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“I’ve never been in love with anyone, remember? Maybe you should be asking someone else. What about Minnow?”
“My sister-in-law is ready to pop any day. The last thing she needs is to be dealing with my problems. It’s fine.” I grinned at them. “I’m going to visit them tomorrow.”
Jack gave me a sympathetic smile. “I know things can be confusing, but if they make you happy, and you make them happy then that’s good enough for now, don’t you think?”
“What if I’m in love with them, and they don’t feel the same way about me?”
“Maybe you need to lay your cards on the table.”
I raised my brows at them, relatively certain what they’d said was a figure of speech. I didn’t have any cards, or a table for that matter.
“If you don’t think it’s too soon, you should tell them how you feel,” they explained.
“But they must know,” I said, uncomfortable.
“If you’re not sure, maybe they’re not sure either. Rather than living in limbo, you can just ask. It’s the mature thing to do.”
I mulled it over. “What about you? Don’t you want a family someday? People to call your own? I know you’re aromantic, but that doesn’t mean you have to be alone.”
“I consider you part of my family,” Jack said honestly, their gaze earnest.
My throat felt thick. “I feel the same way about you.”
They bumped me with their shoulder and gestured to the company milling around the apartment, politely ignoring us to give us privacy.
“These people are my family, too.”
“Who are they?”
“Friends I lived with on the street, before we met. Do you remember when I said you paid me too much?”
I gave a half shrug, not sure which time they were referring to. They said it often.
“Well, I did what you said and invested it. I bought this building.”
“You bought the whole building?”
“I tried getting a hold of you to ask you what you thought, but you haven’t been answering your phone.”
“I’m glad you didn’t wait. It’s your money, and I think this place will probably be a good investment.”
“The old owner was trying to move everyone out so he could do renovations and raise the rent. I talked him into selling it to me.”
“Excellent!” I was much more comfortable knowing their housing was secure long term. They hadn’t let me buy them a house.
“My friends never wanted to stay with me long, because they didn’t want to sponge off me, but they’ve agreed to move into the empty units. I lowered the rent back to something reasonable for the other tenants, too—enough so we can cover costs and put a little aside for maintenance every month. We’ve started a collective—sharing costs and cooking communal meals. This is a meeting to discuss what kind of business we’re going to run so that we can generate our own income. To start with, we’re thinking of opening a coffee shop in the storefront downstairs.”
It was a good location with plenty of foot traffic, but there was nowhere to put a drive-through. I could imagine it—a little neighborhood coffee shop where people could gather to sit and chat.
“I’m excited for you.” I grinned. “I’m guessing you’re going to be too busy to continue in your role as my therapist?”
“We’re friends, Loïc. I’ve never really been your therapist. You took pity on a street kid, and you’ve been generous—far too generous with me. The help you’ve given me, I’ve managed to share with other people who needed it as badly as I did.” Their eyes glowed with excitement and shimmered with unshed tears. “Before I met you, there would have been no way to get off the street, let alone make this happen.”
Embarrassed, I looked at the ceiling. In Jack, I’d seen another lost soul, except without the advantage of inherited wealth I’d had. The only reason I hadn’t given them more, is because they’d refused until I’d given them a job to do for me.
“Can I invest in your business?” I asked. “Give you money for your startup expenses?”
“I still have money in the bank. If we need an investor, though, you’ll be the first person I call—if you ever, turn your phone on,” they added dryly.
