Chapter 16
Sixteen
It was official. Milo and Elio were dating.
Their ascent began as it usually did with Milo arriving at the Olympia five minutes ahead of Elio. Milo had waited and pressed the button when he spotted Elio with his skateboard, looking wind-blown and content after his appointment with Felicity.
“Going up?” Milo asked cheekily, then hopped over the elevator’s threshold when the doors opened. “Did you have fun on your coffee date and at the skatepark?”
“I did,” Elio replied and waited for the doors to close before catching Milo’s chin and kissing him. “What do you think about us going on a date tonight?”
“A date? Sure. I can—” Milo’s brain caught up with his mouth and he let out a startled “Oh! A date? Like a real adult da—?”
Elio shushed soothingly “Don’t worry! I was thinking we could have dinner at my place. Maybe another picnic. I thought about surprising you but I realized you’d be more comfortable if I gave you a heads up first.”
“Thank you!” Milo grabbed the front of Elio’s coat and rose on his toes and kissed him. “I’m still going to freak out but in a good way. I definitely prefer that to showing up in my pajamas again and being underdressed for our first date.”
“Why don’t we wear pajamas?” Elio said with a lift of his brows. “We can make it a sleepover.”
“A sleepover?” Milo nodded quickly. That sounded far more innocent than what had occurred in Milo’s room a few nights earlier, but at least he had an idea of what to expect and could bring his toothbrush.
The elevator stopped at the sixth floor and Elio stole one more kiss before stepping out. “Come over at seven,” he said, waving as the doors closed.
“See you at seven,” Milo said and waved back. The smile dropped from his face as he rode the elevator the rest of the way to the 8th floor and Milo yelped out a “Mom!” when the doors opened.
He hit the six button and chewed on his thumbnail as he waited for the doors to close and the elevator to take him back down. Milo peeked around the doors when they opened, relieved when he didn’t see Elio.
“Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom…!” He ran for the door to 6C and let himself in. “Mooooom!” he called out as he ran to the kitchen and turned for her bedroom when he heard her shout back. “I need your help!”
“What’s wrong?” she asked when they met in the hallway.
“Eli wants me to come to his place for a date at seven.”
“That’s wonderful, baby!” Claire said and held up both hands so he could slap them.
He pressed his palms to hers gingerly. “We’re wearing pajamas and having a sleepover,” he added with a questioning look. “Can I sleep over at his place?”
She nodded, laughing as she cradled his face. “You’re not a little boy anymore, Milo. I’ll always call you ‘baby’ but you’re an adult and it’s your decision. Are you ready to spend the night with Elio?”
Milo didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I like being alone with him—like that—and it never feels like we have enough time.”
“It sounds like you are ready but you don’t have to…go all the way unless you want to. Do you understand what that means? Agreeing to a sleepover doesn’t mean you’re agreeing to anything but spending time with Elio and sleeping at his place.” she said carefully.
“I know.” Milo looked down, blushing. “You mean…sex. Eli has been very respectful and he’s really cool about my anxiety. He never makes me feel like a baby or a wimp and he explains things so I understand what’s going on.”
“I’m so glad,” Claire said with a relieved laugh. “I think the world of Elio and the von Hessens but I wasn’t sure if he was sensitive enough.”
“No! Elio’s way more sensitive than he looks or acts!” Milo whispered, not wanting to blow Elio’s cover. “He’s told me all about his parents and he gets mad when anyone’s mean to me at work.”
“Really?” She glanced in the direction of Muriel’s apartment.
“Wait right here!” she said, then jogged back to her bedroom.
Claire reappeared a moment later and handed him a box of condoms and foil packets of lubricant.
“Take these just in case. We don’t have to talk about what you do with them unless you want to or you have questions. ”
“Mom!” Milo instinctively hid them behind his back. “I do want to but I’d rather let Elio be in charge of these.”
She groaned adoringly. “My baby is all grown up and he’s found himself a prince!”
“Mom!” he cried but she rested her hands on her hips.
“Why did you kick in my door with the mom siren blaring if you didn’t want my help?”
She had a point.
“Riley would probably do cartwheels and want to bake something for me to take and Luna would have so many questions,” Milo predicted and shuddered. “They’re a little too excited about me having a boyfriend.”
