“I’m cold,” I tell him, shuddering a little. I’m not really cold but I want his hoodie, so I hold out my hand for him to give it to me. But that stupid boyfriend—Ha,boyfriend.He’s not my boyfriend yet—of mine apparently can’t read my mind because he looks around my room instead. I think he’s looking for my closet. I have a dressing room, but he won’t find it that easily because my bedroom has way too many doors in here.
There are five in total. The bedroom door, en-suite bathroom door, doors to a mini room I made an extra closet for just hockey equipment—I think it was supposed to be the pantry or something—, and then doors for two walk-in closets. I don’t know what I’d need two walk-in closets for, but I suppose single people usually can’t afford millions of dollars’ worth apartments. And if they can, I’m sure they’d choose a bigger one than mine.
I have two bedrooms. Mine and one for guests. Miles’s apartment is much bigger, but he also has a wife and kids so that’s good for him.
My apartment has three bathrooms, one en-suite for each bedroom and one half-bathroom right by the front door. Then obviously a kitchen and living room. That’s it. A whole lot of rooms for it being just me.
But maybe one day Luan will move in here with me, and then he can have one of the walk-in closets and every room will be filled up a little more with his stuff.
“Will you move in with me?” I ask, clearly not caring about any consequences voicing this questions might have.
“Sure, but not any time soon, baby.” He turns around to look at me with that cute confusion on his face. “Where are your clothes so I can get you a shirt?”
I refuse to tell him where my closet is. “I want your shirt.”
Luan looks down at himself, then back up. I think his eyebrows are slightly raised, but I’m not sure. They’re also dancing a little, and I am certain eyebrows don’t actually do that. “You want myyellowshirt?”
I nod. “I want to have youallover me.” Maybe if I dressed a little more like him I’d also be happier.
“Is that so?” He chuckles softly and makes his way over to me. When Luan stands before me, he pulls his hoodie over his head and all I do is watch him patiently.
“That is very much so.”
Once the hoodie is off, he sends an adorable smile my way. “Can you lift your arms?”
I do, even if it hurts my muscles. Carefully, Luan pulls his hoodie over my arms and my head, and then a little deeper down until it covers up my entire torso. His scent is filling my heart with warmth, love, and comfort immediately.
“Would you actually move to New York for me?” I stare at his perfectly sculpted face, feeling the urge to cry just laying my eyes on this handsome mess.
Luan nods. “I’d move anywhere for you, Grey Davis.”
“But you don’t like the cold.”
“I like you, so I kind of have to like the cold.”
Chapter 4
“can we make it outside this dream?”—Romeo by Bryce Xavier
March 2025
What do you think,how much of a chance is there that Grey won’t remember a single word he utters to me right now? Because I think the chances arereallyhigh. Still, I’m hoping they’re super low because the Grey Davis I know would never ask me to move in with him. So maybe if he can remember he already did, he will do it again in a few years, perhaps even months.
I do have to say though, Grey definitely isnothimself when he’s sick and I kind of like it, but I also hate it. He’s talking nonsense and says so many things he’d never utter if he wasn’t sick, or pumped up with antiviral drugs. But right now, he’s saying all the things I’ve wanted him to say for over a year.
I wanted to hear him say he can imagine a future with me, and yes, he may not have said it in those words, but you don’t ask someone to move in with you if you didn’t.
I wanted to hear him say he likes me, but the one coming from high-Grey doesn’t come close to what I’d imagine it’d make me feel when hetrulysaid it.
“Do you want your chicken soup now?” He’s already seated so why not try again.
“No. But you can come cuddle me now.” Grey opens his arms, waiting rather impatiently.
“You’ve got to eat something.”
Of course he ignores me, guess there’s stillsomeGrey inside of him after all. “I want to sleep.” He scoots a little over on the bed, patting the now free space next to him.
I do take a seat, crossing my legs and keeping Grey from cuddling up to me. He gets frustrated with that, starts whining a little but that’s okay.
