Page 74 of His For the Summer

“Hey, when we put our minds to something, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish, even matchmaking,” I replied, grinning from ear to ear.

“Matchmaking?”Kaito asked.

“True,” Jay agreed, ignoring my grandfather.“Now all we need to do is plan the perfect date for them.”

“Piece of cake,” I said, my mind already racing with ideas.“After all, they’re not the only ones who deserve a little romance.”

As we pulled out of the campus parking lot, Kaito turned to us with a look of suspicion.“Date for who?”he asked, his voice stern.

Jay and I exchanged a glance.

“Well,” I started, trying to think of an excuse quickly.“We were thinking that you might be interested in dating too.”

Kaito raised an eyebrow skeptically.“Me?Dating?”

“Yes!”Jay chimed in, doing his best to sound convincing.“We thought it might be nice for you to have someone in your life as well.”

My grandfather sighed heavily and shook his head.“I appreciate the gesture,” he said slowly.“But I’m not sure dating is really something I’m interested in right now.”

“Oh, come on,” Jay said, clapping him on the shoulder encouragingly.“If we can find love, why not you too?”

Kaito hesitated for a moment before finally relenting with a small smile.“I found love with my wife, and she has passed.”

“That was ten years ago, and yes, it was sad.But don’t you think grandma would want you to enjoy retirement?”I asked.

“Well… maybe,” he said hesitantly.

He wound through the streets of Stanford until we reached a pretty white house on a tree-lined boulevard.It was surrounded by lush green grass and colorful gardens and had bright blue shutters framing the windows — it was perfect!

“Holy shit,” Jay whispered.“I keep forgetting how rich you are.”

“Gold digger,” I said, kissing his forehead.“Enjoy my family’s money, and all the perks that come with it.”

The inside of the house was as lovely as the outside, with spacious rooms.They were filled with boxes right now, but I could imagine furnishing it in a bohemian style, with cozy vintage furniture and antiques that would give it an air of warmth and elegance.

Kaito walked through each room slowly, taking it all in and smiling politely at our excitement over every little detail we found intriguing or beautiful.When we reached the massive main bedroom, I gasped as I discovered there was a bed already inside.He turned toward us.

“I figured you’d want to pick out your own furniture, but I also thought you might prefer to sleep in your new house instead of the hotel,” he said.

“You don’t have a problem with us…” Jay’s eyes darted to the bed and widened.

My grandfather shook his head, chuckling.“I should hope that you two are making a serious commitment to each other, and considering marriage after you graduate.”

“Yes.Yes, of course, yes,” I blurted, then glanced at Jay, who was blushing bright red.“I know I’m young, but I can’t help but think I’m going to spend the rest of my life with him.”

“Very well, then,” Kaito said.“There’s nothing wrong with two people who love each other and plan to marry living together.Now goodnight.I’m an old man, and it’s past my bedtime.”

With that, he turned and stalked out of the room and down the stairs, leaving us alone.Jay let out a wild squeal and launched himself at the bed, bouncing on it, and I tackled him, pulling him into a rough kiss.

“I can’t believe I get to live with my best friend,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him close, kissing him harder.

“Parker?”Jay teased.

“Him, too.But mostly you.My best friend, my love, my everything.”

“I can’t believe you said you want to marry me.”

“I do.Eventually,” I whispered, and now it was my turn to blush.

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