THE LETTER CAMEfrom Doctor Robell the week prior to Christmas, with two vital pieces of information: Milo was safe to travel through the doorway as his condition was permanent, and arrangements had been made for their date according to Keon’s wishes. Everything was set.
With Weston and Leo holding the fort, and Haley hanging out with Isaac for the night, they were free for a date night. Milo chose to use his wheelchair, allowing him more independence for the trip, taking the Dnaran weather into account.
Crossing through the doorway was a matter of stepping through and suffering the slight disorientation of the first step. As practised as Keon was, he’d expected Milo to struggle, but beyond a throbbing headache, he was fine. A short walk to the nearby parking lot brought them to the rented car Robell had left, an envelope tucked under the wheel, containing the keys and enough money to get them through the night.
Keon made a mental note to thank him in his next letter.
They took a ten-minute drive to the old movie theatre running Hollywood classics every other weekend. As Keon handed over money for their snacks and drinks, he perused the board and glanced at Milo. “What do you think?” he asked, eyeing posters in place of the movie names.
Milo hummed and accepted the box of popcorn. “They’re holiday themed, right?” he checked, narrowing his gaze at the posters. “How aboutIt’s a Wonderful Life? It sounds like it should be happy,” he reasoned, though the woman behind the counter arched an eyebrow knowingly.
“Sure, mikha.” Keon asked for two tickets and resolved she’d take the blame if it was depressing. Milo wanted a cheery Christmas movie, touching and heart-warming.
A long corridor led to the screening room, and Keon was glad Doctor Robell had found an accessible venue. Milo wouldn’t need to worry about finding a good seat, choosing a pair smack in the middle of the room. Milo parked his wheelchair and left it to experience the leather recliner seats and enjoy the movie in comfort.
Two people sat near the front of the screen and three teenagers in the left section. Keon had thought it would be busier, but this was better. He hoped to convince Rylee to run a projection machine through the generator, for a monthly movie night in the pack. He’d have Drew choose films and teach him how to use a projector. Maybe a USB stick refreshed every year, with twelve movies Drew could upload? Should be easy enough.
Milo shifted in his seat and laid his head against Keon’s shoulder. The popcorn sat in the handy holder between the seats, drinks on the outside holders, leaving them free to snuggle closer.
Keon linked their fingers and whispered, “Maybe we should make this a regular trip?” Milo could explore Dnara, the way he’d always wanted. It would be nice to have privacy, time together, separate from the rest of the pack.
“Such as?” Milo lifted his drink to sip from the straw.
“We could come through once a month or every other month, for date night?” he explained, knowing Weston would agree. Gale and Jude would handle violence or troublemakers.
Milo squeezed his hand. “I’d like you taking me on dates,” he admitted, smiling shyly as he focused on the pre-movie adverts.
Keon kissed his snow-white hair and thanked the Fates for sending a man he could love and trust freely. It made him wonder if a true mate wasn’t someone destined by the Fates to love him unconditionally, but someone brutally honest and trustworthy. Someone who could go above and beyond to fulfil the duties of a mate, with no expectation of anything in return but to be loved.
As Milo was to him.
*
THE MOVIE WASeverything Milo wanted, and everything Keon hoped it would be. They left feeling lighter, happier, and closer.
Robell had made dinner reservations for six o’clock, and left Keon a cheap pay-as-you-go phone he could leave at the fraternity. After the movie, he called Rylee to check in and gave Milo the thumbs-up. The plan was in motion and the drive to campus was content, comfortable. Milo hummed “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” from the movie as he flicked through a program of their next three months of scheduled movies, already deciding what to see next.
When they arrived at the campus parking lot, it was snowing and Milo shivered, dusting snowflakes from his hair. He opted for his crutches, as the house was feet away and the path was easy to manoeuvre. The walk was punctuated by Milo’s laughter, as he observed Drew’s attempts—it couldn’t be anyone else’s fault—to brighten the house with Christmas cheer. A snow blower covered the front lawn; fake snow had been laid over the roof and window ledges, surrounded by gaudy ornaments of snowmen, Santa, reindeer, and more. The house had become a parody of the holiday, proof Drew was in fine spirits this Christmas. It warmed Keon’s heart to see some things never changed.
He knocked on the front door, as Milo’s crutches click-clacked against the last stone step to hover at his side. Rylee opened the door, tall and imposing, long hair tied at the nape of his neck.
“Hi,” Rylee greeted them with a bright smile. “Come in out the cold,” he said, holding the door open. Watching Milo with careful attention, ready to step in if he needed help or wobbled.
Keon tapped his boots against the top step to dust off the snow. “Is he here?” he checked, though Rylee had reassured him Drew would be out shopping.
“Nah, I told him it was a surprise date night, and he insisted on leaving to buy wine and dinner. He’ll be another hour,” Rylee explained, the eye-roll typical of Drew’s impulsive nature.
Keon was relieved the surprise hadn’t been ruined. Introducing Milo gave him a thrill, a taste of how it would feel with Drew. They’d already known, from his last letter, they’d been mated, but this was important. The first time his two lives—his place as college student Keon and best friend to Drew clashed with his life as a m’weko of Vihaan—merged.
“Why don’t you let Milo and I get acquainted and make coffee, while you check on Eliseo?” Rylee suggested, with the warmth and familiarity Keon had missed. “He’s twitchy about not being able to return home, and seeing you will ease his mind,” he added, heading into the living room. “Do you prefer coffee or hot chocolate? If I remember right, caffeine isn’t as palatable to m’weko as chocolate,” he said, voice drifting away as Milo followed him into the living room.
Keon let them go, loving Milo’s voice in this place. Familiar and comfortable in his home from home.
Trailing the banister as he climbed the stairs, he let the familiar sounds of the house sink in, the creaks of the floorboards, the slam of an unclasped shutter in the distance, mingle with the scent he hadn’t realised he’d missed. Grass, heat, kalou scents mixed with sweaty socks. The distinct jock smell of college and old books. Everything he hadn’t seen when he’d lived here but summoned a flood of memories.
He approached Rylee’s old room, the House Captain and Drew living in the building next door, now. Run as a sanctuary for Vihaans who weren’t safe at home, the building had been the inspiration for his changes to the pack. This room was where Drew had first felt the bond for Rylee.
The reminder made Keon’s heart ache, but he focused on the person he could help: Eliseo, a member of his pack. The brother-in-law he hadn’t had the chance to welcome to the family or get to know.
