“Okay.” I towed him into the living room, settling him on my lap. Time was running out before he
had to get ready for work, and we needed to talk before I sent him off. He wiggled around until he
was comfortable, softly sighing when he rested his head on my shoulder. “I wish I didn’t have to go to
work. I’d rather stay here with you all day.”
I was tempted to tell him to call in. If there was anyone who deserved a mental health day, it was
him. He needed a block of time where he could turn off and decompress. But he wouldn’t, and he’d
get upset with me for even suggesting it. Plus, if I was going to accept Jack’s offer, I probably
shouldn’t be encouraging him to bail on work. Hell, I was still trying to get over how shitty I’d treated
him the night he’d called off from the bar before I understood how crazy his life was.
“Just remember, when you get done at the store, you’re coming to my place for nap time.” I made
a mental note of the errands I wanted to run before swinging by my apartment for a quick shower and
to make sure everything was ready for him. “And tonight, we’ll decide if we’re staying here or at my
place.”
“I like staying at your place better.” He startled at the admission, bolting upright. “It’s not because
I don’t want you here. I like being with you no matter where we are. It’s just… I like not having to
think when I go home with you because you take care of everything for me.”
“I can do that anywhere,” I pointed out, even though I understood what he was saying. “But if it’s
easier for you, then why don’t you pack a bag like you talked about and I’ll take it with me when I
leave? Maybe you could even keep a few extra changes of clothes in my closet and we can pick up
any toiletries you need.”
He perked up, smiling broadly. “You’d be okay with that? It’s not too soon?”
I smoothed a hand down his side before tracing circles on his hip with my thumb. “Baby, if it was
up to me, we wouldn’t be spending nights apart, but I know it’s too soon for you. Hell, it’s too soon
for a lot of people, but as you pointed out earlier, I’m not a patient man in most things.”
“But you are with me,” he said quietly, as if he needed reassurance that I hadn’t changed my mind
in the past few minutes.
“Yes, always with you,” I confirmed. A reminder chimed on Corey’s phone, alerting me to the fact
he had to leave soon, and he still wasn’t dressed. “Now, there’s something else I need to talk to you
about.”
“Well that doesn’t sound scary or anything.” He smirked so I’d know he wasn’t genuinely
