He scrunched his face into laughter, but no sound came out. “Ah, I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
Liam’s fingers unentwined as his elbows slowly lowered to the beanbag chair. “Ben and I are still figuring out who we are to each other again. It’s been rather sudden. We went from barely tolerating each other in public spaces since I was back in town, to…” He sighed. “I love him. I really do.”
“After all this time?”
“Of course. I never stopped loving him. But…” Liam’s eyes glazed over as his grip tightened on Eden’s waist. “It didn’t end well. Even without him being the one to break up with me, wehad our issues. I think we moved too fast, but that’s how it is, sometimes. I don’t want to rush into things with him again. That’s like… gay relationships 101.”
“Pretty sure it’s the same for straight ones.”
“You said it, not me.”
She kissed his lips before reclaiming her scarf. “Honestly, the only reason I want to move in with one of you is to save some money.” She got up, deciding to keep the scarf and hang it up on the back of her closet. Eden dug into the box again, this time unearthing some gloves and winter hats she forgot she owned – and clearly hadn’t needed. “I still don’t have any direction. I’ve put some feelers out on LinkedUp, and nothing. Only La Mariposa wants me.”
Liam didn’t say anything behind her. Eden dumped the unused winter accessories into her donation bag.
“I’m sure you’ll find a decent gig, love,” Liam finally said, leg bouncing so his foot squeaked against the hardwood floor.
“I mean, Ihave.It’s just not conducive to being in a relationship.”
“Well, you are gorgeous. And gregarious. And God knows great in bed.”
“I keep thinking that even if I did it once a year, I’d be making so much more money than anyone else. I still can’t believe it’s somehow tax-free.”
“Eh, do it enough times, and Uncle Sam will figure something out. Ben would be the first one to tell you.”
“Yeah, but…”
“Eden.”
He rarely used that kind of tone with anyone, let alone her.Yes, sir.Eden puffed out her cheeks and pretended she hadn’t dug herself into another hole.
“What about the Salon?” she asked. “Would a job like that be okay?”
“For me? I wouldn’t care. Ben would care.”
“What about a hostess job at The Dark Hour?”
“They won’t pay you enough to deal with other people’s bodily fluids on the hourly.”
“Would Ben be okay with that, though?”
“You’d have to ask him.”
“I’m asking foryouropinion.”
“I don’t know, love. He can be a hypocrite.”
At least you admit it.“Maybe I’ll be a streamer. Start a FansOnly. You could help me reply to my followers and pretend to be me. You know what guys like.”
“Eden.”
That was even terser than before. “I’m just kidding.”
“Come over here.”
It should have been ridiculous, going to a man ten years older than her, who sat in a big beanbag chair that was probably older than him. Yet Eden obeyed, because she loved settling her hips on his and bringing her face closer to his.
