Page 108 of Not Catching Love

“Can’t I close my eyes, sign on the dotted line, and then ignore we even had this conversation?”

“Nope.”

Well, fuck.

“Why don’t you come see the land?” Manny suggests. “Have a look, then you can think about the details and let me know.”

“One step at a time?” Derek suggests.

I nod. One step is something I can do.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Derek

I’m still not sold about Xander and Manny’s plan. We’re going up there next week to check the place out, but I think this is one of those times where Xander is being impulsive. As much as it would be a dream to build a house there and to move into that house with Xander, I’m also not going to get too excited about the idea.

It’s soon. I know that. For me, these feelings aren’t new though; Xander’s been it for me for at least a year now.

Even though I’m confident that he’s in a similar place to me, I can’t ignore the way the light left his eyes when I reminded him that moving in with me would mean moving away from his brothers. It should have been a given, but I knew he wasn’t thinking that far ahead.

Buying a place with someone is also a huge commitment, and no matter how set I am on being with Xander, I need to becareful there too. I haven’t asked him about his finances, but I’m starting to get the feeling that his getting “lucky” with his art is maybe more than he’s let on. Taking advantage of him and his money isn’t something I’m okay with, so the last thing I want is for him to make this offer for me only to wind up regretting it and then be stuck with his money tied up in a house he never wanted.

Who knew that relationships were so fucking complicated?

“She’s going to kill me,” Xander says as we walk up the path toward his place.

“Who?”

“Aggy.” He sighs. “You’re being ambushed. Seven gave me the heads-up a few minutes ago, but they’re all waiting inside to meet you. Well, officially. You’ve already met them all except Aggy, and considering I promised her that I’d leave you alone and then did the complete opposite, as I said, she’s going to kill me.”

“You don’t seem like the type to be scared of an old lady,” I tease.

Xander throws me a look, all wide eyes and serious. “You haven’t met her yet.”

And now, I’m insanely curious. I remember catching a glimpse of her at the nursing home over a year ago, but since then, every time she’s been there, Xander has done his best to make sure that we avoid her. I’ve played along because we weren’t dating then, but now that I’m back, I made it clear that wouldn’t be happening anymore.

He didn’t believe me.

I guess Aggy felt the same.

We walk into the familiar, homey space, and when we walk down the hall and into the front living room … Xander was right. I think almost everyone is here.

Most of the guys I recognize either from the times I’vevisited or from them bringing Xander into the pharmacy. Madden and his boyfriend. Gabe, who used to live with them and I haven’t seen in a long time. Seven and Molly. Christian, Émile, and a woman who looks like the female version of Émile.

And Aggy.

Sitting on a lone armchair, cane resting between her feet with her hands planted on top.

“So you’re the nurse.”

Well, fuck.

I point at Xander. “Shouldn’t you be questioning him?”

“My angel boy?Never.”

And when Xander smiles sweetly over at her and Aggy smiles indulgently back, it’s impossible to worry about being yelled at by an old lady.

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