Page 5 of Milo
“Who was that?” Rory whispers.
“I’m guessing Isadora,” I whisper back as I walk down the hall with a smile on my face.
I have to look up at the person standing in front of the door across from mine. Their ponytail adds a lot of height to someone already much taller than me. But so many people are much taller than me. They’re in skinny jeans and platform sneakers. No jewelry to speak of, but there are tan lines where there should be rings and either a bracelet or a watch. They frantically knock on the door behind them while looking me over.
“Clay, get your ass out here!” They give me a grin and hold out a hand. “I’m Isadora, but everyone calls me Izzy. She/her.” She moves a coat panel to reveal a pronouns button with the trans flag on her chest.
“Milo, he/him. Nice to meet you. That apartment has been empty for a few months. And thank you for your?—”
My neighbor’s door opens and I have to look up and up. None other than the flower god himself stands in front of me. Clayton.THEClayton. FlowerClayton. Flower Daddy. I can’t speak. Can’t even blink.
“It’s you,” he says in that yummy deep rumble of a voice at the same time I whisper the same thing.
“Me?” I squeak.
Izzy cackles and pushes Clayton towards me. “Clay, baby, I think your prints are here. That was fast!”
I blink as I understand her words. “Oh, no. I just saw the order. I live here.” I wave to my apartment door.
Her grin goes wide. “How fortuitous Clay’s cute crush is his new neighbor.”
“Crush?” I blink up at Clayton, his cheeks go pink. “Cute?”
“Uhm, yeah,” Clayton says as he scratches the back of his neck. There’s a small, lopsided smile on his lips. Flower Daddy has a crush onme?
Rory squeals in my ear. “Oh, my god My My, fate!” Rory practically screams.
I snort. “Fate doesn’t exist, Rory.”
“Who is Rory?” Izzy asks, as she cocks her head.
“Sorry, phone.” I wave to my head and take out the earpiece. “Bye, Rory.”
“Wait! Wait!”
I end the call, silently promising to tell him what happens next. I lick my lips and take a step forward with my hand out to Clayton.
Izzy thumbs towards Clayton as she walks backwards to the building door. “I should… let you two get to know each other. The art prints all go to him. See ya.” She turns and sprints out the door, leaving me alone with flower Daddy.
“Sorry ‘bout her. She gets carried away. I’m Clayton, go by Clay. He/him.” Clay swipes a hand through his sweat soaked auburn hair and offers it to me before he grimaces and pulls back. “Ew, sorry.”
“She seems fun. A little chaotic.”
“That’s Izzy.” Clay chuckles and I’m sure I’m red as Rudolph’s nose.
“I’m Milo. He/him.”
“I’m honored to meet you, Milo.” His gaze drops to the bags in my hand. The bags with coloring books and stuffies. I turn to hide the contents and unlock my door.
“Likewise. I actually have all my art prints here if you wanna come in. I’ll pull the ones Izzy ordered for you. I can even help hang them if you want.” Why Milo, why? You sound so desperate.
“Are you sure? Izzy’ll help sometime. I don’t want to?—”
“I’ve had a mentally draining day and you—” I wave around him. “Are the highlight. Never in a million years would I haveguessed my celebrity crush would be my new neighbor.” Just tell him everything, why don’t you?
“You have a crush on me?” Clay asks.
“Since the moment I found your Instagram.” My cheeks are on fire.
