Page 138 of Take This Heart
Yoo
YOI
Dammut
Milo
You on the happy juice, Golo?
So haopy
Cant waitto see yuu
Milo
I can’t wait to see you either
“We can leave our things here to dry. Percy said we can use the place as much as we want,” Erin says.
So we leave our canvases on the plastic and gather the rest of our things. We hug each other and get tangled in Juju’s wide-legged jeans. I trip and go flying and Erin catches me before I face-plant into the large turning rack of stickers. We’re laughing so hard I can’t breathe when we step outside, and I hear a low chuckle that sends a melty feeling in my gut.
I look up and see Milo leaning against a streetlight, his feet crossed. He looks like a tall, beautiful giant that I want toclimb, and I must say it out loud because he grins and stands straighter. His fingers beckon me closer.
“Climb aboard,” he says. “I’m rooting for you. It’s time to branch out.”
Erin puts her hand on her head. “I didn’t think I was drunk, but I must be because you are punning all over the place.”
“Sorry,” Milo says under his breath. “It felt like the only time I could get away with it.”
“No,” Erin says, shaking her head. “Never a good time. But I’ll forgive you because you’reso pretty.”
“I can tell it’s been a good night for all of you,” Milo says, laughing.
“We had so much fun and I’msohappy to see you,” I sing. “What are youdoinghere?”
He laughs again. “I thought you might be a while yet, but I wanted to be here to walk you home if you needed an arm to hang on to or…anything.”
“He’s so thoughtful too,” Juju slurs. She flings her arms out. “Universe, I manifest a tall, beautiful giant…who is not Milo…to come walk with and provide an arm for me. No meanies with dark hair and blue eyes who think they are God’s gift to women just because they can cook and because they have been written up in every cooking magazine. Only nice giants…preferably a giant who knows how to find my clit because I’m really tired of no man knowing where it is. Soon, please and thank you.”
A deep laugh erupts out of Milo. Erin and I have already lost it and I have to hold onto Milo. Turns out I really needed his arm.
“I’ve never heard Juju say clit in my life.” I whisper the c-word and that sends Juju and Erin into another cackle.
“I think I need to walk all of you home. Who’s closest?” Milo asks.
“Juju,” we all say at the same time.
“Lead the way,” he says.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
PAINT HER DREAMS
MILO
The last time we slept at my place was a few weeks ago, when Goldie got drunk at The Cozy Palette. I’m still laughing about how freaking funny and adorable she was.
Every night since, we’ve stayed at her place. It’s a huge house, and once Everett let me know he wasn’t oblivious to me sneaking in and out and that I was more than welcome to stay, I’ve done just that. I love being with her dad and grandmas. Camden’s moved in now too, so it’s the most people I’ve lived with. I love Goldie’s family and enjoy being in the big, fat middle of them, but I’m starting to wish we had our own place.
