Chapter 26
Twenty-six
-GRAYSON-
“You’re here.” I’m both excited and relieved.
“Well, if this thing is going to work...” says Milo over the security intercom.
I press the button to open the front door of my apartment block, then open my own front door and wait. Now I’m getting anxious so I massage the back of my neck, calming myself, because I don’t want to seem eager. Relationships are tricky. I need to be cool, calm and collected.
And I need to suggest a hypnotic zombie mother intervention.
Milo wraps his arms around me and I can’t hold back. The kiss I bestow must linger long after our lips part.
I almost dance on the spot, thankful my apology has been accepted. And Milo is dressed so cheerfully. A multi-pastel-coloured chimp in pyjamas is on his t-shirt. That’s not the fashion choice of a miserable man.
“My heart tells me this is where I need to be while my head is full of concerns,” he says.
“I really am sorry I threw you out.”
“Hey, beautiful, I threw you out first.”
I close my door, then take Milo by the hand, dragging him into the living room. Our lips meet again until the words Milo uttered when he entered sink in.
“Your head is full of concerns?” I really don’t want this conversation.
“Well, you have to admit, this is not your standard love story,” he replies.
“Yeah. There’s an elephant in the room.”
“And it’s a small pink one.”
I’m heartened at his reference. “I know we can fix Amelia.”
Milo’s frown shows he’s unconvinced. “Do you know she’s eating people?”
I nod. “And we have a solution.”
“You can make her human again?”
“Not quite. But Maude’s friend, Doris, believes she can hypnotise your mum and change her diet.”
He frowns.
“No, I’m serious. Maude’s cat thinks he’s a dog.”
Milo eyes me warily.
“And Doris is prepared to make your mum a vegan.”
He begins pacing. It’s clear I’ve pushed him over the edge.
“Come on,” I say. “This is just as believable as everything else that’s happened to us.”
He halts, and I swear I hear the gears in his brain ticking over.
“We’ll only know if we give it a try, Milo.”
“Mum ate Summer.”
“She did?”
He shudders. “Summer’s ghost told me, and I saw her severed head in Mum’s freezer. But get this, Grayson. She told me you were the best thing to ever happen to me.”
I can’t believe my ears.
“Seriously, Grayson. Death has made her nice.” Milo chuckles, then giggles. Then laughs out loud.
He’s lost his mind.
But I chuckle, and giggle and laugh, even though I’m not sure why.
“What’s so funny?” I ask between chortles.
“You’re right, Grayson.” He bends over, holding his stomach. His face is bright red. My boyfriend has gone loopy and my wizard dramas are to blame.
But then he smiles and his grin gets wider and wider.
“You’re right, Grayson. If Summer is a ghost and my mum is a flesh-eating zombie, then a witch can hypnotise her into becoming a vegan. It all makes perfect sense.”
I shudder because there’s a sing-song tone to his voice. “Are you sure?”
His eyes glisten as he glares at me. "I thought we could at least change Mum back into... what she isn't at the moment."
He’s having a nervous breakdown just as I did when Hugo entered my life.
“I’m sorry,” I reply. “I wish we could turn your mum back again and I’ve agonised over this a lot more than you know.
And while I kept it to myself, I kept wishing my fears weren’t true.
But staying in denial meant we had a chance.
” I wait, but he says nothing. “I’m sorry, Milo. I was living on borrowed time.”
He peers down at the carpet, still silent.
“Penelope talked sense into me,” I say, as if changing the subject might help. “She explained how throwing you out was short-sighted. I’m sorry about that too.” I smile. “And Penelope was sober when she visited me.”
Milo shares a half-grin, and it dawns on me I’ve painted him into a corner. We may split, but he has no choice than to accept our hypnotic solution. It’s better than letting Amelia feast on her neighbours.
I wrap my arms around him, keen for him to fully let go of his disappointment. He gradually hugs me back but his body is tense.
We say nothing and after an eternity, some of his tension slips away.
“Penelope was sober?” Milo eventually asks.
“She was sober. I even offered a drink and she said no.”
“There’s a shift in the matrix.”
“Definitely.”
“I have something to tell you.” Milo pulls away from my embrace and points to the couch. We sit, but he is taking his time sharing whatever it is he needs to share.
“Whatever it is, I’m sure it has nothing on what our lives have become so far.” I chuckle again.
“Summer’s fallen in love and she wants to double date.”
I’m not convinced this is what he wanted to tell me.
“And she wants to double date,” he says again.
