#''we'll put all this stuff in the garage and crack the door do she can come in and eat and use the litter box whenever she wants''

[2024skin]

Omfl I just went to put fresh food out in the garage and the garage door was closed my parents are fucking incompetent

[casspurrjoybell-33]

Wreckless - It's a Brick House

*Warning Adult Content*

Finnegan

The sidewalk isn't cracked, it's nicely done stone blocks and I was right, there's a nice two-car garage just on the other side of the driveway.

Do I wish it was attached? Maybe.

Is it a deal breaker? No.

Ann opens the double entryway doors with a flourish.

"Gleaming hardwoods throughout, a gorgeous chefs kitchen and a finished basement. Three large bedrooms and two and a half baths."

Yes, I can read.

"There's an attic just waiting to be finished. Laundry is currently upstairs but there are also hookups in the basement. It would be easy to put an extra bath down there if you'd like. A beautifully landscaped yard, almost half an acre, which in this area is unheard of."

I can't listen to her and think at the same time.

"Ann?"

"Yes?"

"I'd like to walk through it, just me and Emmett, please. It'll be much quicker and I know you have other things to do. The kitchen is through here?"

"Yes, of course, go ahead," she stutters as I walk through the dining room.

I want to see the kitchen first, I have no time for a kitchen remodel.

Oh, it's actually nice. Really nice.

Quartz countertops I'm guessing and the appliances look fairly new and high end.

It has a nice island and then there's a back door and I pass into a hallway that must be right behind the steps.

There's a room to my left that's lined with bookshelves on two walls.

"Library?"

Emmett peeks over my shoulder.

"Would be a great office, yeah."

He's right.

I hope they're not counting this as a bedroom but I don't want to assume.

I'll check. 

It has windows overlooking the garden and it looks beautiful and like a lot of work.

I ignore it because I won't be dealing with it, that's what gardeners are for.

I continue down the hall and there's a lovely half bath, a closet and then we're on the right side of the house in the living room.

"Oh, a fireplace."

"This place is huge."

It's not huge.

"Looks bigger without furniture." 

It's bigger than his place, for sure. 

Big enough to grow into.  

"Think we can fit a reclining couch, Finnegan?" 

He's teasing, there's plenty of space but I humor him. 

"Of course. Probably two."

We go upstairs and there are in fact three bedrooms including a really nice master with his and his closets and a big en suite bathroom.

"This closet is big enough to be Marten's room," he says and he's not wrong.

"He can have a bedroom, either one. The other can be for guests."

'Or a playroom. I could have a playroom like Rhys'.

"Who's gonna clean this huge house?"

That's Emmett, always practical.

"We'll hire someone. And a gardener too, unless you want to put in a pool. It looks pretty flat and there's already a privacy fence."

"No pool, can I go see the garden?"

"Right behind you."

We head downstairs and outside and he walks around almost in a daze.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's beautiful."

He sounds a bit sad or maybe it's more melancholy.

I walk up and put my arm around his waist.

"What are you thinking about?"

"My mom. I've thought about her more this year than the last couple put together but she had such a green thumb and we had a lovely yard. It was only like a quarter this size? Maybe not even that? She had rose bushes just like these and it's beautiful. She would have loved this."

"Maybe it's a sign."

"Maybe. Let's check out this finished basement. Mine's officially finished but it's not living space, you know? Might work for a gym though."

I know exactly what he means.

The door down here is locked so we have to go back through the kitchen and downstairs that way.

We were wrong, it's really finished.

Well, half of it.

The space under the kitchen and dining room is all mechanical stuff and storage but the right side is nice.

High ceilings.

Emmett is going around peeking and opening all the doors.

"Laundry. A lot more convenient to keep it upstairs."

"Yeah, definitely."

I just wonder if...

"Emmett? You don't have a dark room, do you?"

"A dark room? Only in my dreams. I don't use film. I would love to but I don't."

"Would this work? There aren't any windows and it even has a sink, and power. Is it big enough?"

"It would be perfect, actually. And what else down here? Gym could definitely work. Or a play room for you and your toys? We could split the room and do both or put one up in the extra bedroom or attic."

I shrug.

"Not sure but it's nice having options."

"It is. It's a lot of space."

"Do you like it, Emmett?"

"I do. I love brick and the garden is..."

Now it's his turn to shrug.

"Does the kitchen work for you?"

"Yep. You?"

He does most of the cooking.

I get a look.

"I'll manage. Let me look at the furnace, electrical and plumbing."

I have no idea exactly what he's looking for so I just follow him around. 

The house definitely has all those things. 

"You do realize that I don't care if something needs to be replaced, Emmett."

"I know. It seems like a nice house Finnegan but you need an inspection. It's empty, that probably means you'll be in quicker."

What's with all the 'you'? 

I want to hear more 'we'. 

"I hope so."

"It's a fairly busy street."

My smile falters a bit.

I'm not madly in love with the traffic.

"Yeah. True. But how much time do we spend in the front yard? It's quiet in here. Is the neighborhood okay?"  

"Yeah, we'll be fine.  I don't mind the street, easier to get to 695.  I just wanted to make sure you didn't."

He sits down in the middle of the floor and I join him.

"It's just a lot, Finnegan. You leaving, coming back, the beach, the break-in, the wreck and car and now this. I feel like I'm dizzy."

"I get that. I'm a little dizzy too which is why I'm trying to get settled. Should we do it, Emmett? What do you think? Will you live here with me? It's gonna be our house, Emmett, not mine. Ours."

He sighs but he's smiling.

"How can I turn down an offer like that?"

I smile, jump up and do a little dance.

When Emmett stands up I grab him, give him a kiss and then run upstairs to find Ann.

"Okay. Offer time."