“Yeah, sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“Nah, I get it. I’d keep that close to the chest too. Not something you need people gossiping about.”
“Exactly. Thank you for understanding,” I say carefully.
I wasn’t sure how he would take it, not that his opinion matters, but still. Cody is the closest thing I have to a friend on this tour, outside of Aliko, of course, and I don’t have friends at home either. There are people I catch up with and hang out with when I’m home, but we aren’t close. Just people I knew through school, my parents’ friends’ kids, stuff like that. Cody’s opinion mattered in the way that I’d have been upset if he was mad about this—I still would choose Aliko, though.
The people who matter to me are here, and I want them to accept my relationship with Aliko, because that’s what it is. It’s much more than the simple hookup we thought it was. WhenI think back on it, it’s almost laughable that we kept telling ourselves that for so long. At what point was this ever just a hookup?
I can see a future with Aliko. Something real. Something that works. Something that we can figure out together. We’ve made some solid plans for after the tour, like me moving in with him, but I know it’s not that simple. A relationship takes a lot of work, especially with the jobs we have. Hopefully they keep me on for future tours—which is something Aliko said he expects—but I know how people can be and maybe some of the higher ups won’t like that. It would suck to be apart for so long, especially if I take a job on another tour that doesn’t run the same time as his. When would we see each other? I could get another job, but I love my job. I don’t want to do that.
Hopefully I won’t have to. Hopefully this is something that we can just work out and won’t be an issue. Aliko made his expectations clear, and I just have to hope that it’s enough.
Is this fast? Yes, it is. But ever since I first set eyes on him, I knew there was something about him that was special. I’ve spent so much time with him lately that I know that I want to be with him forever. Besides, the house is big enough that if he pisses me off, I’ll just go sleep in one of the five guest rooms—because of course someone needs that many guest rooms.
“You still planning on working for them?” Cody asks, reaching for his bottle of water. His plate sits empty in front of him, remnants of the salad dressing and pieces of carrots he couldn’t grab with the fork lingering.
“Definitely.”
“Good because they signed me on for the next two years.”
My eyes widen. “So, they’re definitely doing more tours?”
He shrugs. “They didn’t say it was specifically for this band, but yeah… it feels that way. Just don’t say anything.” His eyes narrow. “They haven’t spoken to you yet?”
I shake my head. “No, but I’m not worried about it.”
Whatever happens, we will figure it out.
“No, that is so ugly,” I say, taking the tablet from Aliko’s hand.
“Ugly? I think it’s beautiful.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s gaudy.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It means there’s too much happening and somehow all of it is shiny.”
“I like the sparkling gold waves.”
“You would,” I mutter, scrolling through to look at other paintings. “Here, how about this one? It’s abstract, still has gold but a lot less, plus some teal and blue so it’ll match the theme.”
He takes the tablet and looks it over. Finally, he nods, giving me a smile.
“I like it.”
I smile back and lean in to kiss him.
Lying in bed, picking out decorations and furniture for our house is one of the best things we have ever done together. It all feels so right.
I’ve lived in my house for a few years, but it never felt like home. Home was on the road, touring with bands. It’s where I’ve felt most at ease, and though I don’t think that’ll change, I do think having a stable home, one that feels like a home, will. I think the place that Aliko and I are making will be our home. A different type of home than the road, and that’s okay. It’ll be something that’s just ours, where we can always be ourselves.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask, glancing up at Aliko.
He frowns slightly. “What do you mean? Why wouldn’t I want to?”
“You’re a kraken. You belong in the ocean. And now you’re planning to stay on land indefinitely… with me.”
