Read Online Heartsville 05 - Bloom Box (Cate Ashwood) by Heartsville - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Heartsville
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continued, his voice bright.
“What’s that?”
“I’ve found someone to take over the lease. It’s not until November first, but it’s something.”
“Oh, that’s great,” Will said with an enthusiasm he didn’t feel in the slightest.
“I thought you’d be pleased. I’m going to miss having you as a tenant, though.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“We will keep in touch, though. It’s a ways off, but Victor and I are hosting Thanksgiving at our place this year, doing it up right with more food than anyone could ever eat. Of course, you’re welcome to come and bring a friend if you’d like.”
“That’s very sweet of you. I will definitely take you up on that.”
“It’s settled, then. I’m sure I’ll be speaking to you before November, but take care in the meantime.”
“You too.”
Will hung up the phone and turned to face Milo, whose complexion had paled in the few minutes Will had been on the phone.
“I suppose he found someone else to take over the business.”
“He did. They move in November first.”
Milo was silent for a moment before he spoke. “Does that make you happy?”
“I don’t know. I suppose. This was the plan all along. It was a temporary solution. Besides, you’ll be heading back to class tomorrow and moving on with your life. Unless I hire someone else, I’ll need to be here more hours, which leaves less time for my actual work.”
“And you’re going to look for another place to live?”
“Yeah. I guess I should get started on that. I have less than two months.”
“Will?”
“Yeah?”
“What about… this?” Milo said, gesturing between them.
“I don’t know.”
“Okay,” he said sadly.
He turned and walked into the back. Will stood in place, unable to move. In less than five minutes, his whole life had shifted. He knew this was coming, and he should have better prepared for it, thought it through, but the longer Milo was out of sight, the worse Will felt. He could hear him moving around in the back, the snip of the scissors as he clipped flower stems, the crinkle of the cellophane as he wrapped them.
The more Will considered what the next few months would be like, without the shop and without Milo, the more dismal he felt.
By the time the shop closed that evening, the divide between them had become monumental. Will didn’t know what to say to make it better. He knew Milo was upset. He was upset. Everything was up in the air, though. Seeing Milo every day had become a huge part of his life, but it was tied to the store. Without Bloom Box, what would hold them together?
Milo would be busy with classes and homework and exams. He would be spending time at pub night and going to parties on campus. There would be football games and frat nights and binge drinking, and where did Will fit into that?
He knew that he would miss Milo terribly, but having him drift slowly away, to watch the spark fizzle and fade would hurt more in the long run than ending things now. He needed that closure, that finality of the good-bye, but he couldn’t bring himself to say so.
Classes started the next day and it was the perfect breaking point for them. All he needed to do was give Milo his final check, kiss him good-bye, and watch him walk away.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he followed Milo up the stairs, just as he’d done every night since Milo moved himself in.
Will followed willingly, unsure of what was happening but wanting nothing more than to be with Milo. That small contact, Milo’s hand in his, was enough to start his heart beating again, warmth spreading through him. He tightened his fingers, wanting to imprint the sensation of their hands, palm to palm, in his mind forever.
When they reached the little apartment they shared, Milo turned and looked at Will.
“I’m sorry I shut down on you today. I needed some space to gather my thoughts.”
“It’s okay. Today was big. There was a lot to process. I’m sorry, too, that everything feels
“What’s that?”
“I’ve found someone to take over the lease. It’s not until November first, but it’s something.”
“Oh, that’s great,” Will said with an enthusiasm he didn’t feel in the slightest.
“I thought you’d be pleased. I’m going to miss having you as a tenant, though.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“We will keep in touch, though. It’s a ways off, but Victor and I are hosting Thanksgiving at our place this year, doing it up right with more food than anyone could ever eat. Of course, you’re welcome to come and bring a friend if you’d like.”
“That’s very sweet of you. I will definitely take you up on that.”
“It’s settled, then. I’m sure I’ll be speaking to you before November, but take care in the meantime.”
“You too.”
Will hung up the phone and turned to face Milo, whose complexion had paled in the few minutes Will had been on the phone.
“I suppose he found someone else to take over the business.”
“He did. They move in November first.”
Milo was silent for a moment before he spoke. “Does that make you happy?”
“I don’t know. I suppose. This was the plan all along. It was a temporary solution. Besides, you’ll be heading back to class tomorrow and moving on with your life. Unless I hire someone else, I’ll need to be here more hours, which leaves less time for my actual work.”
“And you’re going to look for another place to live?”
“Yeah. I guess I should get started on that. I have less than two months.”
“Will?”
“Yeah?”
“What about… this?” Milo said, gesturing between them.
“I don’t know.”
“Okay,” he said sadly.
He turned and walked into the back. Will stood in place, unable to move. In less than five minutes, his whole life had shifted. He knew this was coming, and he should have better prepared for it, thought it through, but the longer Milo was out of sight, the worse Will felt. He could hear him moving around in the back, the snip of the scissors as he clipped flower stems, the crinkle of the cellophane as he wrapped them.
The more Will considered what the next few months would be like, without the shop and without Milo, the more dismal he felt.
By the time the shop closed that evening, the divide between them had become monumental. Will didn’t know what to say to make it better. He knew Milo was upset. He was upset. Everything was up in the air, though. Seeing Milo every day had become a huge part of his life, but it was tied to the store. Without Bloom Box, what would hold them together?
Milo would be busy with classes and homework and exams. He would be spending time at pub night and going to parties on campus. There would be football games and frat nights and binge drinking, and where did Will fit into that?
He knew that he would miss Milo terribly, but having him drift slowly away, to watch the spark fizzle and fade would hurt more in the long run than ending things now. He needed that closure, that finality of the good-bye, but he couldn’t bring himself to say so.
Classes started the next day and it was the perfect breaking point for them. All he needed to do was give Milo his final check, kiss him good-bye, and watch him walk away.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he followed Milo up the stairs, just as he’d done every night since Milo moved himself in.
Will followed willingly, unsure of what was happening but wanting nothing more than to be with Milo. That small contact, Milo’s hand in his, was enough to start his heart beating again, warmth spreading through him. He tightened his fingers, wanting to imprint the sensation of their hands, palm to palm, in his mind forever.
When they reached the little apartment they shared, Milo turned and looked at Will.
“I’m sorry I shut down on you today. I needed some space to gather my thoughts.”
“It’s okay. Today was big. There was a lot to process. I’m sorry, too, that everything feels
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