“How?” I play along. “She’s dead. Is she an influencer in the afterlife? Do ghosts need social media? Will she have a phone? And what sort of dates do ghosts go on? It’s not like they can eat, can they?”
“Maybe she’ll take us to a party at a haunted house?” Milo takes a deep breath in, then exhales all Zen like.
“We’ve been on a steep learning curve, Milo. Was there anything else you needed to share?”
But he offers a faraway gaze, looking past me. I don’t press the point.
“I have a surprise for you,” I say. “Come to my bedroom.”
I can’t wait to see how much he’ll be blown away with what Penelope and I conjured together.
“Actually, before we enter my bedroom...” I tug at his sleeve. “It’s best we get naked.”
“Are you sure?” He smirks. “Being naked lands us in court.” But he strips regardless.
I do too, though I have second thoughts about this surprise. He seemed really loopy before.
Oh, to hell with it. He’s dating a wizard. He’ll love this surprise.
“Did you conjure another sex room?” he asks.
“No. It’s even better than a sex room.” I clutch Milo’s hand and lead him slowly to my room, eager to keep him in suspense a little longer. “Are you ready for this?” The bedroom door is shut. I study Milo, keen to gauge his reaction. He grins.
It’s time for the reveal.
Milo can’t stop staring.
My bedroom is non-existent. There is no bed or furniture. And there is no floor or ceiling where the floor and ceiling should be.
As Milo steps in, he rises, devoid of gravity. His body stiffens and his fingers spread. But now he’s laughing, and it’s joyous, not crazy.
He instinctively does the breaststroke, making his way up to a majestic window. I join him.
“Are space shuttles supposed to have a view?” Milo asks, as the expanse of the universe casts a blue hue on his face. “Is that Neptune?”
I’m not sure. Saturn or Jupiter are easy to spot, but I haven’t a clue what Neptune looks like. Most people don’t.
The spacecraft beeps from time to time as little lights flash at random intervals.
A soft silver tube connects from one end to another.
This duct was Penelope’s suggestion even though I didn’t like how much space it took up.
But Penelope insisted the shuttle needed to look authentic after I was adamant about the window.
Primary-coloured wires link into ports on the glossy white walls. High above where we suspend like shirts on a hanger is the tip of this construct, a singular point where it becomes narrow, perfecting this sci-fi illusion.
“Sex in a shuttle.” Milo is clearly impressed. He rubs his big toe against my shin.
“I’m glad you like it,” I tell him.
“You knew I would.”
I trace my finger along Milo’s forehead, inching my way slowly down his cheek, then onto his neck. Milo purrs. My dick stirs, and at a quick glance I notice Milo’s has grown. It’s time to kiss.
If Milo could hear my thoughts, he’d know how much having someone to love has kept me centred while my life turned topsy-turvy. How allowing him to be part of this ride has kept me from losing my mind, even though he just briefly lost his.
If Milo could hear my thoughts he’d know there’s still guilt about what happened to Amelia. And that Summer’s confirmed death means no one will ever see the video of me turning into a kitten.
But these secrets need to be disclosed for our bond to continue beyond this year. I’m certain of this fact as I still have doubts about our romance. I can’t screw this up.
“You look sad,” says Milo.
“I’m everything but...”
Our lips lock. My fears subside. And I totally melt. Moments hold their own power; more potent than any spell I’m capable of.
Kissing is much more of a body rush while floating in air. The tingles are amplified. And my groin is warming like it’s exposed to the sun.
I suppose a sixty-niner in a levitated state is hazardous. The couple might bounce off objects, either feet or head first. A surprised jolt could lead to an unexpected bite.
But we take the chance. It’s familiar territory. Milo’s shaft has been tasted and slurped and objectified before. And this piece of my boyfriend is as delicious as every other part of his body. Precum coats my tongue and I truly taste the first course of his desire.
Everything is normal again, within the new rules which define our normal.
Milo groans. I must have also discharged. The ease at which Milo’s tongue slides around my knob is proof.
He instigates a steady rhythm. I reciprocate, relishing Milo’s cock without reservation.
For losing yourself to another man’s dick is a vice without shame, no matter how many cocks we’ve sampled.
Even for those taking reprieve from their closet, sucking is a natural act where one finds pride.
And trust me, I’m very proud at this moment.
Milo pulls his mouth away. “I showered before I left home.” He floats up, turns, and bends over. “It’s as clean inside as it is outside.” He eases his arse toward my face.
And I have an appetite.