Page 21 of Siren in Love
Corvin nodded.“Right.”He looked over his shoulder one more time.“You know what?I think I’m good to go now.”
They left the keys and turned off the lights, pulling the door shut behind them for the last time.Once it had closed, Corvin realized he was looking forward to what came next for him and Mike.
12
Corvin
Mikewasinthedriver’s seat of the moving van, and Corvin got in on the passenger side, his box of memories right by his feet.
“You’re sure your basement is big enough, and dry enough, to store the books until we can find a place to put them?”he asked.
Mike kept his eyes on the road.“I’m positive.I checked, then I double-checked.I used an actual measuring tape.”
“You’re just saying that.You eyeballed it.”
Mike cast him an amused glance.“I didn’t eyeball anything.You just wait and see, okay?”
“The moment you have all my books in your van you start bossing me around.Shame on you, Michael Cantus.”
In all honesty, Corvin didn’t mind Mike bossing him around.It was rare enough, and getting Mike to do what Corvin wanted was almost too easy.
I’m just sad about having to reduce the number of books on display.He did say we could maybe go buy some shelves later on once I get settled and we’ve figured out where to put what.And…it’s Pineapple Mike.He wouldn’t lie about something like that.I hope.
Mike’s house wasn’t as close to the university library as Corvin’s old place, but it was still only two blocks away from the nearest tram stop, which wasn’t a terrible commute.
Corvin turned up the heat in the van and rubbed his hands together, wishing they were at Mike’s place already.At their place.If I ask really nicely and tell him I’m cold, he’ll want to make me hot chocolate with real chocolate shavings.Hmm.
They were on Bennet Boulevard, which was framed by oak trees on either side, the foliage turning bronze and copper and raining down like the flickering embers of summer, as if to prepare the world for snow.Corvin saw flashing lights ahead.The car in front of them slowed, and so did Mike.
“What now?”Corvin leaned forward but couldn’t see anything.
“Hmm, this looks unusual.”Mike craned his neck to the side to see better.
Corvin turned to Mike.“If we end up freezing in this van, I’ll eat you first.Just so you know.”
Mike groaned before he went back to his customary hum, still craning his neck.
“Thanks for telling me.You should’ve let me pack some food.”
“You said you’d make me a welcome dinner when we got there.”
“I will, honey.I’ll feed you, promise.”
“Oh, I know you will.I just meant in case we don’t get there.”
Mike hummed again.“Yes, yes.You can eat me.You’d be the cutest cannibal of them all.”
Corvin slid deeper into his seat.“I know.”
After about ten minutes, Corvin spotted a police officer going from car to car ahead of them.Another five minutes later, Mike let down his window to talk to the officer.
“What’s going on?”he asked.
Mike was using his lawyer voice, which signaled to Corvin that the other man was taking charge, and that all Corvin had to do was stay where he was, shut up, and look—in Mike’s words—pretty as can be.
“We have a big cat on the loose,” the officer said.“Please remain in your vehicle.And you might want to turn off the engine.We don’t know how long it’ll take us to find it.Uh, and capture it.”
“A big cat?”Mike cocked his head.“What kind of big cat?”
