have to see for himself.
Silence settled between us again and I figured he’d said everything he wanted to.
“Well?” I held my breath waiting for his answer.
The next couple of seconds took an age, until he finally sighed and said, “You can move in next Saturday. We’ll give it a month’s trial run; see how we get on.”
I did the maths in my head, then huffed out a laugh. “Next Saturday is the twenty-eighth. You going to kick me out at Christmas time if it doesn’t work out?”
He frowned, obviously not having realised what the date would be. Then his lips curled up at the edges, a twinkle in his eye that sparked something inside me that I steadfastly ignored. “You’ll just have to be on your best behaviour.”
In more ways than one.
One week later, I pulled up in the same spot on the road outside Finn’s house. Only this time I had my mum with me. Even though she didn’t say it, I knew she was a little upset about me moving out. I’d only just got back after being away for twelve months.
She’d missed me, and I’d really missed her.
But I needed my space after being so used to doing my own thing. That was what I told her anyway, and it was partially the truth. If it had only been the two of us in her house, like it used to be, then I would probably have stayed. But she had Clive now, and I wanted her to be happy. She deserved it.
I just couldn’t live under the same roof as him.
“Well,” she said peering out the passenger side window at the house. “This looks nice.”
I huffed out a laugh. “What were you expecting?”
“Young people move into all sorts of terrible places when they’re starting out on their own.” I didn’t know what she’d been reading, but I wanted to get that worried look off her face.
Reaching for her hand, I waited for her to face me again. “Mum. I’m moving in with Finn. He’s Cole’s brother, not a total stranger. And he has a lovely house as you can see, which is only ten minutes down the road from yours.”
She sighed, but her smile reappeared as she patted my cheek. “I know. And I know that you need your space; you’re a grown man. But I’ve only just got you back.”
“You can visit, you know. And I’m allowed out, it’s not prison.” I gave her fingers one last squeeze. “Come interrogate Finn like I know you want to.”
“I’ll be doing no such thing.” She huffed, but her smile grew, and I caught the familiar twinkle in her eye that meant trouble. Though not for me this time.
Oh, Finn, you don’t know what you’re in for.
We got out of the car, and I leant an arm on the roof as she got out. “Just remember I actually want to move in. Don’t go scaring him into rescinding his offer.”
She said nothing, just gave a small shrug.
“Mum!” But I was wasting my breath, she was already halfway down the path towards the front door. Hopefully Finn remembered how protective my mum could be and wouldn’t hold it against me.
With a sigh, I went round to the boot of my car to get my stuff since it looked like I wasn’t getting any help.
Voices drifted over to me, and I glanced up to see Finn answer the door, cat in his arms again, judging from my mum’s exclamation of delight. Hefting a box up, I hurried to reach them before they disappeared inside and shut the door.
Finn’s eyebrows rose as I neared them, and I groaned as I heard my mum asking, “Who are you likely to have round while Jasper’s staying here.”
“Mum,” I hissed, dying a little inside. “That’s really none of your business.”
“You say that, Jasper, but I know what happens with all these new dating apps. You don’t know who you might end up inviting round.”
“Oh god,” I muttered, seeing my new lodgings slipping through my fingers as we stood there.
Much to my relief, Finn smiled at her. A nice reassuring smile that would hopefully set my mum at ease. “You’re absolutely right. And I can assure you I won’t be inviting any random strangers inside my house.” He addressed me, lips quirking into a smirk. “I hope Jasper won’t be either.”
“Oh yes, that’s a good point.” To my horror, she turned to face me. “I’ve read all about that Grindr app. I hope you don’t have