Page 134 of Forfeits

“Huh?”

“Never mind. I suppose now is not the best time to tell you I’m allergic?”

My face fell, and I slapped a hand over my mouth.

“No, you’re not!” I mumbled, internally freaking out. “Really?”

Aiden held his sober expression for another two seconds, then broke, grinning with glee at having rattled me.

“You bastard.”

“What does it matter? I don’t live here.”

We held each other’s gazes for a long moment.

“Aiden, do you want to live here?” I asked, before I’d thought too much about it. Before I got too scared to ask him, when it was something I really wanted to know.

He stared at me for a long time, then gave me a soft smile.

“You’re asking me if I want to move in with you, your two dogs, your argumentative twelve-year-old and a new kitten?”

“Yes,” I said. “I want to sleep with you every night.”

“Well, when you put it that way, of course I will. But what do we do with my apartment?”

“Better keep it. You might want to escape after you find out what it’s like living here.”

“Not a chance.”

Dinner went well.

After her grandparents had left, I took Lucy aside and asked her if it was okay for Aiden to move in. I should have asked her before I’d asked Aiden, but it had been a spontaneous invitation.

Lucy was over the moon with excitement about it.

“Yes! That’s awesome, Dad.”

“Are you sure? You don’t think it’s too soon?”

She gave me a strange look. “Dad, come on. Does he know he has to help with the animals?”

“I’m sure he does, and I’m sure he will.”

“Honestly, am I the best matchmaker or what? I knew you two were perfect for each other. Cool how that worked out, huh?”

“Very cool.”

“I know you miss Papa. But I think he’d be glad about Aiden.”

I grinned and pulled her in close. “What would I do without you?”

“Probably be way less cool, honestly.”

I looked forward to being a family of three again. It wouldn’t be the same, but it would be just as wonderful.

* * * *

Aiden and Lucy were planning something.

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