Page 79 of Bloom
“Rescues, of course. From the RSPCA or a shelter. They don’t have to be kittens. Everyone loves kittens, so maybe we should look at some of the older ones that get overlooked.”
“You’re serious about them?”
He stopped, and his eyes met mine. “I am. Aren’t you?”
“Serious about the cats? Or about us?”
His blue eyes searched mine, his hands fell to his sides. “Both? Either? None?”
Oh jeez. “Both,” I whispered. “Definitely both.”
He grinned, then gave me a gentle shove. “You scared me.”
I laughed. “Sorry. I wasn’t sure if you were joking or if you were serious. I mean, the cats having their own room implied us living together, and I didn’t know what to make of that. I’m the overthinking type, Linden. So when you say stuff like that, I have seven tabs open in my brain working at the same time, running possible outcomes and scenarios.”
His smile was slow to spread. “Just seven tabs?”
“Two are someone working an FBI whiteboard of scenarios, one’s a Venn diagram, two are spreadsheets, one’s running a video reel ofLove Actually, and the last one is breathing into a paper bag.”
Linden laughed, then leaned up to give me another quick kiss. “You’re so fucking perfect.”
Before I could argue with that, his phone rang. He put the two succulents into my basket, and I saw Cory’s name on the screen before he answered the call.
“Hello, gorgeous. ... Yes, we’re both great today. ... No, no results yet. ... Oh? Is that right?” He grinned at me. “Well, he was very sweet. ... Of course I approve. ... No, we’re in IKEA. ... Okay, talk to you then. Bye.”
He pocketed his phone and sighed. “Well, our little trip to the clinic last night prompted Cory and Amon to discuss afew things. I’ll get all the details later, but I think it was the exclusivity talk.”
“Oh. Good for them. Amon seemed nice. Sorry I was not my most amicable when I met him.”
He waved me off. “Don’t apologise. He was lovely, and I told Cory I approve. What he said last night helped me understand you a little better, I think.”
I stopped. “Really?”
“Yep. Just about how a top should treat his boyfriend. I said you were worried about me, and Amon said so you should be. But then you basically said the same thing last night too. It’s about responsibility and care, and it just proved what decent guys you and Amon are.”
“Oh. Right.” I tried not to be embarrassed. “Did you not think I was decent before?”
“Of course I did. But it was just good to hear it, ya know?” He let out a deep breath and smiled up at me. “I like that you looked after me, that I was your first concern.”
Maybe the middle of IKEA was not the best place for this conversation, because I wanted to pull him in close, wrap my arms around him, and kiss him. Instead, I just stared into his eyes and hoped he could see the sincerity in mine. “You are.”
He smiled serenely as if he needed to hear me say that. “Have you had enough shopping for one day?”
“Yep. But this has been fun.”
“It has!”
“Just so we’re clear,” I added, “the fun part of this shopping trip also includes when it gets delivered and you helping me put it all together, right?”
“Absolutely. I’m more than happy to supervise and help by telling you if you’re doing something wrong.”
I snorted. “Awesome.”
He did a little happy wiggle, then looked around. “Okay, how do we get out of here?”
We found the counter, I bought what was in the basket, ordered the rest to be delivered, and Linden bought us lunch on the way home.
We spent the afternoon at his place, kissing in the kitchen, cuddling on the couch, and laughing along with the gay pirate show. It was utter perfection. We still hadn’t had anymore test results come in yet, but that wasn’t surprising.