Chapter 24
twenty-four
*LEO*
Iam staying over at Soren’s place tonight, for the first time since we started dating, and I immediately feel at home there. He has a huge fireplace and a big, comfortable sofa with two thick, cozy blankets. He even has a small library, a rocking chair, and a small garden.
The highlight, however, is—
“They are so cute. Look at their little noses and paws.” I coo at the five kittens that are crawling around in a secured area in his living room.
Barkley is in love with them, too, lying next to me, his nose poking through the little fence. He doesn’t move, just sometimes lets his tongue out to lick at one of the kittens.
“I am fostering them,” Soren says.
“You said that already.”
“I know,” he comes closer, placing a kiss against the top of my head. “I just don’t want you to get too attached. Some of the families here are already interested in adopting them.”
“Oh.” I feel equal parts sad and happy, leaning more towards the latter. “It’s awesome you found a home for them so fast. They still need a name, though.”
“Feel free to think of some names,” Soren says and brushes through parts of my hair, smiling slightly. “Are you finished in the bathroom?”
“Yes, I am all done.”
He hands me a blanket, wrapping me into it. “I’ll go and take a shower. Feel free to grab whatever you need. I want you to feel at home.”
I nod absent-mindedly at him, my attention still mostly on the small cats. Soren just laughs and retreats to the bathroom, while I can’t tear my gaze away from the kittens. One of them, an orange one, is so clumsy it stumbles and drops to the side, making me gush over it immediately.
I noticed that this one is also Soren’s favorite. When he showed me the kittens, he picked the orange one up and cradled it against his chest.
“How can something be so tiny and cute?” I say.
Barkley grunts.
“Aw, you are cute too,” I say, squeezing him and snuggling against him. “The cutest in fact!”
Barkley lets out a big, contented sigh, while I keep watching the kittens play with each other.
“Maybe one day,” I tell Barkley. “We’ll get you a friend. Another pup or a litter of kittens.”
Behind me, I can hear Soren laugh. “I thought you wanted an alpaca.”
“Can’t I have both?”
“I guess it’s an option,” Soren chuckles.
Seeing how the kittens are slowly falling asleep, I turn my gaze back to my boyfriend, finally paying him the attention he deserves for being so quirky and kind and…
Hot!
“What are you wearing?” I gape.
He is clad in wine-red satin pajamas, looking sexy as fuck.
“You mentioned this is how you imagined I would dress when going to bed,” Soren says with a smirk.
“You are just full of surprises, huh?” I mutter, my eyes pinned on him. How I wish I weren’t too tired and sore to get it on with him.
I am not sure what Soren is thinking, but he looks at me for a moment, then purses his lips a little and looks almost a little regretful.
Yep, probably having similar thoughts to me.
If I weren’t so exhausted and wouldn’t have such a long day ahead of me tomorrow, I would have taken the risk and probably felt even more sore afterwards.
But tomorrow, Valentina and Hector have asked me to a meeting at 7 a.m..
We have a day full of decorating ahead of us.
And I know for a fact that Soren has to rise early too to visit one of his patients, and then turn up for some super-urgent emergency meeting together with Aspen, concerning the snowball battle on Saturday.
Neither he nor Aspen knows what it’s about, but Hector told them it’s really important.
Soren takes the soft blanket from the sofa and wraps it around him, before walking to the fireplace and adding some wood to it. Soon, the room is bathed in a soft orange. “How about some chestnuts?” he asks. “I got some fresh ones today from one of the farmers.”
“You’d make them here in the fire?” I ask.
He shows me the area above the fire, completely out of bricks. “I’d make them here.” Soren smiles. “You really are a city boy, huh?”
“Don’t call me that!”
“Sorry.” He kneels down next to me, kissing me softly. “I didn’t mean it to sound like I was making fun of you, in fact, I find your curiosity to try new things really endearing.”
“I’ll forgive you if you make those chestnuts,” I say.
“Deal!”
Soren gets down to business immediately, preparing the chestnuts for us, while I eventually get up to fix us two glasses of red wine. It’s a whole new experience for me to be in my boyfriend’s house and be allowed to roam around.
“It definitely has its perks to date the vet of the area,” I say after I chose an expensive-looking red wine. “You have endless supplies! Gifts from the farmers whose animals you treat?”
“Exactly,” Soren says. “They also provide me with fresh produce in spring. There are days I survive on their gifts alone.”
“Do you also grow your own veggies in your garden?”
“No,” he chuckles. “This might come as a shock to you, but I don’t have a green thumb.”
