Page 9 of Milo
“It really is.”
“Alright, sweet Milo, when should we go on our date?”
“I’m free after six-thirty every night. And I’m off tomorrow. I get every Wednesday off.”
“Will you be at the after hours Santa mixer?” I really hope so.
He drops his eyes and nods. “Yeah, I asked for the night off.” He swallows. “So I can participate.” I think that confirms he’s either a Little or a Middle.
“Nothing to be ashamed of.” I want to sweep his bangs from his eyes and pull him close. “How about Thursday at seven? Izzy’ll be back tomorrow. We’re going to be at my new shop setting things up. Then?—”
“Can I help?” He pleads, and how can I say no to him?
“Are you sure? It’s the busy season for you, isn’t it? You don’t want to spend the day resting? Then Thursday we’ll have our date.” I really don’t want to exhaust him, then send him back to work the next day.
He nibbles his bottom lip, no doubt wrestling with his answer. “Okay, maybe you’re right. But…”
I tip his chin again.
“But I’m not against hard work.”
“I don’t doubt it, sweetheart. Should we see if we can figure out placement for these pictures ourselves, or should we let Izzy boss us around?”
Milo looks around and yawns. His eyes go wide. “I’m not tired!”
The microwave clock says it’s ten thirty already. We’ve spent two and a half hours together and I had no idea.
“Actually, scratch that. It’s way too late to bang on the wall. I wasn’t paying any attention to the time.”
“Me either. I’ve had a lot of fun.”
“Same here, but let me walk you to your door.”
Milo laughs. “You really don’t have to. It’s just across the hall.”
“I want to. Oh, and let’s exchange numbers.” I pull my phone from my back pocket. We pass our phones to each other. I put my name down as Flower Daddy, making him smile when he sees.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, then.” Milo clutches his phone to his chest, and he grabs his now mostly empty bags.
I walk with him to the door, then as promised, to his door. I don’t want to see him go. He must not either, because he closes the door so slowly it’s comical, keeping his head peeking out until finally he grins and shuts me out. I pad back over to myapartment and lock up for the night. It’s already so lonely. And quiet. Peaceful.
Five minutes after I get out of the shower, I get a text from Izzy with the license of her hook up. I send back a thumbs up.
Five minutes after that, I get a text from Milo. A picture of him all snuggled down in bed with rumpled wet hair and a stuffed dragon in his arms. My heart melts.
Milo: Welcome to the neighborhood flower Daddy
Clay: Thanks, sweet Milo
Chapter 5
Milo
I’m floatingon a cloud of bliss between wakefulness and sleep. The birds chirp happily outside. I’m still wondering if yesterday really happened. Did flower Daddy really move in next door and ask me on a date or was that all just a dream I made up after I went shopping with Rory?
My phone buzzes to life and I move to turn off the alarm, only it’s not the alarm. Rory’s face grins back at me from the screen. I slide the button to take his call.
“You have to tell me what happened last night!”
