Their coffees in hand, they headed back out. “Why are you so sure your parents wanted you to be a scientist?” She asked, her tone softer as they headed towards the park.
Elio shrugged with the arm hugging his skateboard and sipped from his little paper cup. “It’s just something that came to me when I was ten, when I learned that my name meant ‘sun’ and ‘god of the sun.’ My name isn’t like my brothers’ and I don’t think they picked that name by accident or on a whim. I’ve never been able to make sense of losing them, unless I was meant to study the sun and physics and do somethinghugethat could change the world.” He stopped just short of telling her what that huge thing would be because she wouldn’t understand and she’d probably think he was unstable.
“I’m so sorry,” Felicity said but she shook her head. “I don’t think they’d care, Eli, as long as you were happy and doing something you were passionate about. Isn’t that enough?”
He smiled and hummed thoughtfully, despite the loud‘No!’in his head. Happiness and passion couldn’t replace all the things he’d gain by knowing his parents and experiencing their love for himself. “Possibly, but I’m giving Matteo’s and Milo’s hypotheses time, on the off chance that I can remain a competent scientist and be an adequate…boyfriend. Am I his boyfriend? How do I know? Why is dating more complicated than physics?”
She shushed, sensing that he was getting overwhelmed. “You’re overthinking again. Thisisn’tphysics, it’s biology and…vibes. Have you kissed and are you two exclusive?”
Elio laughed softly. “We are exclusive in every sense. This is Milo’s first time as well.”
“Oh, bless your geeky hearts!” Felicity made a giddy sound. “He’s probably just as nervous about everything as you are. Do you have to sneak around at work?”
That made Elio laugh. “Me? They wouldn’t say a word unless I harassed or assaulted someone. But I don’t recall seeing anything in the institute’s policies and I’m aware of other couples in the department.”
“That’s good. You don’t need that to stress about,” she said, making Elio pause.
“I would tell everyone and tattoo his name on my face or my knuckles but they already tease him at the institute. I wouldn’t want to make it worse for him.”
“They’re teasingourMilo?” she asked angrily and shook her head. “The nerve of them.”
Elio grunted in agreement. “They don’t do it when I’m around but I know it’s bad. Milo has a terrible anxiety disorder and I’ve done what I can to isolate him from the Mean Guys. I just wish I could do more or put a stop to it once and for all.”
“Aww! You’re already an amazing boyfriend.” She squeezed his arm encouragingly. “I love our coffee dates because you’re surprisingly chivalrous for someone who looks like he bites the heads off of snakes. I get all the perks of dating a baddie for an hour or two without the arguments about where to park or who’s supposed to take out the trash. You were raisedrightand you worry about the rightthings. I think you’re going to do fine.”
“Do you really think so?”
She nodded. “I’d still let you date my cousin, even though he’s a disappointment. I can’t tell my aunt that I almost set Daniel up with a real prince, though. She would be on the next train from Connecticut with a pie and a foolproof plan to change your mind.”
“What kind of pie?” Elio asked, making her laugh. She had given him an idea, though, and the plan that was evolving in Elio’s brain was both devious and inspired. “I’d like to learn more about these escape rooms.”
“Why? You already know Milo can hold his own in an escape room. Besides, your first date should be something quiet and romantic since he has an anxiety disorder. If your goal is to get into his nerdy pants,” she qualified and Elio huffed in disgust.
“It is. I’ve devolved into a caveman like my brothers,” he muttered, making her giggle. “What should I do for our first date? Milo has his routine and places where he feels safe in the city, but I don’t know him well enough to pick something for him yet.”
“Stay in, then,” she said simply. “Find out what his favorite meals are and light some candles or lay down a blanket for a picnic.Anyonewould like that.”
“That sounds easy enough…” Elio already had the perfect spot in mind. “Seth will know what Milo likes, he orders most of our meals while we’re at Starlight.”
“There you go! Keep it low key and about Milo and you’ll never go wrong,” she advised and Elio tossed his empty cup at a trash can and put his arm around her, giving Felicity’s shoulders a squeeze.
“Thank you. I feel better about this boyfriend business and I think I know how Milo can put these Mean Guys in their place, once and for all.”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Felicity pumped her fist excitedly. “Now you’re talking. Can I help?”
Sixteen
It was official. Milo and Elio were dating.
Milo knew this because 1: Carmen high-fived him on the way down the stairs and congratulated him as he was leaving the institute. “I heard it from Seth and I think it’samazing. You deserve a prince after all the shit you’ve put up with around here.”
And 2: Elio had warned Milo in the elevator, just two minutes earlier.
Their ascent began as it usually did with Milo arriving at the Olympia five minutes ahead of Elio. Milo had waited and pressed the button when he spotted Elio with his skateboard, looking wind-blown and content after his appointment with Felicity.
“Going up?” Milo asked cheekily, then hopped over the elevator’s threshold when the doors opened. “Did you have fun on your coffee date and at the skatepark?”
“I did,” Elio replied and waited for the doors to close before catching Milo’s chin and kissing him. “What do you think about us going on a date tonight?”
