Page 98 of Seer

After another few minutes of cuddling and peppering each other with occasional kisses, I said, “I hate to do this, Greg, but I really need to clean up.”

He groaned, but after giving me one last hug he let his arms and legs flop to the side. His hair, of course, spilled over the wooden floor in a graceful halo around his head.

I carefully got off him and stood up, offering him my hand. “Come on. We need to go home.” I smiled at his pout.

He finally took my hand. As I helped him stand, he grimaced. “Okay, I’m with you on the cleaning up thing now. And I’m too old to spend this much time on the floor.”

We used the—separate—bathrooms to mop things up as best we could without any spare clothes. Luckily the water had been turned back on for the inspection. I debated just taking my underwear off, but then I’d have to wad them up in my pocket, and... no. I’d deal until I got home.

When I went downstairs, I found the front door open. Greg was standing on the porch.

He turned when he heard me coming. “Sorry,” he said with a rueful grimace. “The décor was getting to me, and I needed to go outside.”

We walked to the SUV. After we were settled in our seats, I asked, “How will you decorate the house?”

He shrugged. “I was thinking I’d do something similar to the way I have my apartment.” Then he looked at me, wide-eyed. “Is that.... Do you like it? If there’s something you’d prefer....” He gestured at the house in front of us.

“Me?This is your house, Greg. Even if decorating was something I was good at, it’d be your decision to make.”

His expression said I was missing something. “Cal, we’re already permanently connected. A full bonding is almost inevitable unless we stop spending time with each other. If you hate the house, I can sell it and we can find something else. But we’re going to live together. Or, at least....” He shook his head. “I’m sorry if I’m rushing you.”

He put the SUV in reverse and started to back out of the driveway.

Fuck. I couldn’t quite parse out all the emotions coming through the connection. Frustration, embarrassment, something like he felt... inadequate? Unworthy?

I put my hand on his leg. He glanced over before looking back at the road.

I said, “Look, I’ve been having trouble processing this whole magic-married thing. It just hasn’t quite sunk in yet, and I’m not ready to make decisions about our future. Like we said earlier, it’s only been five days.”

“Yeah, sorry,” he muttered.

I patted his thigh. “That being said, you’ve seen my apartment. My style hasn’t evolved since I was in high school. I do like your place. I think it’s soothing, and that color scheme would look good in the new house. But no matter how you decorate, I’m willing to commit as far as saying I’ll enjoy spending time there.”

“Yeah?” He threw a smile at me.

“Yeah.” I cleared my throat. “After I stop at Silvia and Lloyd’s for snacks.”

He chuckled and his hand covered mine on his leg. The confusion of unpleasant emotions had calmed, though I could feel him telling himself to chill the fuck out, to give me the space I needed, and that I wasn’t going anywhere.

I turned my hand over and laced my fingers through his. Then I sent over,I’ve never held hands with anyone romantically before.

He sucked in a breath and darted a glance at me. “Really?”

I squeezed his hand. “Really.”

He smiled and squeezed my hand back. His emotions turned to pride, satisfaction, and excitement.

It only took a few minutes to get back to my apartment building.

I said, “Um, I’d invite you up, but Ms. Jackson is there and I think it’d be weird?—”

Greg nodded. “Understood.” He pulled into a parking space, dropping my hand briefly to use the gear shift. He picked it back up again, twining his fingers with mine. “Maybe one day we can lock ourselves in your bedroom.”

I snorted. “Shutting the door would be enough. I don’t think Ms. Jackson can turn a doorknob.”

He smiled and said, “Can I see you tomorrow night? I need to go into work during the day.”

“Sure. Why don’t you text me when you’re free, and we can make a plan?”