"I know," I say quickly. "I just missed the part of the conversation."
"Interested and it's… Daddies for me." He says the word slowly, like he's testing it out. I nod.
"I was hesitant at first," I say. "But when you find the right person, it just clicks."
"I'll have to look into it before I promise anything," Tyler says. "But I'll let you know."
"But we're still on for Friday, right?" I ask. "I'll see if Garrett is able to join."
"I know Remi is," Austin says with a smile. "Friday is usually date night but we'll make an exception. We'll consider this a bonding exercise or something."
"Bonding over how to get rid of the new owner," Tyler says with a nod. "I'm totally in."
We finish out the day without any more changes, thankfully. Despite Austin saying not to, I changed everything back to how it was this morning. I don't know when the guy is coming back in, but I'll deal with it then. I wonder if I could get away with a bit of gaslighting to make him think he moved it like that. Garrett is waiting for me out front this time, with his hazard lights on. Garrett must have told Remi about the drunk guy incident because he is waiting for Austin out front as well.
I lean over the console in the SUV and kiss Garrett. "Hi, baby. How was your day?"
"Long," I say, sitting back down. I buckle up and he pulls off down the street. "We're having dinner Friday night and our co-worker is interested in the whole Daddy dynamic so now Austin is on a match-making mission. Even though there's a nurse that comes in that is definitely smitten with Tyler already."
"Wow, you really did have an eventful day." Garrett looks over at me and he takes my hand into his. "How are you from this morning?"
"Good," I say. "A little hesitant to believe them, but hopeful. I'm thinking of going to see them on Wednesday. Would you come with me?"
"Of course, baby. Then maybe you would want to go meet my parents tomorrow?" Garrett lifts my hand and kisses the back of it. His eyes flick to me and then back to the road. "I told my mom about you on Friday and she's excited to meet you."
"I'd love to, Daddy."
"Tonight is for us, though. I promise it won’t be as bad as you think." I nod. I know he told me on the way home from the hotel that it isn't as bad as I think it is. I'm most nervous about this, but he's already seen the numbers and he hasn't left me so that has to be a good sign?
When we get to his house, he has dinner waiting for us already. A Mexican style lasagna. I wish that I could cook, but I'm also more than okay with my Daddy feeding me yummy food like this. We eat in silence. Not because I don't have anything to say, but because the food is so good. And messy. Daddy has me hop in a shower before we get to work.
"Okay." Papers are spread out around the coffee table and we're sitting on the couch. Garrett is wearing a pair of glasses that look more hot than nerdy on him. I don’t comment on the fact that he needs them, but I definitely picture him wearing them while we’re doing other things. "I have two budgets that I want to show you. I don't want you to make any decisions today but at least think of these."
I nod and he starts going into the details. I don't know how he did it, but he called the credit card companies and got my interest rates down. He also got one of them to knock over two hundred dollars off. There's a very detailed budget that allows me to save some money while also putting away some more to upgrade things I need. A new smartphone is listed under the small goals, a car and driver's license is listed under big, long term goals.
"This is the second budget," Garrett says. He sounds almost hesitant. "Just look it over and you can think."
I take the two sheets of paper from him. It has a lot more money in my savings and has only one new goal listed.
Buy out rental contract.
"What does that mean?" I ask, looking at him. He takes my hand in his and smiles softly.
"It means that I want to offer you to move in with me," he says. "I know it's only been a couple months since we met, but I love you, Orion. You're stuck with me. I would love for you to move in here, if you want."
I don't know what to say. My mouth opens and closes, but nothing comes out. That is a big decision. I don't want to live here for free and I don't see rent or anything on this budget to account for me living here. That would have to be negotiated.
"Don't decide now," he says. "I just want you to know that is an option."
I'mnervousonWednesday.All day, I can't stop thinking about what I'm going to say or how I'm going to react seeing my dad and being back in that house. I'm doing it for my siblings. For myself, to find whatever closure I can and finally move on from that part of my life.
Meeting Garrett's parents last night was fun. His dad cooked us a gourmet dinner and his mom shared all kinds of stories about him and his siblings growing up. Neither of them seemed concerned about our age difference or the way that Garrett picked the foods and put them on my plate for me. The conversation flowed and we talked and had a great time. I was invited back anytime, with or without Garrett, before we left.
Now, as each minute passes at work, my stomach twists a little tighter at the thought of seeing my own family. I go through the motions of cleaning everything, double checking that it's all spotless. I'm stalling, I know I am. Especially when Garrett texts me that he can see me cleaning the same thing for the third time.
"Good luck tonight," Austin says as we walk out together. He locks the shop up and we part ways. I told Austin what I was doing today.
"Are you ready for this?" Garrett asks when I get into the car. I'm really getting used to him picking me up.
