The Austin Arrangement novel Chapter 24

I walked into Jeremy's room after saying goodnight to my Brother.

I was uncomfortable in his space, despite my things being scattered everywhere.

Jeremy walked out of the on suite bathroom after hearing me come in.

"I thought you changed your mind about us sharing a room."He walked past me,while undoing the buttons on his shirt.

"It's not as if I have a choice,you know that."I walked towards my suitcase of clothes and pulled out some pyjamas to wear. My plan is is to sleep on the bedroom floor of course,I wasn't planning on sleeping in Jeremy's bed. I walked into the bathroom to change.

After washing up and changing,I walked back into the room.

Jeremy was sitting up in bed with the sheets at his waist and his top half naked,he was holding my poetry book open in his hands.

"What are you doing?"I asked,walking around the bed and towards him.

"What does it look like?"He smirked. "Im reading your poetry book,I wanted to see what all the fuss was about since you're always reading this thing."

"Please,Jeremy. Give it back. I don't like anyone touching it."I moved forward to take the book from him and he pulled away. That only made me all the more panicked.

He chuckled."It's just a book,Vanessa. Relax."

"It's not just a book,it was my Father's.

That book is all I have left of him now give it to me,NOW!!"I yanked the book from his hands and walked away.

I placed the book on the dresser and starting setting up a bed on the floor.

He clicked his tongue off the roof of his mouth in annoyance."What are you doing?"

"Making my bed on the floor.We don't have to sleep together,just as long as we're in the same room my Brother won't know."I set the blanket on the floor and lay down.

"You're so ridiculous You're really going to sleep on that hard floor all night?"

"I'll be fine."I turned,pulling the covers up and snuggled into them."It's not a good idea for us to be sleeping in a bed together."

He chuckled."Why's that?"

"You know why!!"I turned around so he couldn't see my face and my back was to him."Good Night,Jeremy."

He lay back on the bed with a sigh."Goodnight then."Jeremy turned off the light and we lay in darkness and silence."Vanessa.."

That silence sure didn't last too long."Hmm??"

"I'm sorry..About the book. I didn't realise how important it was to you."

The man is apologising for something, maybe he does have a heart after all.

Maybe he's not as cruel as he makes himself out to be.

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SO MUCH FOR BOUNDARIES.

VANESSA

Early Morning I was standing by the kitchen counter,rubbing my pained back from spending the night on Jeremy's bedroom floor. I had no choice in the matter! I'm trying to keep certain boundaries between us so there's less confusion.

He's so Hot and Cold!!

One minute he's kissing my face off and the next he's turning back into an arrogant asshole. It's quite clear that he doesn't want to discuss what happened.

But the boundaries need to be in place,so it doesn't happen again.

"Looks like someone has back pain this morning."Jeremy crossed the room towards me."I wasn't happy about you invading my space,Vanessa..But you didn't have to spend the night on the floor."

"Could I have trusted you not to try anything. You have kissed me on two occasions now."I smirked,standing by the kitchen island.

"Mistake,Vanessa. It was a Mistake." Jeremy walked around the island and poured fresh coffee into his usual Black coffee cup."So do I really have to go to this thing tonight? It's Friday!"

The door to the studio opened and I turned around. Alex was walking towards me in his Gym attire. Of course he had his usual smile on his face,like nothing in this world could faze him.

I smiled at him."Hi,You!!"

"I was walking past when I saw you in here,you look like you're working hard."Alex circled his arms around me in a hug.

"I wanted to get a few hours in. I slept funny last night so I needed the stretch."I crossed the studio towards the wooden chair against the wall.

I picked up my little white towel and wiped the sweat from my brow.

Alex followed me over and sat down in a chair beside the one that I was standing by."Today is the Big Day!! How are you feeling? A bag of nerves I can tell."

"I haven't eaten yet,I'm so nervous I don't think anything is going to stay down anyway."I sighed,as I removed my wrap over cardigan."Everyone knows me as his wife,Alex. If I screw up it will look bad on him."

He clicked his tongue off the roof of his mouth."Don't worry about that.

You've worked hard,you're going to be awesome out there.Dance for you and only you..Forget about the rest of us."

There's been many times when I've heard those words come from my Mother's mouth when I was growing up, especially when it came to an audition or a Ballet that I was in.

I smiled."That's exactly what my Mom used to say."

"Which is why I said it. I remember everything even the small things.

If your Mother was here she would tell you for herself."

If my Mother was here I wouldn't be in the situation I'm in. If my Father woke up from his Coma tomorrow, imagine telling him all of this.

It sure as hell wouldn't be long before he's taken an heart attack.

I sighed."I should probably get going. I've left Finley at home alone with Jeremy so God only knows what he's telling him."I threw my things into my Red Gym bag.

"That's brave of you. From what I know of him he sounds like a very bitter man."Alex stood from his chair."Come get breakfast with me before you go home,you can't go through the day on an empty stomach."