Page 31 of Back to You
“I’ll hold you to that,” she said. “Now, who’s ready for dessert?”
After dinner, Dane offered to help clean up, but Grandma Gin chased us out of the kitchen. “Go on, you two’ve got better things to do than help an old woman clear the table.”
I took Dane by the hand and gave a tug. He hesitated for only a moment, then followed me down the hall to the utility room. The dryer hummed, tumbling my work clothes so that they wouldn’t get wrinkled. I pulled the door open and quickly folded them before I forgot.
“Watch this.” I grabbed the bag of cat food and doled out dinner with a big plastic scoop. Kibble dropped into five aluminum pie tins with a rattle. Immediately, all eleven hungry cats swarmed into the room, meowing and yowling as loudly as they could muster. “Dinner time!”
Dane’s eyes got big. “Holy wow.”
“This is my life now. Part-time cat dad. Wanna see my room?”
He waggled his brows. “Do you even have to ask?”
“It’s not much,” I admitted as I shouldered through the slatted wooden accordion doors. “This used to be the craft room, but after I moved in, Gran and I put all of her yarn and sewing stuff into the big closet in her bedroom. Now it’s mine.” It wasn’t a large room, by any means, but it was big enough for a dresser and a full-sized bed, with some walking room in between. My laptop sat on the three-legged table beside my bed.
“I like it,” Dane decided.
“I’m glad. Man, I’m so full. Damn Gran and her sickeningly-sweet strawberry pie.” I spread my arms wide, then dropped onto the bed.
The old frame shuddered and squeaked when Dane joined me with a soft laugh. He threw his arm over my waist and curled up on his side beside me. His head rested on my upper arm. “You’re comfy.”
“Yeah?” I hushed out, then pushed him onto his back. I climbed over the top of him, straddling his hips. Our lips brushed together. Once. Twice. Three times. I could kiss him forever and still not be satisfied. I felt the beginnings of a smile tug at the corners of my mouth. “So are you. Mmm.”
We both knew where I wanted this to go, but the idea of Grandma Gin hearing us was enough to vaporize my boner. I settled for cuddling.
A couple of cats joined us on the bed. Their bellies full of kibble, now it was time for a nap. Toki climbed onto my hip and began kneading his needle-claws into my thigh. Georgette took up residence near Dane’s head, purring contentedly when he pet her.
“I could get used to this,” he said.
“Good,” I murmured with a peck on the lips. “Because I’d be happy if you never left this bed.”
“That so?”
“Yep.” I put on a movie for background noise, because I fully intended to keep on kissing him.
Warm and cozy in the arms of my best friend, I must’ve dozed off because when I opened my eyes, the room was dark. The TV was off. Dane was gone, but the cats were still snoring away. Too tired to think much of it, I tugged the blankets over myself and fell back to sleep.
In the morning, I found a handwritten note on my dresser.You’re cute when you snore ;) Text me.Happiness swelled in frothy crests, a tidal wave of emotion. I tucked the note in between the pages of the newest Stephen King book I’d yet to finish. For safekeeping.
Grandma Gin was in the kitchen, sipping her earl grey and scribbling away at her morning crossword puzzle. There was fresh coffee in the pot, because even though she’d given up the stuff, she knew I loved it. I poured myself a mug, added a dash of hazelnut creamer, and joined her at the table.
“So?”
“Hmm?”
“What do you think of him?” I prompted.
Grandma Gin paused to tap her purple pen against her chin.Tap-tap-tap.She studied me for a long moment. “Do you love him?”
Out of all the questions she could’ve asked, I wasn’t expectingthatone. I stumbled over my words, trying to find the right thing to say, but I already knew the truth. It sat proudly on display at the very center of my heart, burning brighter with each beat. A smile spread across my face of its own accord.
“Only since the eight grade,” I told her.
“Good. Now stop worrying about what I think, child, and go serve us up a couple of slices of that leftover pie, hmm?” She winked at me, her crows’ feet crinkling at the corners of her eyes. I leaned over and hugged her. “You’re a good boy, Hollister. Don’t forget the milk.”
I grinned.
