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“When he picks you up again, we’ll make sure to invite him in,” Aden says.

I can’t believe Mateo brought her to Aden’s place. It means things have to be going really well! I don’t comment on it so as not to embarrass Lynn or Mateo, but I am unbelievably happy for him. He only had on-off relationships for a while, and I don’t know why. It seems like he always wanted more than his exes. He is the type of guy who wants to commit, but apparently, many thought he just wanted to fool around.

Seems like he and Lynn share the same values, though.

“So, what’s the plan?” Lynn asks. “You mentioned the attic.”

“Yes, I want to declutter it,” Aden says.

“Are you really ready to do it?”

“Yes,” he says. “Time to move on. I want to turn it back into my atelier.”

“What exactly is in the attic?” I ask curiously.

Lynn stays quiet at my question, just glancing at Aden briefly. “Well,” Aden starts. “I have put all my paintings there, and all my painting utensils. The plan is to go through everything and turn the attic into a small atelier again.”

“You are going to paint again?” I ask carefully, finally realizing why Lynn sounded so enthusiastic.

“In private,” Aden says. “I don’t think I am ready to return to the public with my art. But I want to return to creating something again. I have only picked up drawing again recently.”

“Ever since he met a certain someone,” Lynn comments and winks at me.

I feel my cheeks heat up in both embarrassment and joy. “Why did you stop in the first place?”

At that, silence surrounds us long enough to feel uncomfortable. Eventually, Lynn clears her throat, tossing Aden a gaze I can’t quite read, before walking towards the kitchen. “I will prepare us some coffee,” she says.

She closes the door behind her, leaving us enwrapped in silence. “You don’t need to talk about it when you aren’t ready,” I say.

“My boyfriend back then,” Aden suddenly says. “His name was Emil. He died. And it was all so horrible it sucked all my creativity out of me.”

“My god,” I mutter. “Aden, I am so sorry.”

“There is more to this story, Noel,” he says. “A lot more than just his death. I was caught in a very toxic relationship with Emil. I will tell you the whole story when we are on our own. I promise.”

I determine to be understanding, and not the pushy boyfriend who needs to get what he wants immediately. If Aden promised to tell me everything when we are on our own, then I will take him at face value.

“Alright!” I stretch slightly. “So, what’s the plan for now? Should we go right to the attic?”

Aden smiles. “Yes, take Lynn with you, will you? Meanwhile, I will clean out the work desk in the living room.”

I gaze at said desk, wiggling my eyebrows at Aden. “So, what do you usually do with that desk when you don’t use me to have fun with it?”

Aden raises an eyebrow, a smirk curling his lips. “If only we’d be alone.” He pauses. “When I don’t fuck you over it, I usually use it for research.”

Yeah, should have known my teasing would backfire, like it always does. That guy is just never embarrassed by anything! I sigh dramatically. “You won, okay?”

“No, really. I like its new purpose.”

I glare, covering his mouth with my hand. Aden chuckles softly, taking my hand and placing a kiss against it.

“You started it.”

“I know.”

Aden reaches out his hand, brushing over my neck. “Like I said, I used it for research, for my art.”

“You researched when you were painting?”