Page 180 of Full Contact

He handed me black coffee and watched me look out the windows.

“All the blinds are open,” I said.

“I do that in the summer.”

I walked into the open kitchen. “Your kitchen is better,” I said.

“I’m glad you agree.”

He’d cleared closet space too. In the second bedroom, we measured around a desk and a daybed that could accommodate Anna when I traveled. My couch could fit in his living room.

We sat at Mark’s table with the measurements between us. His place had more space. Mine was more convenient for training, and Anna already knew the building and its staff. We compared the drives to the arena and Mark’s gym. The choice wasn’t obvious.

“I could live here,” I said.

Mark looked at me. “I do like it here.” He glanced at the windows. “Where would we put her bed?”

I pointed. “Over there.”

“She’d get morning sun.” He considered it. “But there are no pigeons.”

“She could watch boats.”

He got up and walked to the kitchen, looking at the floor beside the counter. “Her little chair could go here. Water over there.” He turned back to me. “She’d have to learn all of it.”

I looked at the route from the windows to the kitchen. She knew every inch of my place, including which chair would get her onto the counter and how far to step down from the couch.

“Peaches settles it for me,” Mark said. “She’s fifteen, and we have a place that already works for her.”

“You’d be giving up this view.”

“I’ll miss it.” He looked out at the water for a moment. “I still want to live with you, and I think your place makes more sense.”

I crossed to him and kissed him. His hand settled at my waist.

“Your kitchen’s still better,” I said.

“I don’t disagree.”

“Bring the best parts,” I said.

“The cabinets are attached.”

“But Felix would want you to bring your pans.”

“What about duplicates?” he asked.

“We’ll empty my cupboards and sort them out together.”

“Your colander has a dent,” he said.

“My colander works.”

“It works at an angle.”

“Then we’ll use yours.”

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