He wants me to live with them, to share a house, a home.
The thought fills me with a mix of surprise and joy, with a flicker of fear. But looking into North’s eyes, I sense only sincerity.
“Yes, thank fuck. Don’t get me wrong, I like your van, but let’s keep it for holidays, date nights, and stuff. Anything without a shower or a fridge isn’t a home,” Saylor chimes in, but I’m still reeling from the magnitude of North’s gesture.
North takes my hand, gently opening it, and places the key in my palm. Then he leans in to kiss my cheek. “Welcome home, roomie,” he whispers, his breath dancing over my cheek.
Tears well up in my eyes, and I shake my head. “This is too much,” I whisper, my voice choked with emotion.
“Too much was how I treated you before, what I called you. There’s nothing too much to show you how sorry I am. And more importantly, I want you there. We all do. You belong with us. Having a key, a home, and all your things there with us might help you see we’re serious. We want to keep you.”
“I—” I start to protest, but I’m not even sure what I’m protesting anymore. I love that house. It has felt like home since the first time I was there.
I love the men and the family living inside.
“You can park the van in the driveway until I finish building the carport for it,” North continues.
“You’re building a carport for my van?” I ask, surprised.
“Youare building something?” Saylor questions in disbelief.
North nods with a slight smile. “I’ve got many projects around the house. There’s a lot to do, and Lio really enjoys it. Though I must admit, I’m not the best with a hammer.” He raises his left hand to show me a Band-Aid wrapped around his forefinger.
“Fuck, that’s priceless.” Saylor laughs heartily, almost doubling over, as a smile naturally finds its way across my face.
“Poor Satan, need some lessons on using a big hammer?” I tease, and his eyes darken, a hand coming up to cup the side of my head, fingers weaving into my hair.
“I’d definitely appreciate that,” he murmurs, his cock hardening beneath me as I straddle him, and it takes all I have not to squirm.
Saylor’s voice drifts from behind me, a hint of amusement in his tone. “Why does the thought of you handling his hammer turn me on?”
Same.
I stand, already missing his warmth, realizing how fucking cold it is out here.
How did I only notice this now?
North quickly sees my shiver and stands too, draping his coat over my shoulders. As I slip my arms through, he takes my hand. “So, is that a ‘yes’ to being roommates?”
“Yes,” I reply, smiling, as Saylor whoops in the background.
I’m done fighting this.
Done running.
Saylor is right. I need to stop sabotaging myself and trust that things will work out.
I deserve it.
North leans in to kiss my cheek, then gently pulls me along. “Since you’ll be living at the house now, I think it’s time to show you the laundry room,” he teases with a grin.
Seeing North Jones grin at me like a boy is a heady feeling, and the butterflies in my stomach tell me I’m fucked.
“I don’t smell,” I protest, my heart racing just from his coat around me, his hand in mine, his key in my palm.
“No, but that sweater has a stain on it, and I don’t want to guess what it’s from.”
Glancing down at my chest, I notice a white stain—remnants of the shortcake Hunter and I shared yesterday after we gothome. Still, it could easily be mistaken for something else. Embarrassed, I feel my cheeks heat up.
