Page 79 of Fresh Start
“Yes, Cedarwood Beach,” he said. “You know. My home.”
“Oh,” I said. “I thought you meant our home.”
He hailed a cab and one stopped right in front of us, so Leo opened the door for me.
“Our home? You—you want to live with me? In Cedarwood Beach?” he asked.
“What if I do. Is that moving too fast?” I asked.
Leo inhaled and exhaled, and I worried that I’d freaked him out by being too forward.
“Jesus, fellas. Are you in or out?” the taxi driver shouted to us, so Leo shut the door, and the cab sped off.
“Too fast? Is there such a thing when we’ve missed out on a lifetime together?” he said. “I want to live with you, too, Dawson Miles Eldred.”
“Really?” I asked and held his hand over my heart.
“Really,” Leo confirmed.
“Then let’s go home,” I said and kissed his knuckles before I hailed us another taxi and got to the airport.
I couldn’t believe it. Not only had Leo and I got together, we’d also already decided we wanted to live together. In Cedarwood Beach. If anyone had told me that I’d consider moving to a small town on the Middle Peninsula of Virginia a week ago, I’d have laughed in their face. But now, a week later that already felt like a year, I was so ready for this.
I didn’t even care to figure out how this would work logistically and logically for both of us, but I knew it’s what my heart had craved for so long. Not only would I get my lion back, but I’d also be next to Mom and Dad and have a somewhat normal life again.
We made it to the airport, and when we got on the jet, we ordered some food with the staff and indulged ourselves in some canapés and fruit until we got back home, where Leo had promised me the best moussaka I’d ever tried.
We arrived early in the morning, and instead of going back to Mel’s, Leo snuck me into his family home where he treated me to his grandma’s homemade Greek food and then into his childhood bedroom where we tried to do naughty things to each other, but jet lag and exhaustion won over.
It had been a long and stressful day. But, it had all ended well.
* * *
“Come on.Wake up, wake up. Uncle Leo. Uncle Dawson, wake up,” someone kept shouting in my face, and I opened my eyes to find Summer on top of us in bed shaking both Leo and me with all her strength.
“Summer, darling, I love you and all, but shhhh,” Leo muttered, and I turned to him.
“Come on, y’all. We have to go. We’re going to miss it,” she whined as she climbed out of the bed.
“Miss what?” Leo asked rubbing his eyes.
“Did you just call me Uncle?” I asked at the same time.
Summer chuckled and rolled her hair around her fingers.
“Well, you two love each other, don’t you?” she asked.
We looked at each other, and Leo, sleepy, cute Leo, grimaced.
“Meh. I wouldn’t say love,” he said, and I gasped.
I lifted my hands under his pits and tickled him until he was under me and begging me to stop. Summer joined in torturing her uncle.
“Okay. Okay,” Leo said. “I do. I love this douche face.”
Summer straightened up and turned serious. “You need to put five bucks in the swear jar. And come on, guys. We’re going to be late.”
“Late for what sweetie?” I asked.
