24. Settling in

Two days later I was released from the hospital after the doctor assessed my health, both physically and mentally.

"I'm still not in agreement with you going back to your place," Brice muttered as he helped me with my overnight bag.

"Percy and Grady will camp on your apartment building, no... they'll move in on the same floor,"

"I owned the whole floor," the famous author cut my words, he didn't faze and reminded me that he was too damn rich for neighbors.

"Won't matter, they'll move into the nearest proximity and protect me like guard dogs, my place is better. They won't bother me there."

I still couldn't believe that we're bickering like a couple and the last couple of months were forgotten, easily.

Though I still remembered the day I woke up and he was there, begging for my forgiveness, and an hour later we were back together. But after that the awkwardness was gone, he had seen me at my worst, we have endured months of guilt, pain, and broken hearts.

"One month, I'm giving them one month to adjust to us."

I smiled, shaking my head but took his hand when he ushered me out of the room.

The hospital bill was done earlier by Grady, he insisted that he didn't want Brice to pay for me, though I told him that I can take care of my bill just fine. But being the caveman that he is, he wouldn't take no from me, so I relent and let him have his way, at least he was letting Brice takes me back to my apartment.

"Brice, I will forever be their baby sister. You just have to play nice with them." I sighed the second we reach his car, he had his driver opening the passenger door for us.

"Maybe I should move into your building," he looked at me in all seriousness.

Having been apart for months he decided that he didn't want to stay away from me, that's why he was reluctant to let me go back to my place instead of his.

I smiled and rest back on his chest. "I just want to sleep in my bed, I missed my bed and I miss you. And I thought we've agreed to take things slow?"

"I miss you too." He retorted, finally nodded and we fell into a peaceful silence as his driver navigate the car and seamlessly blends into the sparse afternoon traffic.

We didn't stop, we went directly to my apartment. Brice told his driver that he'll call him and dismissed him for the afternoon.

"Where's your sofa and your living room furniture?" he asked the moment he stepped into my apartment. I almost forgot that he had never been to my new apartment. He was actually shocked when I told him that I'd moved out of my apartment with Gemma's to the next-door studio apartment.

"I don't have any, this is my studio, I paint, and I sleep, nothing in between...well, except food, wine, and showers. But..." I didn't get to finish my sentence when Brice put his lips on mine. His feelings were engraved in his kiss, it was too slow, too sensual, and too overly gloomy.

"I'm fine, better now, whatever we're doing it's better than the months we were apart," I explained when I managed to break away from our kiss.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered trailing his kisses to my neck, his hand was to my back, loosely holding me close to him.

"I know, you said that a thousand times already." I tried to sound casual, but the heavy emotion stick to my voice and he rest my head to his chest. I sighed, leaning closer, inhaling his scent, wrapping my hands around his back not wanting to let him go just yet.

"I'll say it as much as I want to." He tilted my face and kissed my forehead lightly.

Our moment was interrupted with a knock on my door, then a louder one.

"If that's your brothers...."

He didn't get to finish the sentence when Jacqueline, Benji, and Gemma poured into my apartment not minding Brice who looked a bit surprised by their appearance.

"They have a key," I shrugged and greeted them, telling them to come in.

"Get used to it buddy, you're with our girl and you'll be getting the whole package." Benji winked and slipped through between me and Brice carrying doughnuts and coffees.

"Ella, I'm so going to park my ass on the floor and hear you talk. Those months without your voice were unbearable." Jacqueline hugged and kissed my cheek, hard.

Both Jacqueline and Benji didn't come by the hospital that day since they were busy with their jobs and meeting them made me smile remembering their cheery personality then hated myself for being a downer for the last few months.

"Look, it feels like..." Brice started when Benji put a finger on his lips making him stop mid-sentence and look at me.

"Stop, you don't have to share details. All we know is that you're back together and our Ella speaks."

"But I..."

Benji shut him up with a wave of his hand, "Everybody made mistakes, what's done is done. You're back, stronger, and love each other more," Benji look at me a bit glassy in the eyes and finally pulled us together and gave us his warmest hug.

"I love you guys, but don't ever do that to me again," the beautiful man hugged us one more time before backing away and back to plating the doughnuts, placing them on the kitchen island.

We gathered in my kitchen and Benjamin made Brice at ease when he started talking about everything else other than the issues regarding our previous fallout.

Jacqueline was busy snacking on the doughnut taking the stool and cheerfully listening to Benji's jokes while Brice laughed looking amused at how Benji easily steered the conversation making our first meet since our fallout enjoyable for everyone.

"Cousin," Gemma hugged and rubbed my back soothingly. "I miss you, don't ever do that again."

"I won't, but just to make sure, you should tell him too." I joked then hugged her back after a few good laughs. "...and how are you, Gemma?"

"I'm okay, but we can talk about me next time. Today is about you. I missed talking to you."

I smiled as we both seamlessly join Benjamin as he comically retold a story about his last trip abroad.

Hours later after dinner, Benji, Jacqueline, and Gemma had gone back. We decided to have a nice warm bath then make ourselves comfortable, lying in bed and cuddle, lazily. There were no sexual advances, we were trying to get back to getting to know each other and take everything slowly.

It was almost midnight when Brice was telling me about the incident with his fiancée.

"So, it's still an open case? they haven't caught the stalker?" snuggling closer to his side I finally get in his head, I would be paranoid also if I was him.

"No, they haven't." He sounded a bit reserved. "So, tell me more about your paintings?" he asked obviously diverting from our conversation and I decided to follow his lead. There was no reason for pushing him with answers to his fiancée's investigation. If he'd like to keep it hidden for the time being then I was letting him have it, at least for the next couple of days.

"Since that night I never sketch or paint you again, but I still couldn't forget about you. So, I paint your colors. All the different shades of grey, your apartment colors." My hand caressed his chest as he rubbed my back giving me comfort in his arms.

"I'm so sorry, baby." He sighed and kissed my temple softly.

"I know, me too," I mumbled feeling myself drifting to sleep, that night I didn't ask him to stay and he didn't ask if he could stay, we both just assumed and somehow we're both okay with it.