Page 107 of Home With You

"The doctor?" I ask, sounding panicked. "Is Gladys okay?"

"She's fine. This is just a quick check to make sure her lungs are clearing up." Zoe lowers her voice. "I'm not so sure about that free clinic you took her to. I'm sure the doctors there are fine but I'd feel better if she saw my family doctor."

"It's a good idea. I wasn't sure about that free clinic either. They're always rushing people through. Let me know how the appointment goes."

"I will. So what brings you here so early?"

"Miles has to get to work."

"They make you work a lot of hours?" she asks Miles.

"They want me to work nonstop but I won't do it. I value my free time." He puts his arm around me.

Zoe smiles when she sees it. "It was chilly last night." She looks at me. "Did you stay at Miles' place?"

"Um, no. He stayed here. But it wasn't that cold. Not nearly as bad as the night before."

"Hopefully we'll stay back at my place tonight," Miles says. "I don't mind camping now and then but I prefer trees and fresh air over street noise and pollution."

Zoe laughs. "Maybe you could bring the tent to your apartment. Camp inside tonight."

"That's a good idea," Miles says to me.

"So what can I get you?" Zoe asks.

We order coffee and Miles lets me pick from the assortment of pastries, then we bring it all back to his apartment.

"What do you think about her idea?" Miles asks as we have breakfast on his couch.

"What idea?"

"About the tent. Why don't we bring it back here, along with your other stuff?"

"Why would we do that?"

"So it doesn't get stolen or destroyed by the weather. We're supposed to have storms later this week. A strong wind or hail could take down the tent and then everything inside it would get wet and ruined."

"If we do that, I won't have any place to go."

He motions to his apartment.

"Yeah, I know I can stay here," I say, "but it doesn't feel right to be here all the time. I need my own place."

"Which you'll get once you're able to. But for now, would it really be that bad to share an apartment with the guy you love?"

"I don't—" A smile creeps up my face. "Dammit."

"Couldn't do it, could you?" he asks before biting into a glazed donut.

"Do what?" I tear off a piece of apple fritter.

"You couldn't say you don't love me. Because you do." He takes another bite of his donut, staring at me as he chews.

"Whatever," I say, rolling my eyes.

"You don't have to say it." He grabs a napkin from the table and wipes his hands. "I already know." He gets up and walks to the kitchen. "But to be clear on the rules, you can't take it back. Once it's out there, it's done. No backsies."

"No backsies?" I laugh. "What are we, 12?"

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