Page 31 of Project: FU (Longwood U #3)

TAVIS

Three months later

I enter the living room from my bedroom just as Rachel is climbing off the stepladder. She meets my eyes and smiles. “What do you think of this color?”

It’s a beautiful solid teal color that really pops against the neutral gray and eggshell walls. I’d been contemplating painting before moving in, but for now, this is fine. It’s been a long time since I thought about the color of walls.

“It’s nice,” I say.

She huffs. “You went bland in furniture choices, which isn’t a bad idea because then you can layer and change out colors as you like.” Rachel grabs the stack of pillows she dumped and starts tossing them onto the couch. They’re in the same tones as the teal, and honestly, they look pretty good.

She tosses one at me, and I barely register that it’s coming before catching it. She laughs. Once she’s finished tossing, she adjusts them just right and then stands beside me. “What do you think? Will Nolan like it?”

“He’s a twenty-year-old guy. I’m not sure he’s going to notice, Rach.”

“Mm,” she hums, nodding thoughtfully.

I grab her wrist and pull her in for a hug. “Thank you.”

The new living situation had been between a townhouse and this condo.

We’d been leaning toward the townhouse because it had a garage and a nice backyard.

Perfect for grilling and room for Orion’s bike.

I’d been ready to sign the papers when Rachel made a comment about how the boys will probably not be to her place often.

It hadn’t been a pity comment. I’m not sure she meant for me to take it as I did. But as I thought about it, I decided that maybe she’s right.

So I made an abrupt change and bought the condo instead. No garage. No backyard. Rachel’s two-bedroom house has both. I made some lazy excuse about the townhouse when I spoke to her and asked if we could use her garage for Orion’s bike. Nolan loved both places, so he didn’t care.

I wasn’t hiding anything well. His bike being there meant Orion would be there. I’d be there. Skye’s been hanging with us while we worked on the bike, so he’d be there, too. She gave me a grateful smile, and I made her promise that she’d have us over regularly for backyard dinners.

The condo has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and a wide-open living area. There is a separate storage area just outside the condo, which is amazing to have, and a small balcony off the dining area.

Rachel and I opted to sell the furniture with the house, and we’d both start fresh. The furniture is more than a decade old, so it’s time for something new, anyway. I went for the modern-comfort style since Nolan gave me a bemused look when I asked him his thoughts on dining room tables.

“I enjoy shopping,” Rachel answers.

“Yes, thank you for that, but thank you for supporting me and Nolan. I can’t imagine that was easy for you.”

“It was easier than you think,” she says.

Her arms tighten for a second before she steps back.

“It’s hard to be jealous of you in a relationship that makes you happy when I don’t want to be in a relationship with you.

I feel kind of…” She flips her hand in the air as she tries to find the word she’s looking for.

“Stupid, maybe? I’ve felt closer to you these last few months since deciding to divorce than I have in two decades. How dumb is that?”

“I’ve mused on that many times,” I tell her, nodding.

“It’s a weird imbalance, right? It wasn’t the wrong decision because we gave our kids the childhoods they deserved.

Yet, in every other way, it was the wrong decision.

I struggle with how I feel because if I say we never should have married and I regret it, I’m not sure about the lifestyle we’d have provided for our children. ”

“We also come from an era where a happy, healthy home for kids is when they have both a mother and a father at home. Ultimately, I think that’s what influenced our choice.”

“I’m glad that the definition of family is changing, but yeah, I still have a hard time saying I regret it because in so many ways, it was the right decision. But this is the right decision now.”

Rachel pats my arm and then lays her head on my shoulder. “It is. I feel a hundred and sixty pounds lighter.”

“Ouch.”

She laughs.

“Are you all moved in? You need help with the furniture?”

“It’s being delivered tomorrow afternoon. My plan is to have the delivery dudes move it into the rooms it’ll be in. If they refuse, I’ll give you and our boys a call for some muscle.”

“Deal. How’s the house coming? Are you ready for me to get some cleaners in?”

She picks her head up to look at me. “How the hell did you get the garage cleaned out so quickly?”

