in a diner.
One guy came in with us, and another stayed outside, watching the cars along with who came in and out. If anyone inside the restaurant found it weird, they didn’t say anything.
Ledger and I sat on the stools by the counter and ordered food to go. The server said it’d be fifteen minutes, so we had coffee while we waited.
“Is Lion going to be mad at you because you left him so long?”
Ledger chuckled at me. “Yeah, I’ll likely have to give him some extra attention, a few more treats, that sort of thing. But the fact that I’m pretty much on house arrest until this is over will make him happy.”
“At some point, I will need to go back to my apartment. I have plants to water, mail to get, but I’ll arrange that with Ciro.”
Ledger didn’t say anything at first. He fixed his coffee and sipped it. “You know, you’re welcome to stay with me.”
“Oh, well, yeah, thanks. I figured until this was over…maybe just for company?”
I watched as he fiddled with his spoon next to his mug, unable to make eye contact. “No, I mean. I like having you there…all the time.”
“Oh…” Oh! Was he asking me what I thought he was? “Thanks.”
I drank my coffee, not sure what else I could say. I mean, if I asked him if he was asking me if I would move in and I was wrong…hello, so embarrassing. If I asked and that was what he was saying, then I’d have to answer him. Would I want to live with him? Wasn’t it too soon? Well, on one hand, we’d been through a shitload in the month or so we’d been doing what we were doing. And we’d known each other for a while. But still, there’s the other hand where we don’t know each other that well—and to be honest, our relationship was one built more on stress than anything else.
“You look like you’re having an entire conversation with yourself,” Ledger said and when I glanced his way, I could see he was amused.
“I often talk to myself.”
He nodded. “Shane, listen. I really like you…a lot. I admit I was a dick for a long time, and I know it’s because there was always something about you that did something to me no one else ever did. I’d see you every day doing mundane things and think no one ever did them better than you. It was kinda jarring. It scared me.”
“And it doesn’t scare you anymore?” I made sure my voice was low enough so only he could hear and not the entire diner.
“It does, a little, but it’s also exciting.”
I bit my lip to fight off the likely embarrassing laugh of happiness I wanted to release. If we were alone, I’d probably jump him and kiss him breathless. With all the shit going on around us, this bubble of joy could fuel me for a long time.
“So, you’re asking me what I think you are?”
Chuckling, he spun on his stool to face me. “What do you think I’m asking you?”
“Nope. You gotta say it.” I mirrored him, our knees touching.
“Okay, Shane.” He inched closer to me, so close I could feel electricity sizzle between us. “Will you move in with me?”
Holy shit. He really asked me. “I’m going to say maybe.”
He shot away from me as if I’d smacked him. “Seriously?”
“Let me explain. Because I think you’re seeing this as rejection, and it’s not. I swear!”
He rolled his eyes. “You made me say it knowing you’d say no.”
“I said maybe!”
“Whatever, Shane. Everyone knows when someone says maybe, it’s a no.”
“Are you a child? No, that’s not what I meant. Now, let me explain, Mr. Pouty Pants.”
He huffed but didn’t say anything back. I saw the server walking toward us with a bag. How was I going to explain this in a few seconds?
“I do want to, Ledger.”
He side-eyed me at the same time our food was delivered. “Here you go, boys.” When she handed us the receipt, I grabbed it.
“Thanks,” I said to her and guided Ledger’s head in my direction, so his attention was on me. “I don’t want you to regret this choice. Because if I let go of my apartment and you decide in a month that it was a bad idea, I’m screwed.”
“I’m not an asshole, Shane. If we don’t work out, I’d never force you to leave. If you haven’t noticed, my place is pretty big.”
“I know, I have. How