Page 153 of Until Joy

“Everything okay?”

“No actually. Something came up and Wes needs me at the compound. I’m really sorry about this.”

“Oh no. I hope it’s nothing bad.” Joy’s big blue eyes gave me a concerned look. Kayan squinted at me suspiciously.

“It’s just something that he thinks I can handle quick, and he really wants my help. You know I owe him, baby.”

“Absolutely,” Joy agreed.

“I don’t want to ruin your shopping trip. Kayan, could you take Joy home after you’re done?” She was still giving me the stink-eye. I pulled out my wallet and handed Joy my credit card.

“What's this for?”

“Buy whatever you want. I trust you.” I pointed at Kayan. “You, I don’t trust.”

Joy giggled. I gave her a kiss that soon turned heated, then I broke away. “Be good. And remember, make the house exactly how you want it.”

I watched her eyes soften.

I wanted Joy to have a home that was truly ours. A place where we could build the life I'd never thought I deserved until she crashed into my world and changed everything.

Chapter 38

I fumbled with my keys at Graham's front door, trying to balance three shopping bags and my purse while Kayan stood behind me with her arms full of decorative pillows.

“I still can't believe he just abandoned you in the middle of furniture shopping,” Kayan said for the tenth time since we'd left the store.

“He had to work. Besides, we got everything we needed. But we need to hurry, the delivery van will be here in less than an hour, and I had July make sure Wes would hold Graham at the shop for at least three more hours.”

“So, get the damn door open already.”

I practically fell into the hallway with all my bags as the door opened. We went into the living room and I looked around at Graham's sparse space. One recliner, an overturned box that he used for a coffee table, and one humongous flat screen TV mounted on the wall. God, this place needed work. I couldn’t wait to see it transformed.

“Please tell me you’re getting rid of that raggedy recliner,” Kayan begged.

“No way. That recliner contains some of my best memories. It stays.”

She let out a loud sigh. “Fine. Do you know where everything’s going to go?”

“Absolutely.”

Just then we heard the sound of air brakes outside.

“My God, they got here fast.”

“At least we don’t have much to move out of the way,” Kayan giggled.

For the next two hours, we transformed Graham's sterile man cave into something that actually looked like people lived there. The new sectional sofa in charcoal gray anchored the space, with throw pillows in deep greens, browns, and silvers that matched the color of Graham's eyes. There were two low chairs that were placed on either side of an actual coffee table. The delivery men had laughed when they saw the overturned box with coffee stains. They were nice enough to take it away.

The floor lamp Kayan had fallen in love with cast warm light in the corner, and we'd added a few other touches that made the room feel cozy without being fussy.

“It looks amazing,” Kayan said, stepping back to admire our work. “Very you, but still very him.”

“You think he'll like it?”

“Are you kidding? The man is crazy about you. You could decorate with traffic cones, and he'd love it.”

After Kayan left, I raced to the bedroom, went to our dresser, and dug under my nighties. I’d made an online purchase a couple of weeks ago and had it delivered to the clinic. Today was the day to show it off. After I put on the racy corset and thong panties, I threw on my favorite Navy t-shirt I’d stolen from him, then I curled up on the new sofa with a book, waiting for Graham to come home.