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“This,” he began, his voice soft yet certain, “is my way of saying I’m ready for more. For us.”

I picked up the key, the cool metal a tangible symbol of the step we were taking. “This is big, Blaze. Moving in together big,” I said, a mix of excitement and nervousness in my voice.

He nodded, his eyes meeting mine. “I know. And I wouldn’t offer it if I wasn’t sure. About us.”

The weight of the moment settled between us, a beautiful promise of what was to come. I leaned forward, my hand covering his. “Thank you, Blaze. For this, for helping with Dad... for everything.”

As we finished our meal, the topic shifted to the future—to plans, dreams, and the life we were building. “So, Professor Gracen,” I said with a smirk, “ready to tackle the academic world with me?”

“Only if you promise not to grade me too harshly,” he quipped, earning a laugh.

“I make no promises,” I replied, grinning.

As we left the restaurant, I threw in a playful suggestion. “Let’s go test this key. You know, for... quality assurance purposes.”

Blaze’s laughter echoed in the night air, a perfect end to a perfect evening. “Lead the way, Dr. Easton.”

Hand in hand, we walked through the streets, our steps light and hearts full. The promise of what lay ahead was exhilarating, a shared adventure that we were both eager to embark on. Tonight was just the beginning, and as we approached his apartment, key in hand, I knew our story was just getting started.