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I nodded solemnly. “I don’t like the idea of moving in with anyone without dating. We’ve only fooled around. I want actual dates. I’m not talking fancy dinners and roses bullshit,” I said, when I could see their faces clamming up. “I’m talking about doing things together, going places. I’m not a fancy chick. I don’t care about that bullshit, but we do need to get know each other before I make a decision.”

My men nodded slowly. “Dating,” Jason said, testing the word, like he’d never heard it before.

I smirked. “Dating.”

“Agreed,” Marcos nodded.

Nico flashed me a smile. “You’re gonna be falling head over heels before you know what hit you, Little Dreamer.”

If he kept up the nicknames like that, I didn’t doubt him.

“What else?” Jason asked.

“Besides dating for an undetermined amount of time? Before I agree tomaybemove in here?” I asked incredulously.

“Yes,” Jason said. “What else are you negotiating for?”

I paused, unsure. I honestly had no idea what else I to negotiate for. This was all so new to me. “I uh—”

“This is new, so we’re not in any rush, and negotiations are ALWAYS open for discussion, at any time. Just because we agree to something, doesn’t mean we can’t revisit the conversation at a later date if things aren’t working for you or us,” Marcos said.

I nodded slowly, my mind whirling.

“We should each fill out a check list and Maya there’s a questionnaire and online quiz you can take. Those should help you understand your likes and dislikes, and what we should talk about as a group,” Nico suggested. He reached for his phone and started typing. “I’ll send you the links.”

“I’ve got a couple blank check lists in my room,” Jason said, his voice gentle. “We should all take them again, so Maya can read them when she gets time.”

“That sounds good.” I nodded, hopefully sounding braver than I felt.

“Alright, come eat,” Marcos said, reaching for me again. He pulled me into his arms, holding me close. He pressed a kiss to my forehead before he pulled back and guided me to the table again.

We ate breakfast in a companionable silence.

Maya

Movingbackhomeafterfour years in the dorms was awful. Every day I was home I struggled to get along with my mother. My father, as usual, was mostly silent, but why would he ever speak up for me when my mother berated me every moment of the day.

I was used to living on my own, not having to account for my whereabouts, being spontaneous and carefree when I wanted, and knowing when I needed to bust my ass to finish homework. I was twenty-two years old, not a damn child—but according to my mother, I couldn’t even wipe my own ass.

It was bad enough that my parents didn’t come to my graduation, but living with them since then, was wearing on my nerves.In the week I had off between school and starting my new job, I had barely dumped my things in the bedroom I had claimed, when my parents had moved into this new house. They had moved out of my childhood home in Creekton, and moved into this newer house in Mourningside while I was away. The bedroom still had the random band posters hanging on the walls that I had hung up one summer while I’d been home from school.

In the end, it was just a room for my belongings until I could move out. Instead of being stuck at my parents’ house during my week off, I spent days catching up with old friends and even spent a whole day with one of my oldest friends, Slade Cooper, getting every damn tattoo I’d wanted while I was away at school.

After Slade had pierced my belly button, I had relaxed back in a tattoo chair for the remainder of the day. Slade tatted me in between her other scheduled appointments. We chatted and caught up on everything that had happened since the last time we saw each other, the summer before.

“Girl, same old shit really,” Slade grinned, her bright green eyes dancing in the sunshine. She had black hair down to her waist the last time I saw her, but was now cut short and choppy around her face.

Slade and I had been neighbors growing up in Creekton. While Slade was four years younger than me, that hadn’t stopped our friendship. She was like the little sister I never had, and just tagged along with me and Jenna or my friends where ever we went. Ateighteen, Slade had graduated high school the year before—graduating just before her father had succumbed to his lung cancer.

Slade now ran her dad's tattoo parlor, Skin of a Different Breed, all by herself. She employed a handful of workers and had a steady stream of clientele. Slade had a good head on her shoulders and I was proud of her. “How’s modeling going?”

Slade laughed whole heartedly. “A totally different world. Oh man.” She shook her head. “It’s fun at times. The money is great, but that world isnotmy world. I don’t need all the glitz and glamor, and those chicks don’t eat anything all day, then drink and do drugs at night.” She shook her head again, her smile dimming. “It’s not really my scene, you know? You can get lost in that life.”

Once again, I was reminded that my friend was an old soul and our age difference didn’t matter. “That’s good you know that. So many people get swept up in the glitz and glamor, especially when they come from small towns.”

“Creekton is a lot of things, but we didn’t grow up in the bad areas. We saw it, but our home lives were decent enough.” Slade sighed.

I smiled sadly. “Have you talked to your mom in a while?”