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He touches my hand softly. “You did not bring all the drama into this relationship. Actually, I think you have dealt with some drama that wasn’t yours. Remember my family and my brothers?”

“That’s something else.”

“Why?”

“Because your family isn’t a drug-addicted alcoholic who assaults you and wishes you dead.”

“Maybe,” Aden says. “But it still eats at me, and you didn’t even need a moment to consider. You just came with me and had my back. To me, it’s not different just because our family drama differs.” He pauses. “Are you feeling a bit better, Noel?”

“I do,“ I pause before I can finish the sentence. “I… I don’t,” I finally admit. “But not just because of yesterday. I think it will take a while to truly understand and accept what happened to me, and even more time to let go of it.”

Aden turns around, taking my face between his hands. He doesn’t say anything before he places a soft kiss against my forehead. “It takes a lot of strength to admit to needing some time to deal with a trauma, or to deal with it at all.”

“I realized that I do have people I love in my life. Like you, Ster and Mateo.”

“You are not alone,” Aden verifies.

“I am not alone,” I repeat. “I have my own chosen family.”

“Do you want to move in with me?” Aden asks, surprising me with the boldness of his question.

“Like, completely?”

“Yes. We talked briefly about it, as in you can stay over as long as you want, but as for me, I’d love to have you here with me all the time.”

My heart beats a little faster at his suggestion. Having this every day? Seeing him even on days he is busy at work, and always coming home from the bar to a warm bed?

I would love that, but I am also terrified of giving up more of my independence.

I know it’s not like that. It’s not quite my independence I am losing, because I still have a job and friends, but it’s such a huge step.

“No need to decide now,” Aden reassures me. “I know we haven’t been dating for long, but in the future, I can’t see myself with anyone but you.”

“It’s the same for me,” I admit. “It’s just such a big step.”

Aden chuckles. “And I know you hate change.”

“You said, you didn’t like change either! Didn’t you?”

“I did,” he says. “But apparently, not anymore. Listen, Noel, I meant it when I said you don’t need to decide now. We can keep the status quo as it is for as long as you need. I just want you to know where I stand in our relationship. When you feel ready, I’d love you to move in here.”

I nod. “You know I need a bit of time, but I… I don’t hate the idea.”

“Talking about not hating an idea.” Aden grabs my shoulders and pushes me back slightly. “Is that my sweater you are wearing?”

“That’s a rhetorical question, right?” I grin. The sleeves of his sweater are way too long for me, and his sweater easily covers my butt.

Aden stares at me, his gaze scanning me from head to toe, lingering on my naked legs.

“Like what you see?” I ask with a smirk.

He pulls me closer again, his hand moving from my back down to my ass. The look in his eyes is tentative, though. “You haven’t had breakfast.”

“Don’t care. Can eat later!”

Aden slips his hand into my boxers, squeezing my ass. “And you are really sure you are in the right mind space?”

“Yes, Aden,” I snort. “I came here dressed in nothing but your sweater. I am in the right mind space. Now fuck me, or—”