Oh.Oh.
That was why he wasn’t thrilled forme.
“I guess I could,” I said. “But,umm… you know, I just found this place in Sacramento. The sun shines throughthe kitchen window in the mornings, and the couch is older than I am and reallycomfy, and there’s this guy. Who lives in it. And I really like being near him.If, umm. If he’s not dying for me to move out so he can have his own spaceback?”
Fox’s face changed, softeninginto a smile.
“Oh, well… Sacramento isquite handy for LA, you know. Less crowded, but still all the convenience of abig city. And you could drive down if you needed to. Maybe once a month or so.”
“I’d have to learn to drivefor that,” I said, smiling. “But I don’t need to go to LA. They have this thingcalled the internet these days? You should try it.”
Fox’s mouth fell open. “Mockingme in my own home!” he said, fighting back a smile. He took a sip of his tea tohide it, but I wasn’t fooled.
“Could be your home,” hesaid after a moment. “This place. If you wanted.”
“I want.” I grinned at him,strumming the first string and just barely twisting the key until it soundedright. I could have pulled out my phone and used an app, but I wanted it tosound right tome.
What other people thoughtdidn’tmatter anymore. Not unless it was Fox.
His opinion was the only oneI was interested in, and his opinion always seemed to be that I was incredible.
Hell, I was starting tofeelincredible. I owed that to him.
Why wouldn’t I want to stayas close to him as possible?
“Right, well,” Fox said,draining the rest of his cup of tea. “That’s settled, then. Be a shame to loseyou right after you’d nailed the perfect cup of tea.”
I snorted, barely willing toacknowledge the bright joy filling my whole body. It felt so good ithurt.
Fox wanted me to stay.
I could stay here, and be inlove, and live my dream.
How much better could itget?
“You only love me because Imake you tea,” I joked.
“I love you mostly becauseof that thing you do with your tongue,” Fox shot back, his trademark smirkturning up the corner of his lips. “And you’re not bad company, either.”
“Even if I start playingguitar at all hours?” I asked.
“Even then,” Fox agreed. “You’restuck with me now.”
“I don’t feel stuck,” Isaid, looking up at him again. “You’re the first person who’s ever made me feelfree.”
A pretty pink blush bloomedover Fox’sridiculous chiseled cheekbones, and I fell in love with him all over again.
Yeah. This was it for me.
EPILOGUE
FOX
Three years later…
No matter how often I had towear a suit, I never quite got used to it. It wasn’t the same as a uniform,and it was a damned sight less comfortable than jeans and t-shirts. Besides,they made me feel like I was pretending to be something I wasn’t.
But this was for Quinn. Thebrush of his hand against my knuckles made it all okay. Even if I had to sit ina too-hot theater, in the dark, among people who didn’t quite grasp the notion ofmoderation when it came to perfume.