“Just because you’re so perfect for each other and because they want you to be happy,” she scolded gently. “Go get ready for your date. I’ll let Giles and Riley know you won’t be home tonight and to be cool about it tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” Milo said and ducked so she could kiss his forehead. “Any tips on what kind of pajamas I should wear? I don’t know what grownups wear to sleepovers.”
“Ha!” Claire covered her mouth and shook her head. “It really doesn’t matter and I think you’ll figure that part out on your own pretty quickly.”
“Okay… A T-shirt and flannel pants?” he said as he backed down the hallway towards his door so she couldn’t see what was behind his back.
Claire held up her thumb encouragingly. “Any T-shirt is fine, except the one with the fake bow tie.”
“Got it,” Milo said and went to get ready. Even though he was still uncertain about how to get ready for a sleepover date.
He took a shower because he had sweat a lot between the elevator and his bedroom, thanks to his mother.
But was Milo supposed to shave and do his hair?
It seemed like the obvious thing to do before a date but Milo never shaved before he went to bed.
His stubble wasn’t that thick and Elio often had a light beard so Milo decided to skip shaving and put just enough product in his hair to keep it from looking like a loofah.
In his closet, Milo chose his favorite Pluto shirt and a pair of newer flannel pants, and white socks.
He packed his toiletries, jeans, boxers, and a hoodie in his backpack, like he was spending the night at Jack’s.
But Milo tucked the condoms in the outside pocket instead of stuffing his bag with candy from his secret snack stash.
“This is so weird,” Milo said as Claire kissed his cheek at the door and handed him a box of popcorn and a wrapped plate of peanut butter cookies. Riley had made them and dropped them off while Milo was getting ready.
“Have a good time at Elio’s and let me know if you need anything.”
In the hallway, Milo juggled everything as he took his right arm out of the backpack’s strap and let it hang from his left side.
He already looked like a middle schooler in his ensemble and red Converse.
Milo took a deep cleansing breath, reminding himself and his racing heart that he wanted to be there and that he was perfectly safe.
He gave the door a knock and calmly exhaled the way his therapist had taught him to prevent a panic attack.
The door opened and Milo forgot about how nervous he was or how silly he probably looked as Elio smiled back at him, dressed in a fuzzy, baby blue onesie.
A loud laugh burst from Milo. “What is that?”
“This?” Elio looked down at himself cluelessly. “I usually sleep naked and this is the closest thing I had to pajamas.”
“Do I want to know why you have that if you don’t sleep in pajamas?” Milo asked as Elio stepped aside and waved him in.
“Theo made me wear it for Easter pictures,” Elio said wearily. “The things I endure for my brothers.”
“I think it’s cute.” Milo passed Elio the cookies and the popcorn and sniffed at the air when he smelled something delicious. “Is that Chinese food?”
“It was just delivered. I asked Seth what your usual order was and he set it up for me,” Elio explained while unwrapping the cookies and stuffing one in his mouth. “I’m glad you like the onesie, I was hoping it would be a good ice breaker.”
“It worked!” Milo said but his nerves and his hopes soared when Elio led him onto the back terrace.
Blankets and pillows had been piled next to a metal fire pit and a large gas fire glowed invitingly.
String lights had been hung and there were jars of tea lights scattered around the terrace.
The takeout containers, chopsticks, and the ice bucket with the bottle of champagne made Milo feel like a grownup and special.
“You did all of this?”
“Felicity told me what to do and I paid a man to put up the lights,” Elio said dismissively as he took Milo’s backpack and set it on a nearby lounge.
“I can’t believe you did all of this!” Milo grabbed Elio’s hand and pulled him down onto the blankets and began investigating the containers. “It’s my perfect dream date,” he stated with a decisive nod.
“I’m glad,” Elio replied. “Champagne?” he asked as he reached for the bucket.
Milo nodded. “Yes, please!”
“I wasn’t sure if you had bad memories from your first drink. But Felicity said to get champagne so it’s clear this is a romantic sleepover and not a platonic sleepover,” Elio said and Milo hummed.
“That’s smart. The onesie is sending mixed signals.” He took a sniff and smiled when the bubbles tickled his nose. “I’ve had champagne a few times since the wedding and my impression of that night gets better, the more I think about it.”
“Good!” Elio tapped his glass against Milo’s. “That night meant a lot to me and it’s why I came to New York.”
“I still can’t believe that! I felt like such a goober and I was hoping you wouldn’t remember.”