“We’re not in elementary school, Thomas.”
“You’re an old man.”
“I’m only two years older than you.”
“That’s what I said.Look, if you want him to move in with us, it’s fine with me.I just need you two to be quiet when you have sex and not do it in parts of the house I use, too.I don’t want to have to wonder if you’ve ever had sex on the kitchen table.”
“Even if we had, we would’ve sanitized it.”
Thomas widened his eyes.“You know what?Ireallydon’t want to know.”
“Relax.I was just kidding.”
“Something tells me you might not have been, but again, I’m fine not knowing.I just want you to be happy, Seth.”
“I am.”
“But you’d be even happier if Ryan moved in with us.The two of you are always together, and I can’t imagine he’s comfortable living with his parents.It would be like living with Chance and Theo.”Thomas shuddered.“You couldn’t pay me.”
Seth couldn’t say he hadn’t thought of Ryan moving in with him and Thomas.He hadn’t said anything to either of them because he didn’t want Thomas to feel like he was taking over the house they shared, and he didn’t want to rush Ryan into something he might not be ready for.With Thomas suggesting it, though, Seth might decide to take that step and talk to Ryan.He was sure a lot of people would think it was too soon, but it wasn’t like they’d live alone.Thomas would be there.
The thought of living with Ryan made Seth smile.Things between them were going much better than Seth had expected they could.He could trust that Ryan wouldn’t hurt him intentionally.Even when they bickered, they always ended the day apologizing to each other and talking things out.Ryan knew about Seth’s past.They were both putting a lot of effort and energy into this relationship, and being with Ryan made Seth feel things he’d never felt before.
Ryan was now part of the small group of people Seth trusted with his life, and he couldn’t have been happier.
“Anyway, it was just a suggestion,” Thomas said as he got to his feet.“Ask him, don’t ask him, I don’t care.”
“I think I’ll ask him, actually.”
Thomas paused and smiled at Seth.“Yeah?”
“You’re right.We spend most of our days together.He’s a bit uncomfortable living with his parents, although he would never tell them that.I’m sure he’ll be happy to have another option.”
“And to live with you.”
“Probably, yeah.”
Thomas rolled his eyes.“That man loves you.He’ll be over the moon when you ask him.Just remember, no sex in the living room or the kitchen.”He paused and frowned.“Or the downstairs bathroom.I use that one, too.”
“I promise we won’t have sex anywhere you might sit.”
Thomas squinted, then shrugged.“I’m sure there’s a loophole somewhere in there, but it’s too early for me to find it.Have fun with your boyfriend.”
Seth’s chest puffed up.He had a boyfriend.He, Seth, had managed to get over his mistrust of people and to allow himself to be happy.
He was.He was the happiest he could ever remember being.Of course, that wasn’t hard considering he’d left his home when he was twelve.As hard as Theo had tried, there hadn’t been many ways for him to make Seth happy while they were living on the streets.
But they weren’t anymore.They had a home, partners, and they were safe.No matter what happened in the future, that was never going to change.
Seth was whistling again as he made his way out of the house.He glanced up at Thomas’s window, but the curtains were pulled, and the house was silent.He’d really gone back to sleep.
Good for him.
Now that Seth had decided he’d ask Ryan to move in, he had to find a way to do it.Should he make it romantic?Would Ryan even care about that kind of thing?He wasn’t the kind of person who wanted flowers and chocolates.He was more than happy tumbling on the forest ground and playing around with Seth in his polar bear form.It didn’t have to be romantic.It had to be them, and that was something they were both good at.Still, maybe Seth could make it a little special.He might have to ask Madeleine what Ryan would like, though.She knew him better than Seth did.
Seth was planning to change that.
He looked up when he heard someone approaching.A woman was coming toward him, looking down at the phone in her hand.She tripped on a root, and he lunged forward, grabbing her to help her stay on her feet.She looked up with a smile, only for that smile to drop when she saw Seth.She shook off his hand and stepped back, and Seth let go.