I grin. We made a deal that she’d handle the inside of the house, and I’d take care of the yards and the garage. “I have the use of a hockey team. I asked if they wanted some community service hours, and they hopped on board.”

Rachel huffs.

“I’m sure they’d happily volunteer for more hours. I’m guessing Nolan’s frat boys would, too. They’re a bunch of good kids.”

“Strange to say about frat guys.”

“We train them differently at Longwood.”

She smiles. “Hannah’s all moved in. She had some friends from school help her bring her mattress over, which she decided to keep.”

“She’s had that thing for fifteen years.”

“I know. I don’t know why she insists on keeping it.

I managed to get her to stop in the mattress store with me, and she enjoyed trying all the beds, but she wanted to stay with what she had.

I even offered to get her the same mattress, but new.

” Rachel shakes her head. “She wanted nothing to do with it.”

“Weird child.”

Rachel laughs. “Yep. So she has her mattress and boxes of clothes. Totes of whatever. She’ll be happy when her new furniture arrives. She’s already got six friends coming over to help her put it together and move it around until she’s happy.”

“Skye said you’re going to store his things for a while.”

She nods. “Yep. I offered to build an apartment above the garage, but he says he’s going to stay on campus. I don’t know where, and it makes my gut twist, but I need to trust him.”

“I purposefully have two extra bedrooms and now they’re ready for guests,” I say, nudging her. “He will always have somewhere to stay.”

“It feels weird not having a dedicated space for each of my children.”

I nod absently. “I know. I toyed with the idea of getting a bigger place, or at least a place that we could add in some additional sleeping, but Nolan reminded me that my kids are all adults now. Even if two or three need a place to stay for a bit, it’s temporary.

And if that’s the case, I should keep the house we already have.

He doesn’t truly care if we get a big house or a cardboard box, but I appreciate him keeping me on track with the reason I was looking for a different place to begin with. ”

“The exact reasons he pointed out,” Rachel agrees.

“I had to remind myself of that hourly once I decided on my new house. Hannah obviously needs a room, but none of my other kids do. Not a permanent room. We can make something work for summer and whatever. I think I might actually have an addition built above the garage. I’m thinking a bunk room. ”

“That’s fantastic. I’ll help with that.”

She smiles and rests her hand on my chest. “No, Tavis. I know that we’ll never lead completely separate lives, but it’s time that we begin some separation. I’m not your responsibility to take care of and provide for anymore. I’ll make the improvements to my house on my own.”

I release a breath. “Sorry. For the record, I don’t think I was offering to take care of you. I was offering a split in expenses because I know your primary reason for suggesting it is to accommodate our children.”

“I know. And we’ll still consult on all expenses having to do with our kids. But I think we both need to recognize when it’s not necessary.”

“Okay, okay. I’m properly chastised.”

Her smile is wide. I can’t help but note how often I’ve seen that smile lately. It had been missing for so long.

“Last: Kels. Have you spoken to her about her room?”

Rachel nods. “Yep. She has until Sunday to get what she wants, and then we’re dumping it.”

“And?”

She shrugs. “She said fine. I don’t know what that means, but come Monday morning, I’ll be tossing everything that’s left.”

“I’ll help you pack it up.”

Rachel rolls her eyes. We both know that we’re not going to throw out her belongings. We might make her think that’s the case, but we’re not asshole parents. We’re both very aware that she lives on campus, which leaves her little choice for storing her things.

“Have you seen her?” Rachel asks.

I sigh. “No. We never had many reasons to cross paths to begin with, but I’d see her sometimes. I see Orion on campus far more than I do our daughter, though. I think Skye could tell you how she is much more accurately than I can.”

“I hate that she’s still angry.”

“I do, too, but I think she’s holding onto the anger on principle more than she’s actually still furious with me.

I get it. It’s fucked up that her father and her ex-boyfriend got together.

I’m not at all discounting that. She’s right.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if she never truly forgave me or got comfortable with my relationship.

However, I do believe her anger is embellished. ”

“Our child does love dramatics.”

I appreciate that we share exasperated looks.

“Okay,” Rachel says and pats my arm. “I’m going to get out of here. Let me know what Nolan thinks about the décor. Everything is returnable if something is particularly offensive.”

