Adversity couldn’t hold them back. When the time was right, he’d follow through with the proposal.
For now, he’d take Gage home.
14
Gage
TeenDad2: Guys, you're not going to believe this place.Ican't believe this place
xVerity: At this point, I'm imagining an enchanted castle. Do you have woodland creatures available to do your bidding?
TeenDad2: No... but I do have a roomba
xVerity: Sign me the hell up.
Gage grinned. He was spread out on the living room couch, which was large enough not only to fit his legs without having to bend them, but had space for another person to sit, too. Not that it made much of a difference—Bo was sprawled across his chest, half-asleep, unwilling to curl up on the empty part of the couch. When he was sick, he was clingy, and he’d been sick for a long time.
xVerity: So, tell me again about what it feels like to move into a nice house after living in a cramped apartment on the bad side of town for years.
TeenDad2: Um, well, it feels really frigging great, that’s for sure! I wish you could see the bedroom. It’s so big, you could put another couch in there even with the bed in the room. And Bo has his own room now, so Aaron and I can have adult time at night. And there are skylights!!!
LoveHarley: TD, your new place sounds like it rocks! I’m so happy for you
TeenDad2: HARLEY!!!
Gage’s grin grew. He kissed the top of Bo’s head, then lifted his phone into a different position so he could follow along with the chat. He still didn’t have service, but with Aaron’s WiFi, he could log into the Single Dad chat all the same.
LoveHarley: So when’s the housewarming party gonna be? We’ll crash it Single Dad style.
xVerity: You mean everyone will be in bed by nine?
LoveHarley: God, that does sound like a party, doesn’t it?
Gage snorted.
TeenDad2: You guys are actually making me lol. I don’t think we’re having any kind of party, tbh. Bo is really shy around strangers, and apart from Aaron, no one in our families knows about him yet. I asked Aaron to hold off on telling anyone until Bo adjusted to having a new place and a new dad
xVerity: imo, that’s actually a really good idea. You don’t want to put too much on him at once. Once the secret comes out, it’s going to be chaotic. If he has you and Aaron to turn to for support, it’ll be way better for him than if he has you alone.
LoveHarley: xV’s right, like usual. Listen to him, TD. That guy knows what’s up
LoveHarley: btw, have you guys seen Knot recently? It’s not like him to be MIA for so long
xVerity: Nope. I assumed he was busy. The last time he was in the chat he mentioned something about how he really needed to stop dicking around so much on the internet so he could get some work done.
LoveHarley: lol, Knot not dicking around on the internet? What a strange and wonderful time we live in.
xVerity’s comment left Gage feeling uneasy. The last time he’d seen KnotMyProblem was when he’d popped in to offer Gage help in committing insurance fraud. Now that Aaron was home, of course, no insurance fraud was necessary. Aaron’s family had money, and even though Aaron was a young professional about to get his start in his chosen field, his pockets were deep, too. Even without his inheritance, they’d be able to pay for Bo’s testing. And if it turned out his medication cost a ridiculous amount, Gage figured that Aaron wouldn’t think twice about marrying him… and it wouldn’t be committing insurance fraud if that happened.
The Single Dads continued to talk. Gage snapped out of his daydream to follow the conversation.
xVerity: So, TD, I was wondering if you have any moving tips.
TeenDad2: Are you moving?
xVerity: There’s been talk around the office that they need someone qualified to transfer to one of our sister locations, and it looks like I’m the prime candidate.
LoveHarley: That’s exciting, xV! I just realized I don’t even know what you do.