“Maybe we could give it a try in spring?” I ask.
Soren’s eyes turn warm and gentle all of a sudden. “You want to use my garden?”
“Is that okay? If not, I can—"
“It absolutely is okay. I never did much with my garden. You would be doing me a favor,” he smiles. “Just be careful because Barkley is a Bernese Mountain Dog. They are said to eat everything.”
“I have noticed that already. Last week I dropped an onion on the ground. Guess who tried to chomp it up?” I turn around and grab Barkley’s huge head. “You are my silly boy, aren’t you?” I coo.
Barkley’s tail moves before he snorts and buries his snout in my sweater. I love him so much. I have no idea how I survived so long without a pup.
Soren and I spend the coziest evening imaginable, with lots of chestnuts, some wine and a lot of cuddles. It’s exactly the boost of recharge I need to survive the next day, tailing Valentina and Hector and keeping up with their excited chatter.
It’s been a while since I peopled as much as I have done recently, and while I enjoy it, it probably will take a while for me to adapt to it again.
Months of hiding and locking myself into my apartment show their effect now.
But it’s fun. I like spending time with Valentina and Hector.
I like that they are both so fun and full of energy.
And the best part is that afterwards I can go home to my place, rewind and cuddle with Barkley, and wait for Soren.
I can get used to this.
Funny, a year ago, this type of life would have sounded like a nightmare to me, but now I realize I love it. Maybe I have always wanted it, but didn’t dare to dream of having it. My parents’ expectations weighed so heavily on me that I never dared to even think about what I truly wanted to do.
But now I can finally live for myself.
The afternoon before the West Sunhaven vs.
East Sunhaven Christmas event, Aspen and I deliver some last boxes with Christmas ornaments to Hector.
How the man managed to have the townspeople decorate everything in only a couple of days is beyond my understanding.
They might not be the perfect decorations, but considering the short timespan it’s insane they pulled it off.
“Are you nervous?” Aspen asks me.
“Not really,” I say without thinking, then it hits me. “Should I be?”
“No,” Aspen smiles. “I am glad you feel so relaxed. It’s supposed to be a fun event. I was scared you would take it too seriously.”
“I did,” I admit. “But after spending time with Valentina and Hector, I noticed I am not alone in this.”
“You are never alone,” Aspen promises. “You have me after all, and Robin.“ He frowns. “And I guess you also have Soren.”
“Don’t be like that,” I chuckle. “Isn’t he like your best friend?”
“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbles.
I elbow him. “He really is a good boyfriend. Actually, my first real relationship.”
“As long as he makes you happy,” Aspen says. “On the upside, it means he won’t be asking me to come hiking with him anymore. I hate it.”
It’s funny because Aspen is a strong and bulky man, who loves to work outside and do handiwork, but he has never been one for sportive activities, minus his trips to the fitness studio. As for Robin, he is pretty athletic, but hates to spend too much time outside in nature.
“We are actually planning a three-day hike for spring,” I tell him. “The plan is to reach two summits.”
Aspen smiles. “You like it here, don’t you?”
“Yes, and no need to keep asking me,” I say. I halt, adjusting the box I am carrying. “Thank you, Aspen. You were my lifesaver.”
“Oh boy,” Aspen sighs dramatically. “You have thanked me enough already.”
“I don’t think I have,” I say. “You saved my life. Without you, I’d probably be dead now.”
Saying it out loud makes me realize how true it actually is, and how close I was to…
Aspen puts his box down, then takes mine out of my hands. Before I realize what’s going on, he pulls me into a bear hug. He says something, but I can’t quite hear it. Instead, I cling onto him. “I am so glad I am still here,” I sob.
“Leo,” he says, sounding sad. “I will always make sure to get you and save you. And I‘d bet you would do the same for me.”
I nod.
“And Robin and Soren are watching out for you, too, now. You are not alone.” He pauses. “I should have made sure to get you out of that hell much sooner. While you were still in college and living under our parents’ roof.”
“I don’t think I would have come with you,” I say.
“I still should have tried,” he says.
“I don’t know, Aspen.” I loosen my grip and move back a little, finally feeling a bit lighter. “I don’t think I would have appreciated it back then. I just wasn’t ready. But I am ready now.”
A bit further from us, I can hear a door opening. “Leo, Aspen?” Valentina yells. “Is that you outside? What are you doing? Just get your asses inside. It’s fucking cold.”
Aspen and I both grin, grabbing our boxes again and hurrying towards the open door, and into the warmth of Valentina and Hector’s house.