Page 55 of Gamers' Omega

I nodded. “Yes. I’ll talk to my landlord too. Maybe I can sublet or something.”

“We’ll help you move your stuff, of course,” Freddie stated. “We might have to get a storage unit until we sort out the furniture, but we can cover that.”

I burst into laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Tony asked.

“I never told you?” I asked.

“Told us what?”

“I rented it furnished. Since I moved so often I don’t have much. I limit myself to what can fit into my car. I don’t even own the plates and silverware. My clothes, some linens, personal electronics, and a few sentimental items are pretty much it.”

“That’s all?” Ian asked.

I hummed and nodded again. “Yeah. When I first left home I made the mistake of renting unfurnished. I spent a whole bunch of money to get everything, then realized that it would be almost as much to move it all as it would be to replace. I got stuck in that cycle for a couple of moves. I saved money by buying from thrift stores rather than new, and donating it again when I left. Then a coworker asked why I didn’t rent furnished places. I tried that on the next move and never looked back. No worrying about getting help moving heavy things in and out. No waiting for that first paycheck to be able to afford more than a single chair and small folding table. Instead, I’d arrive, sign the lease, carry a few totes in, and be comfortable.”

“I think I see the appeal,” Beck chuckled.

“I like bird kissed a bird,” Pico declared.

I burst into laughter. “That’s a new mashup.”

“And now you’ll get treated to all his new mashups,” Beck replied.

I smiled. I hadn’t moved in yet, but it already felt like home.

∞∞∞

I let out a long breath as I used my new key and let myself into the guys’ house.

“Welcome home. How was your first meeting with your sex therapist?” Tony asked as I took a seat beside him on the couch.

I leaned against him. “Good, but draining.”

“Everything ok?”

I nodded. “I’d authorized him to get whatever information he needed from my previous therapist, but he still wanted to rehash the basics with me. I expected that, but it’s still hard to talk about it all at first. It feels so silly when other people have legitimate fears because of actual trauma.”

“Your fears are no less legitimate just because your circumstances are different,” Beck stated as he walked in from the kitchen.

“It’s just a hurdle to remind myself that I’m not wasting his time.”

“I think the only way you could waste his time, was if you didn’t want to go to therapy,” Beck replied. “So as long as you feel like you’re benefitting from it, then it’s not a waste.”

I smiled. “Thanks.”

Beck leaned in for a kiss. “Just remember, asking for help is a sign of strength. Weak people are afraid of appearing weak. Strong people know when to put their ego aside and admit they can’t do it alone.”

I laughed. “I don’t feel strong, but I’ll take your word for it.”

He smiled. “You are strong. Even if you don’t feel it, the rest of us can see it.”

“Mm-hmm,” Tony agreed.

The sound of flapping, then Pico landed on my head. “Pretty bird, who’s a pretty buuuuuurd?” he asked, leaning over my forehead.

I laughed and offered him a finger, which he promptly hopped onto. I kissed his little head and inhaled.