“Really?”
“Yeah, she was awesome actually. She squared right up to him—and he’s not a little guy or anything—and looked him right in the eye and saidXander asked you to leave, you’re going to do him the courtesy of getting the hell out. Now I see why even Seth won’t cross her.”
“I’m glad there was someone in your corner,” Milo said, the roller squelching again. “Do you wanna talk about it?”
“Not really,” I said, which was obviously code foryes. Milo knew that, too, and I knew that he wanted to listen. “It was the same as usual. He needed somewhere to stay, he promised he’d be better this time. He’s got his sad puppy eyes perfected, so I might’ve even fallen for it, if not for…”
The roller stopped squelching again, and I could feel Milo’s gaze on me.
“If not for you,” I added softly. “If I’d never known what it was like to be with someone who wasn’t an asshole. Someone who really cares about me.”
When I turned to look at Milo, he was staring at the paint roller halfway up the wall like he’d never seen paint, a roller, or a wall before.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and then he started painting again as though he’d never paused.
“Glad you didn’t fall for it,” he said after another heartbeat. “Wanna order pizzas for dinner?”
I laughed and went back to painting. Of course it was no big deal, of course Milo hadn’t freaked out over hearing that I’d spoken to my ex.
Like I’d just said, I hadn’t known before what it was like to be with someone like him. But I did now, and I was never going back.
“Pizzas sound perfect.”
* * *
“Got paint on your nose,”Milo said, reaching out between bites of pizza to swipe it off, then wrinkling his own nose as it came off onto his finger. He stared helplessly at it, confused and upset, until I wiped his hand clean with a napkin.
“You’ve really never done this before,” I said, leaning back on my free hand. It probably wasn’t great for our lungs to eat in a freshly painted room, but the window was open, a light breeze that promised summer was just around the corner was clearing away the worst of the fumes, and I was comfy. Sitting cross-legged on Milo’s bed, sharing junk food, taking in the great job we’d done of painting the room—if I did say so myself—I was happier than I remembered being in a long time.
Mostly because of the company.
“Nope,” Milo said. “Never been an uncle before either, though.”
“You’re gonna be great,” I said.
“I hope so.” Milo licked pizza sauce off his thumb. Dante was absolutely right about him, I realized. He would never have described himself as a hedonist, but he wore the softest sweaters I’d ever touched and licked his fingers all the time. That was what Dante had meant, that heenjoyedthings.
I could’ve watched him enjoying things forever.
“You will be,” I said, positive it was true. “They’re what, a day old? And you’ve already gotten paint in your hair for them.”
Milo’s eyes widened. “I have paint in my hair?” he asked, running his fingers through it and then repeating the surprised disgust as they came away covered in paint.
I wanted to help him, but I was too busy laughing to hand him a napkin this time.
“Can’t believe you’re laughing at me,” he said wryly, scrubbing at his fingers.
“I’ll help you wash the paint out later as compensation,” I said, grabbing another slice of pizza while he was distracted. Not that I wasn’t absolutely positive he would have let me have the whole thing if I wanted it. Milo was just like that.
“Deal,” Milo said. “I’m so gonna need a shower after this.”
“Can’t wait,” I teased. “I guess you’re sleeping over again?”
“Yes,” Milo said. “I still want you to fuck me,” he added, cheeks flushing instantly but tone determined. “If you still…”
“I still,” I said, swallowing harder than I meant to. “I want.”
A shy smile twitched at the corner of Milo’s lips as he grabbed another slice of pizza. “Second coat can wait until tomorrow.”
