Page 77 of The Holy Grail
Permanent headquarters
“I’ve been thinking about something,” Malcom said, muting the sound on the TV show he was supposed to be watching with Jules and Evan. Malcom had hardly paid any attention to it, though, because he’d been trying to figure out how to say what he wanted to say without sounding crazy.
Jules, lying next to him on the couch, glanced over. “Oh?”
“What is it?” Evan asked, on the other side of Jules.
It had been two weeks since the dinner party, and in that time the three of them had pretty much spent every moment they could together, sleeping every night at Malcom’s, even those when Evan worked late.
He’d quietly let himself in at 3:00 a.m., then crawl into bed doing his best to not wake anyone, but also not minding if he did and received a sleepy embrace and kiss.
“I’d like to make our ‘headquarters’ permanent,” Malcom said, pushing the words out.
“What do you mean?” they asked at the same time.
“I want you both to move in with me.”
There was dead silence for a few moments, and then Jules and Evan sat up and again asked together, “Move in with you?”
“Yes,” Malcom confirmed, sitting up as well. “We’re always here anyway, and it seems like the best next step. I think I’m kind of over the ‘dating’ feel to this relationship. Living together would make us … official.”
There was more silence, and then Jules murmured, “Hmm. ”
“What does that mean?” Malcom asked.
“It means I’m thinking about it.”
Evan then said, “Hmm.”
Malcom looked at Evan. “Does that mean you’re thinking about it, too?”
“No, it means, I’m wondering why she’s thinking about it. I don’t really have to think about it.”
“It’s a big step,” Jules defended herself. “I mean, sharing a bathroom with two men full-time instead of part-time has drawbacks which need to be considered.”
“As does sharing a bathroom with a woman full-time,” Evan returned. “The amount of hair you leave in the shower drain is ridiculous. But I’m willing to put up with it.”
“So, you really don’t have to think about it?”
“Hell, no. Mal had me at ‘permanent’.” He paused, then asked Malcom, “You want me to bring my furniture?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because it looks like something out of a Victorian brothel?”
“I want you to bring as much stuff as you want, and the same for Jules—”
“Obviously,” she cut in, “because my stuff is classy.”
Evan gave her a dirty look. “You told me you loved my stuff.”
“I do. And it’s going to look great with my classy stuff.”
“Then it’s settled?” Malcom asked, feeling slightly light-headed.
Jules gave a shake of her head. “Not quite. Will we be able to paint some of the rooms? Because I can’t live in a house with all white walls. It isn’t right.”
“Yes, we can paint. Every wall in the house if you want.”
“Okay, then I’m in.”
It was Evan’s turn to look a little pensive. “What about the rent?”
“What about it?” Malcom asked.
“Well, I just started getting paid a decent wage not too long ago,” Evan pointed out, “but I’m still a little worried about being able to afford my portion of the rent here.”
“Good point,” Jules chimed in. “Hopefully I can swing my share, too. I mean, I’m just an accountant—a really good one, but not one who launders money for the mob.”
Malcom gave them both Are you kidding? looks. “Neither one of you is going to pay me rent.”
Evan blinked at Malcom. “Thanks, but I don’t want to be a … kept man.”
Jules nodded. “And I don’t want to be a kept woman. ”
“Look, I understand where you’re both coming from—” Malcom broke off for a second, because he didn’t, not really, but felt like it was a good thing to say, “—but I don’t have a mortgage, so—”
“What do you mean you don’t have a mortgage?” Evan asked.
“I paid cash for this place.”
“You paid cash?” Jules stared at Malcom. “Are you kidding?”
“No. Interest rates were terrible at the time.” He frowned. “I’m saving a ton of money in the long-term—”
“I meant are you kidding that you could pay, what … $2,000,000 in cash? How much money do you have lying around?”
“Well, it wasn’t ‘lying around’, and I got the house for $1,500,000, so it was a good deal.”
“That’s a good deal?” Evan murmured, still in shock.
“Yes, it was a good deal,” Malcom insisted, starting to get irritated at their responses.
He’d been expecting something wildly different .
.. like gratitude instead of judgment. “It’s a great house in a great area, and it was something I could do after my divorce, so I did it.
But even if I did have a mortgage, I still wouldn’t let you pay rent, because that would make me feel like your landlord.
” He took a breath, wanting to find the right words.
“However, if it makes you feel better, you—” he pointed to Evan, “—can pay the electric bill. And you—” he pointed to Jules, “—can pay the water bill. How’s that? ”
Jules and Evan exchanged a look clearly conveying their amusement with Malcom’s attempt at being domineering.
“Who’s going to pay for the cable?” Jules asked blandly.
“I will,” Malcom replied firmly, then added, "and we’ll split the groceries three ways, all right?”
Silence settled over them for a few moments.
“All right,” Evan finally said. “I’m in.”
Jules nodded. “Me, too. Let’s do it.”
There was a comfortable silence full of promise for several moments, and then Evan murmured, “So, I guess we need to tell our parents. I don’t think we should move in together until they’re all told.”
“I agree,” Jules said.
Malcom was a little slower in his response. “Okay.”