We were, but that didn’t make his behavior any less horrifying.
That night, Colin and I facetimed from our separate bedrooms to look at apartments together and picked the one we were now standing in the middle of. Colin signed the lease and got the keys and now we were seeing it for the first time. He kept calling it ‘our new home’ and it gave me fuzzy feelings every time we did so.
My mom fluttered around the place like a typical mom, checking all the faucets, outlets, and floorboards for signs of imperfections. She was yelling instructions at Colin from every corner of the apartment about how to keep different types of wood clean, hacks when washing clothes, and the best way to arrange his bedroom. We just let her do what she was going to do while we just stood in the empty living room hand-in-hand. I couldn’t wait to decorate.
“I’m surprised you picked this one,” Colin started finally. “It’s kind of small.”
I set my head against his shoulder. “It was the closest one. Besides, it’s perfect because you’ll be here.”
He kissed my forehead. “I hate that we have to wait so long for you to live here too.”
“Oh, I’ve got a plan for that,” I replied.
“Colin! The handle on the toilet is loose! We have to get you a new handle!”
I rolled my eyes and Colin shook his head. “Okay, ma! We can go get one when we leave.”
She popped her head out from the hallway. “Oh, good idea. Let’s just start gathering the things you’re going to need. You need a toilet bowl brush, curtains for the bedroom, and it’s cheaper to buy toilet paper in bulk. Oh! I’ll make a list.”
She disappeared again and I laughed. “Ha, joke’s on you. They’re going to be more annoying now.”
Colin just shook the idea away. “So, you were saying, a plan?”
“Oh yeah, I’m just going to start bringing my stuff over little by little. I’ll spend a day here, then two, then three, until I’m here all the time.” I kissed him quickly. “I’ll be moved in by Christmas.”
Colin smiled down at me. “Let’s hope so.” Absent-mindedly, my hands went to the spot where my locket used to hang around my neck. It wasn’t there anymore. The police had recovered it in the investigation into Val, but it became evidence, and I probably wouldn’t ever see it again. “You miss it.”
I realized what Colin was referring to and dropped my hand. “Yeah. I feel like I’d just gotten it back and now it’s gone again.”
Colin reached into his pocket and pulled out a medium-sized rectangular box. He tipped back the cover, revealing a sterling silver chain that flooded down into a couple of diamonds that surrounded the word ‘soon.’
“I wanted to be the one who bought it this time.” I was speechless. He pulled it from the box and hung it around my neck, kissing me on my cheek before wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me back against him. He set his mouth near my ear. “Consider it a promise.”
I maneuvered until I was facing Colin and took him into a full kiss, hoping he could feel all of my emotions carrying across it. “I love you.”
“And I you,” Colin replied. “Forever.”