Page 480 of Seasons of Love
I looked at Griff, who had a partly amused, partly confused expression going on.
“What do you mean?”
“What do you mean, what do I mean? Have you actually asked me to move in with you? Or am I supposed to assume?”
He sounded mad and hurt. I thought it was a good thing.
“Don’t you want to live with us?”
“Of course I do.”
“I’m confused.”
Griff sidled up to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Baby, we need to learn to communicate better. We’ve been together a while, but this is all new to Jake. What you might assume my answer or reaction would be might be different for Jake.”
I held my hand out to Jake, and he came easily. It felt right holding them both, one under each arm.
“I’m sorry for assuming, baby. Do you want to move in with us?”
Jake avoided my gaze.
“Um…yeah, but…does it have to be now? Uncl…my dad just got me back a few months ago. Gabe’s going back to Berkeley for his exams, and if I leave…”
Griff looked at me. I knew he’d be upset without Jake, as would I, but he wasn’t going anywhere. We could wait.
“We understand, sweetheart. You do what you need to do. Spend some more time with your dad, and when you’re ready, we’ll be waiting.”
He kissed me and then Griff. “Thank you. I will still spend as much time with you as I can, and I’ll stay over some nights.”
Griff caressed Jake’s cheek. “We’re in this together for the long haul. We’ll miss you, but it’ll just make the times we’re together all the more special.”
Jake nodded.
“Okay, we probably should go down there before Frank kills me.”
“Why do you think Dad will only kill you?” Jake asked as we walked down the stairs.
“Have you looked at Griff’s adorable face? No one can stay mad at that,” I said. “Besides, I’m older, and you're his kid.”
They both laughed.
“Come on, pay up,” Griff said.
“Damn you, Mal.”
“What’s going on?”
Jake sighed. “We made a bet in the shower as to how long it would take you to bring up our age difference. I had faith in you. Six hours? You couldn’t even make it a whole day.”
I shook my head. “I’m in so much trouble with you two.”
“I sincerely hope so, Mal. Being kept on our toes is good for your heart,” Frank said, coming out of nowhere.
God, if even Frank was on their side, I really was in trouble.
Not that I’d have it any other way.
As we sat around the table with Frank, Gabe, Zak, and Griff and I on either side of Jake, all I could do was hope that we’d have many more moments like this.
