Page 45 of Messy Strokes (Wrecked Roommates)

But I guess hindsight is twenty-twenty.

Picking at my cuticles, I ask, “Did, uh, did Jos ever find out?”

“You know what would’ve happened if he had,” Milo returns.

“So, no?”

“No. He never found out.”

“One good thing, at least.”

“Yeah.”

“Has he sold you the business yet?”

His eyebrows raise above his sunglasses as his head turns my way like he’s surprised I mentioned it. “The shop?”

I nod.

“Not yet.”

“But you’re still planning to buy it, right?”

“I’m surprised you remember.” His mouth ticks up, showcasing his dimples before he replaces it with a frown. “We were supposed to sign the papers a few weeks ago, but he got cold feet and postponed it.Again.”

“Wait. Why does he keep getting cold feet?” I ask, my mama bear ready to go to battle. Milo deserves the shop. He deserves the world. I’ve seen how much work he puts into the place. How much he’s sacrificed for it. Why would Jos keep it from him?

“I dunno,” Milo mutters as he turns onto a side street.

“You don’t know? Did you ask him?”

“He won’t tell me. Keeps pushing me to do things outside of the business, which is a bunch of bullshit. The shop is my life. He should understand. It’s his too.”

“Did he say how long he wanted to postpone the sale?” I prod.

“It’s supposed to happen in the next few weeks.”

“A few weeks?” I repeat, my mama bear retreating. “That’s not too bad.”

“If he sticks to it.”

“He will.”

“Mm-hmm,” he grunts, unconvinced.

“He will,” I repeat. “And when he does, you’ll officially be the owner of Etch 'N Ink.”

Another soft smile, one with disbelief and maybe even a little awe, flickers across his face. Like he hasn’t even let himself think so far ahead, afraid it’ll be ripped from his fingers once more.

“Yeah,” he admits on an exhale. “I guess I will.”

“I’m really happy for you, Milo.”

He squeezes the back of his neck, looking sheepish and adorable as hell.

Grumpy Milo, I’m used to.

Bossy Milo definitely likes to make his rounds.

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