could see the way Harrison looked at her—longingly, regretfully. Too bad you fucked up, buddy!
He stood in the driveway, beckoning me over like the arrogant asshole he was. I didn't move. He eventually relented and came to me, handing me his key.
“Well, goodbye. Look after the house. I texted Cordy my new address if anything is delivered here for me.”
All he got from me was a sharp nod as I crossed my arms over my chest. Peggy and Reg were pretending to garden, but it was obvious that they were watching the events unfold. I think they were glad that the neighborhood pervert was leaving, because Peggy gave me a short nod as though I was the hero sheriff who had run an outlaw out of town. I smiled back at her and waved.
Miranda and Skye planned to move in next week, which had made Cordelia ridiculously excited. Three women next door, who would have thought it? Cam would be happy that Miranda was my new neighbor, though the other Cam was still in the picture.
As I watched Harrison's car leave the street, hopefully for the last time, I took a deep breath and reflected on my good fortune. I had not been this happy for a long time. I was happy enough in all areas of my life but felt a fullness that I hadn't known had been missing. Cordelia fitted beautifully into my life. We were in no rush. Being neighbors meant we saw each other all the time, and having our own houses gave her a much-needed sense of security and independence.
I locked up and went home to walk Nettie. Tonight, I'd cook for Cordelia. I was a terrible cook, but I could grill like no one's business.
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“We should have been at my place tonight,” Cordelia said as she lay in her usual position against my chest. “We can christen every room now that it's all mine. But I think we will leave the guest room chaste. Miranda told Skye she had to live in it because of all the bad juju. But we are going to pull the catnip out.”
“Let’s do it tomorrow,” I suggested. I was never a man to shirk my duties, and this was an important one. The sex, not the catnip, but I'd do that too.
“I saw Emma today,” Cordelia said casually. “She's still with Stefan. I wished them well together, but honestly, I really don't want to see her perky face again.”
“Yeah, I get that. I don't want to see Harrison's sterile, gelled-up melon again either.”
We chatted about the day and planned what we were going to do the following week. It felt blissfully domestic and comfortable.
Chapter 28: Cordelia – One year later
That time offer’d sorrow;
This, general joy.
Henry VIII, William Shakespeare
One year later
“Oh, Simon. You've done it again, haven't you?” I scooped up the naughty tabby and shook the fur off Damon's sweater. He'd taken to sleeping in the washing basket, which although cute, was very annoying. Harrison would have a coronary if he saw how much fur Simon and Theodore left around the house. Yet another advantage of him being firmly in my past. My cats were naughty little boys, but I loved them. Skye's sister found them in the alley outside her work, so of course I adopted them. They were brothers, I think. They looked similar and were found together, so I declared them family.
Nettie loved them, but they weren't certain about Nettie. Occasionally, they'd curl up with her but other times they completely ignored her. Nettie was around here a lot. If Damon came, Nettie came, and I wouldn't have it any other way. We were running two separate households and sometimes I wondered if we should just go for it. I had been burned by Harrison and was reluctant to give up my house or ask him to do the same, so for now, we were happy.
Miranda still lived with me, but Skye was moving out. She'd asked Cameron to move in given they'd been together years, but he was reluctant. She didn't admit it, but I think it really hurt her feelings. Luckily, the other Cameron's sister Lucy was looking for somewhere to live, so we'd invited her to be our thirdhousemate. She was fun, and Miranda was thrilled because we'd have a live-in stylist. Lucy was both a hair and make-up artist and excelled as both.
