“No?” He said it as more of a question and I raised an eyebrow.
There was only one thing I could think of that would make him look all squirrely, and I started to smile again. “Oh my god, you didn’t? How long did you last this time?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” He kept his gaze resolutely on his coffee cup, and I laughed.
I glanced around the kitchen, but I couldn’t see any evidence. I knew I was right though, and for some reason, it made my chest tight, my stomach all aflutter, which was ridiculous. I swallowed down my stupid feelings. “Finn, have you got a new lodger?”
He looked up and met my gaze, eyes boring into mine as he replied. “I’m hoping he’ll be a bit more permanent than that.” His voice was rough, and my hands tightened around the coffee mug.
Were we still talking about the kitten?
“Come on,” he said softly.
Setting his mug down, he ever so carefully pulled open the louvre doors and pointed to the sofa.
Fuck me.
There, stretched out in his usual position on the cushions, was Angus. Curled up next to him, snug against his belly, was a tiny ball of ginger fur.
Jerry.
It was perhaps the sweetest thing I’d ever seen, and my heart clenched looking at the pair of them.
“I wasn’t sure if they’d get on, but...” He gestured towards them with a huff of laughter. “They’ve been like that since I brought Jerry home.”
Cushions lined the floor in front of the sofa, presumably for Jerry’s benefit, and I walked over, dropping down in front of the sleeping pair. Unable to resist, I stroked Angus, then Jerry.
Angus didn’t stir, but Jerry gave a little yawn, then stretched his front paws out, resting them on top of Angus’s.
“Oh my god, isn’t that the most adorable thing ever.” I leant close and gently kissed the top of Jerry’s head.
“Yeah,” Finn ground out, sounding a little choked up.
I glanced up to see him looking at me with such... I didn’t want to name it in case I jinxed us. My heart raced as I stood and faced him.
He took my hand and licked his lips, nerves obvious. “Angus misses you when you’re not here.”
I grinned at him. “I miss him too.”
Blowing out a breath, he looked up at the ceiling before facing me again. “I had a whole speech planned out, all the reasons why we should do this, but fucked if I can remember any of it now.” He took a step closer, cupping my jaw with one hand and squeezing my fingers with the other. “I miss you all the fucking time when you’re not here. Please move back in, Jasper.”
My breath caught and Finn barrelled on.
“I know it’s maybe too soon, and if you’re not ready, then it’s fine. I’ll wait as long as—”
I put my hand over his mouth, shushing him. “Yes.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “Yes?”
I nodded and he grabbed me for a kiss. It might have started as a quick celebratory one, but I tugged him closer, moaning into his mouth and deepening it until we had to break apart to breathe. “I have conditions, though.”
He laughed, happier than I’d ever seen him. “Of course you do.” He kissed me again, then muttered against my lips. “Anything.”
Pushing him back enough to meet his gaze, I fixed him with a stern look. “I want to pay half the mortgage and bills.”
“But—”
“No. This part is non-negotiable, Finn. I have my apprenticeship now; I can pay my way.” I hadn’t totally given up on the idea of more travelling, but for now I’d have to do it in two-week stints.
