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Shit.I hadn’t meant to say that.
She looked devastated all of a sudden. “Wow. I’m sorry we weren’t making things nice for you.”
“Esther, I know you guys were doing your best. I’m so grateful for the safe haven. You have no idea how much. But…I like Alastair, and his house is lovely. I know it’s a risk, and you can believe that I’ve told him how ridiculous this whole idea is. But it solves two problems, y’know?”
“Does it?”
“It’s a place for me to live that’s warm and comfortable and cheap, and it means Alastair and I can fuck in two different rooms, and I don’t have to go home to my mom’s at night.” I grinned cheerily.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. You always did think with your dick, Toby.”
“That’s a fucking lie, Esther.”
She laughed, then, and rolled her eyes. “Fine. Move in with your hot boyfriend. See if I care.”
“Oh, come on. Won’t it be nice not to have a fourth person in the way all the time?”
She gave a pout. “But it’syou, Toby! I’ll miss you. You’re awesome.”
“Well, hopefully Alastair feels the same way.”
“Just know you can come back if things get too intense. And even if everything’s going great, I want to see you now and then.” She looked at me funny. “Wait! Why are you looking at me that way?”
“What way?”
“Like a unicorn on happy pills.”
“Um, because I need to ask you a favor,” I said, smiling even more sweetly.
She put her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows. “Another one?”
“Can you help me move out of my mom’s? You know she’s gonna be pissed that I’m taking off, and she’s already mad that I haven’t been back there for so long.”
“I will, under one condition.”
My smile faded somewhat. “Which is?”
“That you get Alastair to help, too. I want to meet him,” she stated.
My happy expression vanished.No, no, no.
“But…Esther! Then he’ll see what my mom’s like.”
“So? Maybe that’s a good idea.”
Oh no. When Esther got like this, there was no changing her mind.
“It’s fucking embarrassing!” I protested.
“Everyone has skeletons in their closet.”
“And, he’s already helping me by letting me move in!” I pointed out.
“That’s the deal,” Esther said, her voice firm. “Take it or leave it, Toby.”
“Fine,” I said as I caved. “For fuck’s sake. We’ll do it when she’s at work. Hopefully she’s on the same schedule.”
* * * *
