Chance Encounter - Jerry Cole Page 0,18

that. I also have the guest room for storage, since most people that visit stay with Gram.”

“Are we moving in together?” He asked, and I nodded before our lips crashed together.

“Holy shit. I’ve never thought about this with anyone before you.”

“Neither have I,” I confessed. We shared a few more kisses before getting back to dinner. I could see Hayden looking around the room, making me smile. The house felt full with him here, as opposed to feeling like four walls around me. I was with Gram more than I was here, but she enjoyed having her own space too much for me to stay there. She clung to her last bits of independence lately as she grew older.

After we finished the movie, we showered and went to bed. We celebrated our plans with vigor, making an effort to be quiet. The bedroom was as far away from Gram’s apartment as it could be, but we still felt the need to be quiet. We fell asleep in each other’s arms, waking up to the sun and Gram calling to come over for breakfast.

“Does she always do that?” Hayden asked as I chuckled.

“A lot. Want to call Becca and see what she’s doing?” I asked as he sighed.

“She’s depressed in bed but feeling more hope than before. I usually give her a couple of days to regain her composure after Mari leaves, but we keep in touch.” He smiled at me. “Let’s go to Gram’s.”

We dressed and headed over for eggs, sausage, and biscuits with coffee. I told her the good news, and she smiled brightly before hugging both of us. I knew that Gram would always support what made me happy, often interjecting in the past when she knew that I wasn’t.

Hayden loved the food, telling me in my place later that we needed a good exercise plan and soon. In addition to her cooking, I also brought her treats like chocolate eclairs. I assured him that there was a great running trail nearby that we could use a few mornings a week.

Chapter Eight

Hayden

Within the week, Becca bounced back to her old self. It didn’t hurt that Mari got a job offer immediately, and she was tying up loose ends.

We went to eat with a bunch of theater staff after work one night, as we often did. Gray was working on a podcast late, so he didn’t join us. He did when he could, and everyone loved him and us as a couple.

When we were driving home, I told her that I was moving in with him. Becca gasped and hurried to her place to stare at me. “How long have you known?” She asked as I winced.

“About a week. I knew you were going through a lot, and I just spoke to my landlord.” I frowned as we headed upstairs to her apartment.

“What did he say?” It was well-known that my landlord was a bit of an asshole.

“Good luck. He’s getting a divorce, so he’s not feeling relationships.” I frowned and shook my head. “Oh, Gram is cooking dinner Sunday since it’s my day off. Want to come over?”

“Yes!” She heard about the great food, though she hadn’t met Gram yet.

“Good. You’ll love her.” We laughed as we leaned back against the couch.

“Things are going to be different. Mari will be living here.” She turned to face me. “You’re going to be living with Gray. Will we lose each other along the way?”

“We’ll make a point not to.” I smiled as a tear slid down my cheek. “This is us growing family, not losing each other.”

We both cried for the change in our relationship. They were happy and sad tears that carried hope for each other. We tightly hugged when I left to go to Gray, and I cried on the way over there.

“What the hell were you doing without me?” Gray asked as he walked into the living room. “Is it a sad play right now?”

“No. We were getting sappy after dinner. Changes and all.” I shrugged as he pulled me into his arms. “We’re okay. It’s just that there’s more than us now.”

“I would never ask you to stop seeing Becca and Mari. You know that, don’t you?” He asked into my hair, making me cry harder as I nodded.

“I do,” I told him that I invited her for dinner on Sunday night as Gram requested, and he told me that she’d be adopted as well.

We went to sleep after I cried myself out of tears, feeling