He tapped his can on mine and sipped his beer.
Taking a few long gulps, I buried the pain squeezing my chest. “What do you want to do tonight? Maybe DoorDash something nice and watch a movie since everyone is out?” Every moment spent with him now should be even more special than ever.
“Yeah, sure. How about Thai? There’s a place around the corner that Axel swears by.” He grabbed my hand off the counter and led me toward the couch. “Come on.” As he sat down, he pulled me in next to him, then tugged his phone out of his pocket and held it to his face.
“Just get me yellow curry chicken. Can’t go wrong with that.” I wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “We had a guy in the station back in Flag that used to make it for us, and it was so damn good.” Maybe the only Thai food I’d had.
“Sure. I’ll order some noodles and we can share.” He tapped his phone. “Okay, the food is ordered.” He kept his phone in his hand and set it in his lap. “While I was signing the paperwork, I was thinking.”
“Yeah?” I sipped some beer and edged closer into his side.
“What would you think about moving in here with me now, and then staying here with the guys after I move?” With his brows wrinkling, he focused on me.
I blinked. “Oh, uh, I guess so. It’s not too far from Chandler or Dad, so it would work.” Then I’d see Milo every day before he moved. “Yes, I’d like that.”
“Good, because I sent a text to the guys asking if we could go forward with it.” He drank some beer.
His phone buzzed and he lifted it to his face. “Good, they’re responding.”
“What are they saying?” I peeked into the screen, but couldn’t make out the messages.
“Here, see for yourself.” He held his phone closer to me.
Silas
Hell yes. He can cook and less rent for the rest of us. Just tell him he needs to put clothes on when he goes into the hallway.
Gabe
Jeremy says he’s excited to have a cooking and a workout partner. We’re in.
Cash
Of course he can move in. Tell him if he’s going into the hallway naked, to tell me first.
Silas
You’re in trouble, Cash.
Cash
You know I only love you, hun.
Warmth flooded my heart. At least after Milo left, I’d have all these guys to keep me company. “Did you already tell them about the job?”
He nodded, then set his phone on the coffee table. “I did. They knew about the slim chance I was going to get it and I’d told Cash it meant moving to Seattle. We’re going to have a band meeting on Sunday.” He hung his head and fingered the pull tab on his beer. “It’s going to be hard leaving the band and everyone. They’ve been my best friends since Freshman year and the band is finally going somewhere.”
“But this job will be worth it, right?” I brushed my fingers in a circle on his shoulder. I thought through all the logistics. “Shit, I need to talk to Dad and tell him I’m moving in.”
“He’ll be okay with it, right? I mean, you were only supposed to be living with him temporarily.” He creased his forehead.
I squeezed Milo’s shoulders and rested my forehead on the side of his hair for a beat. “He’ll be happy for me, especially knowing I’m moving in with you.” I looked around the room. “You guys are set up pretty well here, so I’ll probably leave most of my stuff in storage.” My chest pinched. “Until you move out, then I’ll bring in my bedroom stuff.” I drank some beer down. We didn’t have to figure it all out tonight, but it would help me to mentally prepare.
Milo rested his head on my shoulder. “I uh, y-you don’t have to marry me before I leave, you know.” He peeked into my face. “I’m not afraid of losing you after I move. I know we’ll make it work.”
I kissed his head. After his confession about loving me his whole life, I’d blurted it out without thinking. But it had still felt right. “But what if I want to?”
He shifted and raised his head, his gaze catching on mine. “Are you sure? But it’s so soon.”