Page 78 of Say It Again
“This? Nah, this is just something to wear around the—”
“The bedroom.” Daniel admired the shoe, his tongue sliding between his teeth as he twisted his leg side to side. “Got it.”
And the kitchen. “Okay, then there’s one more thing. Here, sit up.” Aaron took his hands and pulled him up. “I need you to have an open mind for this one.”
“Ooh, another not-kink kink?”
He squeezed Daniel’s hands and gazed directly into his eyes. This was it. The plan. The plan that was going to reconcile him being a dysfunctional mess. “I want to buy the studio for you.”
Daniel cocked his head, his eyes pinging around. “Excuse me?”
“I’ve thought a lot about it, and it’d be an honor to buy it for you.”
Daniel’s eyebrows shot up.
“I have money saved, and you need money, and you are so important to me, and I want to help. What do you say?”
Daniel blinked for a long time. “That’s sweet and all, but you’re joking, right?”
Aaron cut his eyes to the side. Of course he wasn’t joking. There was nothing funny about it.
“You’re serious.” Daniel widened his eyes. “No. Aaron. Obviously, no.”
“Well. Okay, I don’t have to pay for the whole thing. What if I just pay for a portion of it? Like, three-quarters or something. How about that?”
“Pay for three-quarters of my business? That’s absurd.”
“How’s that absurd? Then how about half?” But Daniel’s expression tightened further at that. “Geeze, okay. Um, rent? What if I take over your rent and utilities and maybe your cell phone if you’re open to it—”
“Aaron.” Daniel’s expression had transformed into a glare. “This isn’t a discussion we’re having.”
“But why not?”
“Because it’s weird as hell.”
“How’s it weird to want to help you? What if I just paid for—?”
“And what if I talked to you about interior design?” Daniel hitched an eyebrow. “If you’re looking for something to do with all your money, then let’s talk about that.”
Aaron snapped his teeth shut.
“Interior design is something you adore.” Daniel flapped a hand around the apartment. “But instead of pursuing that, you want to do what again? Help me buy my studio? Pay for my cell phone? How does that make any sense?”
“That’s different. This is your dream, and I can help you make it happen.”
“But what about your dreams?” Daniel pressed a finger into his chest. “If you want to invest in something, invest in you.”
Daniel didn’t understand. He didn’t get that Aaron investing in the studio was investing in his dreams. This was so much more important than anything else he did. He might not have been able to say it, but he could show Daniel how he felt about him. If love was money, then he’d give and give until it was enough. You want it? It’s yours. Anything you want is yours. If love was money, then he’d make so much that no one would ever leave again.
“Look.” Aaron squeezed his hands. “You don’t have to answer today—”
“I think I just did answer.”
“—but I’d like you to think about it.” He forced his face calm when what it really wanted to do was scowl. It shouldn’t have been this difficult to give someone money. “I’m offering you a solution, kid. The least you could do is think about it.”
“Then the least you could do is have a conversation about interior design with me. A real one.”
Aaron didn’t regret much, but he might have regretted ever telling him about the interior design.