Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“You have that look again.” Esteban pulled him into the corner, near other people, but not right in the middle of traffic where everyone was kissing and hugging and exchanging New Year’s wishes.
“What look?”
“The ‘thinking of real estate’ look.” Apparently Esteban really did know him that well. Russ had to laugh.
“I’m telling you. Your mortgage. My mortgage. My raise. We can get a place with a yard, maybe get an anniversary dog instead of the breakup cat you promised me last year.”
“You think Keith and Lance are going to tolerate a dog?”
“A nice smaller one maybe. Calm. Something chill. And I think the cats would be just fine with the move. Now, if their owner would just let me take him to an open house or seven…”
“You’re not going to give up, are you?”
“Nope.” Russ had a feeling he might mean more than the housing question, and his answer was still the same. No, he wasn’t giving up on them, on the future he wanted, on the dreams he had. “I’m not going to alternate who’s sleeping where for the next fifty years.”
“Only fifty?” Esteban didn’t get the same spooked look he had a year ago when Russ would mention the future. He seemed to have settled into trusting Russ more, believed that he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Like I’ve said, it’s a goal. Like my personal-best lift attempt. Only this one is for both of us, and we’re going to make it. In our new house.”
“With the anniversary dog?” Leaning into Russ, Esteban sounded almost resigned to the prospect. Good.
“Yep.”
“Will you design that kitchen too? We can get more of a fixer upper if you’re going to do the kitchen and baths.”
Yup. He had him. And Russ wasn’t letting him go. “Absolutely. The walk-in shower of your dreams and a double wall oven and whatever else you want. Connie will give us some discounts, I’m sure.”
Even Russ was surprised how much he’d thrived in the kitchen designer role the past year. After some initial shock over his and Esteban’s relationship story, Connie had still given him the promotion, and he’d tried his best to reward her faith in him by doing a good job. He liked the modeling software so much that he was looking into some graphic design classes at the community college, maybe with an eye to eventually moving into more architecture type work. But for now, kitchens made him plenty happy. And if it got him and Esteban living under the same roof, then Russ would happily churn up ten choices for him and do the tiling himself to boot.
“I have just one condition.” He sounded so uncharacteristically serious that the hair on Russ’s neck prickled. Please be a farmhouse sink or some crown molding.
“Oh?”
“I want a party. A big party.”
Russ should have known that was coming. “Absolutely. You can have whatever housewarming fiesta you want. Your family. My family. Friends.”
“And if I want a wedding instead of a fiesta?” Esteban’s eyes danced right as the room erupted into noise.
“Happy New Year!”
“Feliz Año Nuevo!”
English and Spanish greetings echoed around the room, with more hugging and kissing and some small fireworks in the backyard. Toasts were said, babies passed around, and it was a good ten minutes before Russ had Esteban back in their little corner where his world had just been spun around.
“Were you joking?” he demanded.
“Joking? I do not joke about event planning. Especially something as strenuous as a wedding. There will be the caterers. The band. The decorations—”
“You want a wedding. With me.” Russ’s head swam like he’d slammed tequila.
“Well, you’re the one who wants to take me real-estate shopping. I just want a party before the stacks of paperwork. Or after. I’m not picky. You, some rings, a big party, and then yes, some kitchen renovation… Sounds like an excellent way to spend the next year.”
“It does.”
Russ had had a plan for months—ease Esteban into cohabitation, then sneak in the purchase of a house, then maybe come around to the whole joint ownership of a dog thing, so that when he finally proposed, Esteban would have to agree that it only made sense. Except now he was apparently beating Russ to the punch. And Russ couldn’t have been happier.
“You can absolutely have your wedding, if I can have my house. And you.”
“And me.” Esteban leaned in for a soft, fast kiss. “You’ve got me. As long as you want me, you’ve got me.”
“I’m always going to want you. I love you.”
“I know.” Squeezing Russ’s hand, Esteban gave him a tender look. “I love you too.”
“Good. I’m not settling for anything less than forever.”