Was it love, shining in Elio’s eyes or was Milo imagining it? It certainly felt like it might be.
“We’ll keep our relationship as quiet as possible until you’re ready,” Elio agreed. “I’ve seen how the Foundation and the von Hessen name can crush dreams and ruin lives. I don’t care whenit happens or what we call ourselves as long as we’re happy. It doesn’t matter to me if I’m your boyfriend, fiancé, personal project partner, future father of your children…” he suggested and lifted his brows. Possibly daring Milo again.
“Father?” Milo echoed, his mind reeling as he imaginedthemwith kids.
Elio shrugged easily, then nodded at the track when they heard the train arriving. “I’ve never thought about it but I think being a parent would make me very happy. Unless you don’t want to have children. Then, I would just not think about it,” he mused but Milo nodded quickly.
“I would! Ineverthought about having kids of my own because…I’m still a kid and then there’s all the stuff that comes before parenthood…” He covered his mouth and Milo’s eyes blurred with tears as he laughed. “I didn’t think I’d ever grow up and have a boyfriendor a husband.But I love kids and being a dad would be amazing!”
“It would be, wouldn’t it?” Elio said and was grinning as he pulled Milo close, holding him and rocking them as they waited for the train to stop. “I would adore a mini Milo or my own clone. My parents would be so proud ifIwas the one to carry on their legacy. Not the legacy of the Margraviate or the Foundation, but ofourbranch of the von Hessens.”
“You’re going to be a great father,” Milo predicted with a confident nod, his soul growing warmer and warmer as he imagined Elio with a pair of toddlers in his arms.
“Do you think so?” Elio asked, his voice a thin rasp. He sniffed hard and composed himself when the doors opened. They held hands and rushed to a pair of empty seats and sat. “That’s such an awesome responsibility and parenting is much more challenging than physics,” Elio continued. “You can’t erase a mistake when it comes to rearing a child, the way you can ona dry erase board. I’ve never been responsible for anyone but myself.”
“Neither have I but we look out for each other pretty well and we’re learning how to be adults,” Milo pointed out. “We should get the hang of that by the time I’ve won a few bigger awards and published a paper like the one you wrote about the Hubble tension crisis,” he predicted, earning a thoughtful hum from Elio.
“That’s logical and it would give us more time alone so I can work naked,” he added with a wiggle of his brows.
“Is that all you think about now?” Milo scolded but he rubbed his thigh against Elio’s and gave his hand a squeeze.
Elio’s smile curved wickedly. “Almost exclusively. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Neither would I.”
Milo didn’t think he’d like holding hands but was glad Elio was holding on tight as they got off the train and headed into work, he felt like he’d fly away with the breeze. They had agreed that they wouldn’t comment on their relationship to anyone outside of their close circle of friends and family. But they weren’t going to hide and go through the added stress of trying to cover it up. They were going to be themselves and ignore any gossip or unwanted attention.
Everyone at Starlight already knew but people clapped and cheered when they came up the stairs into the main lounge. Milo was expecting the normal pre-Monday meeting madness but Tyler made his way through, dodging sofas and bodies with a large brown pastry box.
“Got these for you, Milo! They’re from Donut Planet. Your favorite, right?” Tyler asked as he handed the box to Milo.
He nodded, looking around warily. “Thank you. What’s going on?” he whispered and risked a glance at Elio.
“I have no idea.” He held up his hands, searching the crowd. “Where’s Hector?”
“He’s in his office. The problem’s up and we’re waiting for you to solve it,” Chad said to Milo, pushing Tyler out of the way and gesturing for them to follow. “Get out of the way, the wizard’s here!” he announced and there were soft laughs and some claps as a path was cleared.
“The wizard?” Milo whispered out of the side of his mouth to Elio.
“I think they mean you.”
“Of course, we mean you!” Chad said and Bryan had a piece of chalk ready when they reached the board. He lowered to a knee and held it up like it was a sword.
Milo leaned away and gave the donut box a suspicious sniff. “Is this a joke? Is this thing booby trapped?” He squinted at the board and gave it a quick read to determine if it was a trick problem and resulted in something vulgar like 69 or had a fatal flaw.
“There’s no trick! You were a badass andsavedour livesat Brookhaven,” Chad said, sending off another round of claps and cheers. “Everyone’s heard about it!”
“Oh.” Milo still wasn’t sure if he trusted it. “The fail-safe was there and it worked. We probably would have been fine if I hadn’t turned off the accelerator. Where’s Brad?”
Tyler sneered, scoffing hard. “He called in sick. Too embarrassed to show his face after folding like a cheap chair and crying for his mommy,” he said and there was a hum of agreement from Bryan.
“He’s probably scared they’ll give you Hector’s job and make his life hell for being a douche.”
“No way.” Milo’s face twisted and he shook his head. “Why would I want Hector’s job? That wouldsuckand I would neverget to do any real work. I’m already doing exactly what I want to do.”
“I can’t tell you how happy that makes me!” Hector said with a jolly laugh, making Milo duck as they turned.
“No offense. You’re the perfect man for the job,” Milo said and gave Elio a hard jab with his elbow when he muttered something under his breath about an oblivious, useless bureaucrat.