I kiss her cheek. “You’re giving him far too much credit as far as decorations are concerned. Trust me, I asked and showed him pictures. No enthusiasm at all.”

“I bet he’d find things he liked if we let him loose in a décor store. Keep that in mind for date night.”

“How romantic.”

“Anything can be romantic if you put the right vibe to it.” She takes her purse from the hook beside the door and grabs the empty bags. “See you later,” she says.

I wave as she walks out the door. It’s been so many years since I haven’t lived with Rachel. I’ve never had a place all my own.

My feet feel rooted to the spot as I look around. Silence surrounds me. There’s furniture defining all the spaces, and yet, it feels empty in here. There are no memories yet. I’ve only had the keys in my hand for three days.

In that time, Nolan hasn’t stepped foot inside. He’s been pulling all-nighters working on a class project and helping a friend with a new business venture. I haven’t actually seen him in more than twenty-four hours. I even had a key delivered to him for the condo.

Remembering makes me smirk. Conner Langley stopped into my office and told me he was being a messenger boy as he dropped off a couple cookies Nolan had baked with the Vincent twins and Morgan Levine. After practice, I handed him an envelope to return to Nolan with the key to our new condo.

I think Conner’s enjoying delivering clandestine messages.

The entire campus knows about Nolan and me, thanks to my daughter.

Unfortunately for Kelsey, no one cares. There was a touch-and-go situation for a little while when I was spoken to and verbally disciplined, and when Nolan was constantly going through repetitive meetings until he told HR that the only people harassing him were them, but otherwise, it’s been peaceful.

It’s been interestingly supportive, too. I now know the details of the event that was the end of Nolan and Kelsey’s relationship. I have not watched the video. There are things you just don’t need to see, and your daughter in the middle of a gang bang is one of them.

Since I’m well aware the rest of the school knows every detail as well, I’m guessing that’s where all the flood of support has come from. I’m not sure Nolan understands how much he’s liked on campus. The vast majority of comments have been along the lines of ‘ Nolan deserves happiness .’

The second most frequent comment is along the lines of, ‘ Broooo, way to steal your daughter’s boyfriend and teach her how to treat a man right !

’ I don’t bother to correct those comments anymore.

I think they know it’s inaccurate, but I don’t hate the sentiment behind it.

Everyone should be treated right, regardless of the gender of the person in a relationship.

I’m still standing in the same spot Rachel left me in when the door opens again. Nolan’s eyes meet mine immediately. Magnets snapping together. His smile spreads across his face.

“Hey,” I greet.

“I think I just saw Rachel,” he says, tilting his head. “Or am I just expecting to see her, so I imagined her here?”

I laugh. “I asked if she’d decorate since you had less than zero opinions on it.”

He drops his bag by the door and kicks off his shoes while pushing the door closed behind him.

“Sorry, Coach. Maybe if you ask me again in ten years, I’ll have formed an opinion on styles and colors.

” His eyes scan the place, and I receive the expression I’m expecting.

Polite indifference. I’ll play it up that he really loved what she picked out if Rachel asks again.

Nolan crosses the room and walks straight into my chest. I sigh as I hug him. “Welcome home.”

His smile is wide again as he presses it into my collarbone. “I’m so fucking excited about this,” he says quietly. “You and me. Every day.” He picks up his head to look me in my eyes. “There’s a chance I’m falling in love with you,” he says quietly.

My stomach flips. “Just a chance? I’m going to need to work on my wooing strategies here.”

His smile is soft now. “I can’t wait for… everything.”

I rest my forehead against his. “Me too, Nolan. I’ve been dreaming of feeling something like this for so damn long and now that it’s here, I realize my imagination needs some work. You and the way you make me feel are far more than I ever dreamed of.”

“Just say it already,” he sighs in exaggeration.

Grinning, I raise his eyes to mine with my fingers under his chin. “I love you, Nolan Solace. And I’m going to love you for the rest of my life.”

He nods subtly. “I love you, too. I’m confident that I chose the right Davenport this time.”

I laugh and bring his mouth to mine. It’s time to christen this condo with his cum. On every fucking surface until we’re surrounded by dirty memories.