Page 98 of Two Who Live On

“Whatever,” Novak said. “We’ll find the familiar.”

Reed smiled at Novak, who rolled her eyes. Reed grumbled, making a pouty face. Milo eyed them, weaving his surface thoughts behind visions, then chuckled to himself.

“Doesn’t seem like the best start to their future, if you ask me,”I thought, unintentionally linking closely to him. Okay, perhaps intentionally. I wanted him to hear my voice, know that even though I wasn’t there, I was. I’d been absent, selfish, so he needed to understand I did care about the burdens he endured, too.

“I very much approve of angsty beginnings,” he thought. Flashes of our freshman year popped into his mind. A fidgety, shy Milo hidden behind a hoodie. A bold, outgoing Finn dressed flashy and smiling. A rude, angry me glaring in my gothiest getup. “I think those tend to make for the happiest ever afters.”

“You’re distracting. I’m going back to work.” I paused, lingering on the distance I needed, the quiet I wanted. “I’m sorry I’ve been avoidant. I’ve just been…”

“You’re fine. It’s been good for both of us. Focus on the kids, focus on you. I’ll be here, working. Always working.” Milo smirked,which drew the attention of Acolyte Reed and Novak. “Speaking of, I should probably get back to it.”

“I love you, Milo.”

“Love you, too, Dorian.” Milo smiled, returning to the case file he had for his top two acolytes.

With that, I quelled his thoughts and scowled at a student. “If you think for one second you’re going to sleep in my class, you’re mistaken.”

“I had a rough night.”

“Anime and gaming until three in the morning is not a rough night. Screw up your sleep schedule on your own time.”

I’d make time for Milo, help my students—all of them—pass their exams, and then I’d find time to sort everything out with Finn. But it’d have to wait because pushing people away was a go-to move, and I needed to grow past that.

ChapterThirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Five

Milo’s chest was pressed against my back, resting peacefully with his arms wrapped around my stomach. He’d worked a lot this past month, fixing trickling fates from the ramifications of The Day the Devil Died and doing what he did best—using work to embrace and avoid his emotions. I’d already passed out before he arrived, but I immediately felt his presence when he snuck into bed late in the night. His worries and processing synchronized to my thoughts seamlessly, blocking neighbors’ dwindling dreams. It was a peaceful slumber, more or less.

The less came from Charlie, who’d wedged himself between us, sleeping on my lower back, and Carlie, who’d nestled up to Milo’s head, her tail thwapping against my face. Honestly, their incessant need to show their affection for Milo had become grating. I totally understood they preferred him, so did they need to constantly remind me they had a favorite human?

Milo’s breathing changed; the grogginess of his subconscious washed away. I grabbed his wrist, pulling it close, and gently kissed his hand. “Thought I wouldn’t be seeing you until summer break.”

“Yeah, things have started easing up, so I decided to come over.”

Charlie chirped, shaking his head, likely flipping and twitching his ears ever so as his alertness took hold. He lifted himself up and hopped over my stomach, stretching his long front legs close to my face and yawning wide before brushing past Milo’s arm to kiss my face.

“Morning, Charlie.”

He meowed in response.

“Got anything big planned for the day?” Milo asked, scooching closer since Charlie had moved. Milo’s crotch pressed snuggly against me. Carlie had also moved, meowing and pleading for food because it was 6:02, and she’d surely starve soon, a whole two minutes past her morning feeding schedule. Milo’s breath tickled my ear as he moved closer.

“Plans?” I laughed. “It’s the last day of classes. My plan is to survive the eight hours and then fuck off for at least the first two weeks of break.”

There were lessons I needed to plan for, summer trainings I had to attend, and lots of little things to streamline. Plus, catching up on projects around the house that’d fallen at the waist side with so much work. But I’d definitely indulge in a bit of unstructured nonsense and relaxation.

“We’ll have to plan some date nights or date days with your more flexible schedule,” Milo said, but his mind flashed with some very different ideas on flexibility involving the two of us.

“Just have to survive today.”

“So”—Milo nuzzled the back of my ear with his nose—“you’re not gonna do anything? I thought you said the kids aced their finals. Shouldn’t you celebrate that?”

“I would never say aced. They did okay. At best.” I grumbled, repositioning myself as I scooted against Milo. This was not the morning conversation I wanted, so perhaps I could redirect the discussion.

“Then have an okayebration.”

“I don’t do class parties.” I sat up, brushing Milo’s arm away. “Besides, their reward is better grades and more opportunities, which they’ll appreciate in the long run. They don’t need a pat on the head for doing what they’re supposed to do.”

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