Page 258 of Things We Left Behind
Fi took the lollipop out of her mouth. “Uh, what’s happening here?”
Waylon dropped his chew bone and tip-tapped over to Stef’s feet.
Stef marched over to Jeremiah. “Your apartment is gross,” he announced.
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.
“It really is,” Fi agreed. “Who disassembles a motorcycle in their living room?”
“Okay,” Jeremiah said cautiously.
“It’s gross, and there isn’t enough closet space. But I think we should move in together,” Stef blurted out.
“Oh, shit,” Fi whispered, grabbing Waylay in a headlock hug.
“I know we haven’t talked about the future, and I know that it’s probably stupid crazy of me to move here, but you’re here,” he said, looking at Jeremiah. He turned to Naomi. “And you’re here. You’reallhere. I have family here, and the more I think about it, the crazier it would be to stay away.”
Jeremiah tipped his head down and studied the toes of his boots.
Lina and I shared a wide-eyed look.
“Guess you won’t be selling your half of the business after all,” Knox said to his partner.
All heads whipped back to Jeremiah, who was grinning now. “Guess not.”
“You were going to sell?” Stef repeated. “Why in the hell would you do that? You love this place.”
“I love you more.” Jeremiah said it simply, without fuss.
The words had tears prickling at the backs of my eyes.
“This is why communication is fucking important,” Knox said, crossing his muscly arms.
“Seriously?” Lina said with a smirk. “You of all people.”
“Fuck off. I’ve evolved and shit,” Knox said.
Vernon pulled the hot towel off of his eyes. “What the hell is goin’ on here? This mustache ain’t gonna shape itself.”
Naomi beamed at her husband. Waylay rolled her eyes.
“Hang on,” Stef said, waving his hands. “I had a lot of whiskey in a very short period of time. Are you saying you’re okay with us moving in together even if I make you move out of your apartment that smells like diesel fumes?”
Jeremiah began to approach slowly. “I’m saying let’s buy a house or a farm or an estate or whatever you want.”
Stef was nodding and swallowing. “Yeah. Okay. That sounds…fine.”
Jeremiah took Stef’s hands. “I’m saying let’s be a family…with our families.”
“Oh my God,” I breathed and pulled out my phone to record the moment.
“What are you saying, Jer?” Stef demanded.
“I’m saying, let’s move in. Let’s get married. Let’s do the whole damn thing. I’ve been waiting a long damn time for you. Let’s get started already.”
Naomi brought her hands to her cheeks.
“Don’t you dare start cryin’, Daze,” Knox ordered gruffly. He abandoned Vernon and crossed to his wife.
