Page 50 of Leo, My Partner

It only takes us about twenty minutes to get dressed and out of the condo. Leo gives me an extra key, and my heart skips a beat because I'm moving in with him.

This is really happening. I always thought when I moved in with a man other than Sam, we’d have been together for some years, having gotten to know each other’s quirks and habits by spending the night at each other’s houses and making it known that we don’t plan to be with anyone else. Leo has done that, right? Albeit in a very demanding way, but he told me I’m his end game.

He’s mine too. It’s super fucking new, but Leo is it. I feel so comfortable around him, so safe. He’s been nothing but caring and loving to me since we met. He assures me my rambling is okay and doesn’t criticize me for wearing makeup.

The most obvious way he’s shown me that we’re forever? He let me see who he really is. After I walked in on him killing that man he could have killed me. No one knew where I was. No one would have known. But he kept me alive to explain things to me.

After walking me down to my car and helping me into the driver’s seat—despite my protests—Leo drags me to his mouth, kissing me greedily. I melt into him, turning so he can deepen the kiss. My hands glide through his hair, holding him close as he ravages my mouth.

I groan, then pull away from him, breathing heavily. “If you keep that up, I won’t want to pack.”

Leo licks the seam of my lips, and I groan again. “You can always wear my clothes. They look good on you.”

“Thanks, but no. I would like to wear my own underwear. I’ll be back soon. I’ll get enough for a few weeks.”

I’m on cloud nine during the drive to my apartment, and when I unlock the door, I practically float inside. Sam looks at me from the couch, eyes widening with happiness when he sees me. “Hey! I was going to call you.”

“How’s everything going?” I ask, plopping down beside him.

“Good. Look.” He turns his laptop to me, showing me an enlarged picture of a three-stoned diamond ring.

It takes me a moment to understand, but it clicks, and I can’t help grinning. “You’re going to ask Beth to marry you?”

Sam returns my smile. “Yeah. She’s the one. I can’t see my life without her.”

“She’s a good woman. I like her.”

Beth is a great person—friendly, responsible, and has a heart of gold. She’s much like Sam in that regard. They’re perfect for each other.

I give Sam a quick hug. “I’m happy for you. You guys are great together.”

“Thanks. I just hope she says yes.”

“Yeah, because she’s not head over heels in love with you,” I say dryly. Sam laughs, poking me in the side. “When do you plan to ask?”

“As soon as the ring comes in. I’ve been talking to Beth’s sister, and she somehow got her ring size. She likes lab-created diamonds, so they’ll make it to my specifications.” He points the photo on the laptop, turning the image from side to side so I can see all of it. “I’m hoping it’ll come sometime next week.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“Will you be my best man?” Sam asks and my eyes bug out as I look at him. “You’re my best friend, Ty. You’re the one I want to stand up for me.”

Overwhelmed with his request, I sputter even as I nod. “God, I … that’s … okay. Yes. I’ll be your best man.”

Sam grins at me. “Thank you.”

I lean my head on Sam’s shoulder, and he wraps an arm around mine, squeezing me against him. “You plan to move in with Beth?”

Sam tenses. “I wanted to talk to you about that. I know we have a few months left on our lease, but after that, I was going to move in with Beth. We want to buy a house together. But if you need more time or don’t have money to live on your own,” Sam says quickly, sitting forward and looking at me, “I can?—”

“No, it’s okay,” I say. My cheeks heat. “I wanted to talk you about that as well.” I turn toward him and pull a leg under me, blowing out a deep breath. “Leo asked me to move in with him. I said yes. I’ll still pay my share of the rent for the next few months, but we should go ahead and turn in our notice to vacate.” I don’t mention Leo told me I was moving in with him, not asked, but whatever. I like Leo’s approach. “I know it’s fast, but it doesn’t feel that way to me. It feels like I’ve known Leo forever. Is that stupid?”

Sam doesn’t answer right away. He fiddles with his laptop for a bit, placing the order for the ring before turning to me. “It’s fast, yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s not right. When I saw you two together, the way he looked at you … I’d like to think that’s the way I look at Beth. As my granny would say, he’s besotted with you.”

I snort laugh at his use of the dated term. “Yeah, I think he is. Just as I am with him. He’s so perfect, Sam.”

“So are you. Make sure he treats you right.”

“He will. Just as I’ll treat him the same.” I pat his leg and head to my room. Over my shoulder, I say, “I’ll be slowly moving out. I only came to get a few things since we have a date today.”

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