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“What’s up, Wilma Allen’s grandson? I’m Gideon Barlow. I rent the space from you next door and an apartment upstairs.”
“I think we should too.” For the second time, he held his hand out and again introduced himself. “I’m Gideon Barlow.” “Milo Copeland. Please don’t ever call me Mr. Copeland. I hate it. But I might call you Tattoo Guy sometimes. If you hate it, I’ll try not to, but that’s who you’ve been in my head, so it’ll take me a while to get used to Gideon. Plus, you do have a lot of tattoos.” He barked out a loud laugh. Sometimes when people did that, it felt like they were laughing at me, but it didn’t with Tattoo Guy. Gideon. “Your name is kinda different.”
Also, the drop of a hat originated in the nineteenth century when it was how they’d begin a fight. They’d drop a hat and then shoot.” “Yeah, that makes sense. I probably should have known that.” “I thought the same thing! I can’t believe I didn’t.”
“Most of the time I don’t like people.” His brows pulled together, small thought wrinkles settling in on his forehead. “I like you, though. That’s not normal for me—liking someone so quickly.”
“It does to me. Wait.” He turned and went for the hallway, didn’t ask, just peeked in the bathroom, then opened the spare bedroom door, followed by mine. “I think I could do it. I think I could live here with you. I had to see the rooms first, and I’ve never had a roommate, so I’ll probably be annoying, and you’ll probably be annoying, but I’m willing to try.”
I wanted this to work out for him, for us. I didn’t want Milo making a sacrifice for me that would leave him feeling uncomfortable or out of his element. I didn’t want to be the reason any of his boxes were out of whack.
Gideon laughed and snorted and maybe sucked egg up his nose. I couldn’t tell. “You might be the greatest person I’ve ever met.”
I opened the gate and went through it, hoping they didn’t have a dog who’d want to chew on my face even more than I did with my lip when Gideon said things that made me feel tingly.
I couldn’t help looking at him, trying to find the words I needed, but they wouldn’t come to me. He was just…so fucking cool. I didn’t know how else to explain him.
“You’re doing that weird smiling at me again,” he added. “Sorry.” His brows pulled together. “Don’t be. It’s a nice smile.” “I thought it was weird?” “That too, but it also turns me on, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing since we’re friends and roommates.”
But at least his Milo Hangry Monster had been cute.
And I missed orgasms…a lot. It was making me grumpy, to the point that he might have to draw an ejaculation-starved monster next.
I froze when she pulled me into a hug because…why? I didn’t know what I did to prompt it, so I just stood there with my arms plastered to my sides. “Yes, that’s fine. I absolutely approve of anything Milo and Gideon related.”
Yep, totally hard now. Heat and desire surged through me, making my balls ache. His honesty was so damn refreshing. Even if I wasn’t attracted to him, that would’ve turned me on.
When I pulled my jeans and boxer briefs down my legs, he sucked in a sharp breath. “Holy shit.” “Extraordinary, isn’t it?” I teased. “Mine is longer.” “Way to boost a guy’s ego, Lo.” “Oh. I’m sorry. Am I supposed to? Wow…that’s a really hot cock…it’s so…big…you have lots of…hair.” “First, I don’t have lots. I just don’t keep it quite as short as yours. And second, you don’t seem very impressed.” I hoped my playful tone showed through my words. I gave myself a slow, lazy stroke.
“You’re an absolute delight, and I have never used those two words together before, so that should tell you something.”
“I don’t know, because you didn’t tell me?” “Gid! This is me!” He smiled. “What?” “You called me Gid.”
I just really want to have sex. A lot of it. And you might be my only chance.” “Um…thanks?” I rolled my eyes. “You know that’s not what I meant. I told you first I find you attractive, and I said you could see me naked. I just don’t want you to think I’m like, in love with you or something. You’re my best friend…and we’re really good at it, Gideon. We’re bestie goals, but I’m also really interested in your cock.”
“But he makes me laugh and makes me look at the world differently. I like spending time with him.”
“Are you my biological grandfather?” My brain told me it was maybe not the best way to ask and that I should work up to it, but I wasn’t always good at listening to those thoughts reminding me how I should act or react. Most of the time, I just did what felt right.
“Are you saying you’d like me to go shirtless when I’m at home?” “Yes. Please. Thank you. As long as the timing is appropriate, at least.” I snickered before walking over to him and cupping his cheek. “You only like me for my body and my mad orgasm skills.” “Is there a problem with that?” he asked, his tone and gaze serious.
“I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to have sex with guys. They’re so fucking hot!”
“I know what it’s like to feel like you don’t fit, like people would rather you were someone else. That’s not something anyone else has to understand because it comes from inside you. I think…I think people worry too much about everyone being the same, or like, their feelings are the only right feelings, ya know? Like however I feel has to be how you feel, or it’s wrong or stupid. But really, we’re all unique, and most emotions, experiences, thoughts, being left out or not, or lonely or not, or how we grieve or not—whatever the situation—those can’t be wrong because they’re part of being
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When you feel like you don’t fit, just know you fit with me.
I’m not sure if that helps or not. I do that with you. If I’ve said something awkward or someone looks at me strangely, I just think about wh...
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So I resorted to a totally fake cough and squeezed his name in there. Cough, Gideon, cough. His eyes slowly fluttered open. “Oh, you’re awake.” “I wonder how that could have happened?” I shrugged. “Beats me,” I said, flopping onto his bed. “I’m antsy…and when I’m antsy, I bug people.”
“What if it’s the guys downstairs and they need my help?” I managed to tug it out of my pocket without Gideon getting off me…which I liked, because I wanted Gideon on top of me. Like maybe we could find a way to live that way and do everything that way. Excuse us, we’re stuck together because he’s my best friend and it feels good.
Gideon nodded, and somehow I knew he understood. “Thank you for trusting me. And I wouldn’t ever hurt you on purpose. I promise.” He couldn’t promise not to do it at all. Life didn’t work that way. “I promise not to hurt you on purpose either.”
“Please fuck my mouth later.” “If you’re lucky.” I winked, trying to be flirty and hoping I didn’t look like an idiot. Really, I was the lucky one.
“Hello. Welcome to Little Beach Books. We’re so glad you guys stopped by. I’m the new owner, Milo Copeland, but please don’t call me Mr. Copeland.” There. That wasn’t so bad.
“Gid, I’m neurodivergent. I don’t always behave like everyone else. That’s okay. It feels like placating me if you act any differently.”
“I can’t move.” “Eventually, you need to.” “Can I just live here forever?” “Not sure that’s realistic.” “I thought I was supposed to be the serious one out of the two of us.”
“You like him.” I shrugged because there was no reason to deny it. Even if I wanted to, Kris would see through my lies. “Yeah, I do. He’s…” Hell, I didn’t even know how to explain Milo. “He just makes life better,” was the only answer I could come up with.
