Page 42 of Double Shot

Gosh, I was getting a little choked up. “I’m sure he never wants to get rid of you.” My voice was maybe a touch too impassioned considering we were basically strangers and I’d never even met his IT manager ghoul boyfriend. “You sound perfect for each other.”

Dan chuckled. “Thanks. So anyway, let me show you around. When are you thinking of moving?”

“Um, well, my lease is up in about a month, and my best friend has a couple more months left on his…” I wandered after him, taking in the bright living room as he led me to a door at the back. It opened into a decent-sized kitchen with wooden countertops, a big island and a back door with a deck beyond.

Oh Lucifer. A yard. Outdoor space. I hadn’t even thought about that. We could sunbathe naked. Nat and I had seen each other naked countless times. We could garden. Or, well, I could garden. Nat, in general, did not enjoy hard work. But we could become those people who hosted beautiful and aesthetic dinners for all their friends, with string lights hung above a table covered in tiny candles and fresh flowers and bits of bark. And I would just be gliding around in a flowy kaftan revealing course after course of delicious home cooked food, and when all our friends exclaimed in delight and asked how I was so talented, I would just laugh demurely and toss back my hair, then ask if anyone wanted a slice of the focaccia I’d whipped up earlier when I had a few minutes to spare between yoga and my gua sha facial massage.

I didn’t actually really know what gua sha was, or how long focaccia took to make, but whatever. I could learn.

And Nat and I had tried to become yoga people a few years ago. We’d lasted exactly one class before deciding that stretching our bodies like that so early in the morning had to actually be bad for our health.

I fell more and more in love with the house with each second. When Dan led me upstairs, I felt my eyes widen at the size of the front bedroom compared to my own. I wouldn’t have to stand precariously on the bed to check my appearance in a cracked mirror. I wouldn’t have to store most of my clothes in a big plastic box that doubled as a nightstand.

“So I’ve actually been using the other bedroom as, like, a workspace,” Dan told me as he led me down the hall after showing me the bathroom.

“Workspace?” My brow wrinkled. “Like an… at-home wrestling ring?”

He chuckled, opening the door. “Nah. I also do hair. Wigs, I mean.”

I stepped into the room and looked around, my eyes widening again at the sea of brightly coloured wigs facing me. “Wow.”

“Yeah. Not too sure what I’m gonna do about this when I’m next door…” He rubbed his stubbly jaw, then looked down at me with interest. “So, you want to live here?”

I blinked at the abrupt question. “I mean… yes. It’s awesome. And the rent is… maybe doable once Nat can move in, but like I said, that’s a few months away.” I give him a rueful smile. “I’m not sure about the bills and stuff, but I am pretty sure I can’t afford this place on my own at first. And it’s not like I’m going to ask you to hold it for us.”

“What about if I knock the rent down for the first few months if it means I can leave everything in here until your friend moves in?” He gestured at the wig room. “Gives me time to make arrangements to move it all. Which Rafe keeps saying I should’ve done already, but…” He shrugged with an unapologetic grin.

I blinked again in surprise. “Really? Are you sure?”

“I mean, yeah. Suits me fine.” He made a face. “Although I would have to come over here to work every now and then until it’s all moved. If that would be okay with you.”

“I mean…” I looked around again, then stepped back into the hallway. The delicious scent of that candle drifted up the stairs, and the walls were all nicely painted and clean and the floorboards were varnished and there was even an unstained rug and everything.

I nibbled on my lower lip, already sorely tempted, even though it wasn’t like I could make any firm decisions without Nat. But still…

“How often would you be here until Nat moved in?” I asked tentatively.

Dan shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Probably just, like… once a week for a few hours. At previously agreed upon times, of course.”

Oh Lucifer, it was so tempting. I could move out of my shitty room in my shitty shared apartment with my shitty roommates and straight in here, even though Nat had a few more months left on his lease. I wouldn’t have to stay at the motel for an extended period while I waited for his lease to end. Not that I didn’t like the motel, but I didn’t particularly want to live where I worked.

And honestly, I knew Dan was all goo-goo-eyed and madly in love with his ghoul IT manager boyfriend next door and everything, but I wouldn’t mind having this fine piece of eye candy wandering around the house for a few hours every week.

Like appreciating beautiful artwork in a gallery. Beautiful artwork with a visible dick print.

I hoped he wore the grey sweats a lot.

“So you, like… trust me with all your wigs?” I clarified. “We don’t know each other.”

“You seem nice.” Dan gave me yet another wide, toothy grin. “And I’m nice. I’m sure we’ll get along great, uh…?”

“Klaus.”

“Klaus.” He held out his hand. “So, do we have a deal, Klaus?”

I blushed, eyeing his big, masculine hand. If he weren’t so clearly devoted to his boyfriend, I definitely would’ve already been feeling butterflies. He was so… much.

“I’d love to say yes right now,” I said, a little shyly, “but I can’t agree to anything until Nat’s seen the place too. Although, I mean, he was the one who found the listing, so I know he’s interested.”