Forrest — Chapter 13 The Loft

MEGAN

I WOKE up in the daze of darkness, tucked under the soft comforter. It took a few moments for me to realize where I was. I used to keep on the lamp on my nightstand. Considering the masculine smell seemed so... familiar, I wasn’t definitely in my bed.

I rubbed my eyes and let them adjust to the dark surrounding. I blindly flicked the lamp on the nightstand on. The yellow light started to illuminate around.

Holy shit!

Freaked out, I sat up. The bedroom was sleek and simple in sophisticated gray and white color from the bed, to curtain, and the sliding door to my left. Despite the plain colors, it didn’t silently cry out solitude. I dragged my feet out of the king-sized bed to the glossy wooden plank flooring.

Out of curiosity, I tiptoed toward the door, sliding it wide. My mouth slacked open. It was a walked-in closet full of fancy tailored suits and shirts arranged in color. Shoes in leather and sneakers. Casual clothes, jackets, and jeans. It didn’t end there, I deliberately pulled a wide drawer full of neckties, watches, and cufflinks.

Oh. My. God.

My heart was thumping in my chest as I pushed the drawer closed and momentarily stopped. Where the hell am I? I let out a deep shaky breath, stepped out, and slid the door closed behind me. I leaned against it to calm myself before I sashayed to the curtain and gasped to the view behind the floor-to-ceiling glass window. I was in a tall building in a high-end apartment.

Skeptical, I walked out of the room only to find out I was on the second floor, towering the vast space of the polished living room. It was tasteful and elegant for a simple color. My feet dragged me down the dark wooden stairs to the main floor.

My heart started to pound louder in my chest when I realized I wasn’t with Forrest. There was no way this was his apartment, was there? Where the hell was he anyway? Forrest must be working tonight. Wait, what time is it? I only remembered falling asleep in his car when his mood turned sour.

I quickened my pace and searched for the exit. When the door came to view, someone called my name behind me, making me stop dead in my track.

“Escaping already?” Relief poured through me. I closed my eyes, releasing a deep sigh when I recognized that voice. Thank God.

“You scared the living shit out of me.” I turned around, and I thought someone had stolen my brain for a moment. My eyes literally grew wide. I couldn’t form cohesive words to see the most stunning and mesmerizing Forrest I’d ever seen. He looked relax despite wearing the frown on his face. The simple gray shirt was hugging his wide shoulders and muscled slabs chest with sleeves stretched against his sinewy arms. Damn those tattoos. I’d never seen him wearing sweatpants and barefooted before, and this was something new to me. My jaw literally dropped.

Ignoring my unexpected reaction, he simply ordered, “Follow me.”

“Exquisite,” finally, I able to utter a word. I rolled my eyes and followed suit while I let my eyes wander around.

His apartment was topnotch, clean, and looked a million bucks. For a man who was the job was bartending in a nightclub, how could he even afford something as luxurious as this?

“Save the questions, Megan.”Of course.

I chucked. “What made you think I have one?”

“It’s written all over your face.”

“I guess you’re right.” We stopped in front of the dining table.

“Have a seat. Let me just prepare our dinner.”

“Can I help?”

He slightly shook his head. “No.”

I sunk to the chair. Forrest was back to a man who didn’t say much. I couldn’t blame him if it wasn’t easy to trust someone like me, considering he had been keeping secrets on his own.

I looked down at my hands, frustrated. I couldn’t get him and I had no chance to get through his walls. He was the toughest nut to crack.

He came back quickly and placed down a plate of sirloin steak, asparagus, and mashed potatoes in front of me, and another plate for him with the same menu.

He left, then a few moments later, he had two glasses and a bottle of wine. Without a word, he poured red wine into our glasses after taking a seat like a goddamn god. Who is this man in front of me? I can’t recognize him anymore. Or the right question is, who is Forrest Wood?

“Thanks,” I muttered, suddenly feeling shy. “I was expecting a greasy Chinese takeout for our dinner.”

“Hmm. You’re welcome.” He picked his cutlery and sliced his steak like he used to eat it every day. I bet he was. Then I remembered something back at the diner.

The well-done was cook to perfection. He must have ordered it from a five-star restaurant. I wondered how he did he know how I liked in my steak. He must be good at guessing.

“Do you have work tonight?” I thought of how I could take my car from the parking lot and call my mother.

“I’ll be working behind the stick.”

“After our dinner, just give me your address so that I can call someone to pick me up.”

“Let’s eat and talk about it later.”

I sipped my wine. “This is really good.” I should be lying if this was not the best thing I’d had lately. This must be aged. I wasn’t a connoisseur, but I certainly loved the taste. I could even taste the smooth and rich fruity flavor in it.

“Glad you like it.”

It was hard to keep my thoughts when my brain was running a mile with millions of questions and presumptions my mind could grasp on. Instead of talking, I tried harder to shut my mouth up and focused on my meal because I apparently slept the whole afternoon and missed my lunch. I bet, Forrest was, too.

Once we were done, I volunteered to clean up.

“I’ll hit the shower.” That was the only thing he said before he left. His reluctance was a spear to my chest.

Smiling, I nodded and placed the plates into the sink. His kitchen was elegant, and I was even heedful not to break anything. I was like touching a precious gemstone the whole time. Everything was far than I expected, but then, this man, I knew nothing at all.

Once I was done placing them into his expensive dishwasher, I moved to the living room and shook my head in disbelief as I reluctantly settled on his crocodile skin couch.

I still couldn’t find my shoes around, my phone, and my purse. I climbed up to the second floor. When I sneaked into his room, Forrest was still in the shower.

Blowing out a sigh, I sat on the edge of his bed when my things where nowhere to find. I thought of Mom, then my mind went back to Forrest. Why did he have to live in two different worlds when he could afford to buy his own nightclub? Despite being distrustful and enigmatic, he seemed to be trustworthy enough to bring me here and show me a small part of his life.

Absentmindedly, I was combing my hair with my fingers. Insecurity was a bitch. I was probably looked like shit, and I couldn’t even freshen up while Forrest was looking almighty.

A small gasp followed by a long deep groan interrupted my thoughts. I was quicker on my feet and realized I was probably a little too forward and I’d crossed the line in entering his room uninvited.

What was I thinking?