Three weeks later I was packed up and ready to go. All of my things were in a moving van, I had a few essentials and some final boxes shoved into the back of my old car that I really hoped was going to make it all the way to California in one piece.
“Well, here goes nothing,” I muttered to myself as I got into the car and turned it on, driving towards the highway, going west. I’d found an apartment and paid the security deposit. Mark had wanted to pay for an apartment for me, or let me stay in one of the ones he owned, but I refused. It was just a little bit too much for me too quickly, but Mark understood completely and dropped the subject.
My heart pounded with every mile marker I passed. I had done this before, of course, packing up completely and leaving. The difference was, last time literally no one in my life knew about it. This time Lisa and I had gone out for breakfast one last time while the movers were getting my things ready. She told me I could call her anytime, and as I pulled out onto the highway, I felt that first urge to reach for the phone.
I didn’t know if I was making the right decision. I had no idea. I hoped I was, but I was still nervous about it. I guess not knowing what the future holds is what life is all about though.
The drive to San Diego was going to take me three days. I wanted to get the bulk of it out of the road as quickly as possible though, so I drove straight through to Denver, arriving at the hotel I’d booked at almost midnight. I was too exhausted to do anything except collapse in the bed and fall asleep, and the next day I kept going.
I drove from Denver to Las Vegas, where I spent the night in a not-too-bad hotel off the strip, where I hoped my packed car would be safe for a night. Waking up the next morning and finding my belongings were all still there, I did the final five hours to my new home.
I’d given a key to the movers, who were already there and unloading my things when I arrived. By mid afternoon when they left, all of my things in boxes on the floor of what was my new home, I was completely exhausted. I had just moved across the country. For a man.
Ten minutes later, as I lay sprawled on my couch looking at the boxes I absolutely had zero desire to unpack, that man in question knocked on my door, pizza in hand.
“Hey, I thought you’d be in by now, I wanted to surprise you with some food and maybe a hand getting all your stuff unpacked.”
“You should know better than to show up at my place unannounced,” I teased.
“Yeah, but this time I brought pizza, which I figure right now is probably more useful than flowers.”
“You have no idea,” I replied, hungrily grabbing a slice and practically devouring it. “Thank you, I haven’t really eaten since breakfast. I’m exhausted, and I’ve barely unpacked anything.”
“Well, it’s not like you need to be completely unpacked tonight.” Mark moved towards the boxes in the kitchen as I collapsed on the couch once more, precariously balancing the box of pizza on the arm of it.
“Do you have any preference about what dishes go in which cupboard?” Mark asked, opening one of the boxes.
“No, as long as it makes sense, I don’t care.”
I watched with gratitude as Mark began unpacking for me, putting my plates, glasses, cutlery and all my other kitchen stuff away, taking care of some of the most annoying things to unpack.
“Thanks Mark, for coming by and helping,” I told him, getting up. The energy from the pizza gave me a second wind, and I got up and started unpacking some books, sliding them haphazardly into my bookcase and being thankful that of all my quirks, caring about books being sorted alphabetically or however wasn’t one of them.
Three hours later, we were done. Empty boxes lay flattened in a pile, to be taken to my little storage locker downstairs. We collapsed onto the couch together, both of us exhausted by now, finishing off the rest of the now-cold pizza.
“Welcome to San Diego,” Mark told me, and we toasted with our slices since we didn’t have any champagne.
“Thanks for coming.”
“Hey, no problem. It’s not easy moving to a new place, and I appreciate that you’ve done it for me, the least I could do was come over and help you get settled in. And speaking of settled in...” he continued, leaning over and planting one of those perfect kisses of his on my lips. My body immediately reacted, knowing what was coming next, wanting more. Pulses of pleasure began to run through me, a small moan escaped my lips and my hips pressed against Mark involuntarily.
The next few hours were easily the best welcome I’d ever had to a new apartment.
*