“Speaking of home…” I began, smiling at him.
“I’m messy,” he said flatly. “Have you considered that?”
I didn’t even have to explain that I wanted him to move in with me. He knew. His mind jumped straight to the issue, bypassing the part where I suggested and he considered and we discussed, and got to where we were now. “I have,” I replied. “I think you’re messy because you’re never home and your place is far too small. You won’t be messy here. You’ll be here more, and you’ll have a thousand more drawers.”
“I’m quiet in the morning,” Cel reminded me.
“And I’ll be respectful of that and not bombard you, but I also think you like me more than most people, so you might make allowances you can’t even fathom at the moment.”
“It’s possible,” he whispered, the corner of his mouth curling.
“So, will you?”
He nodded.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“When?” I pressed him.
“Once this business with Lincoln is concluded?”
“Okay,” I said, terribly pleased with him. “Also, when you’re traveling this year, if it’s all right, I’d love to make arrangements for us to meet some—”
“No,” he rushed out.
It stung, but I understood that when he was working, he had to keep his mind solely on—
“I won’t be traveling,” he announced.
I could only stare at him.
“I mean, I have a week in Copenhagen with the Royal Danish Ballet to dance parts of two ballets for them. It’s one of those Variations on a Theme you so love.”
“I just prefer the whole thing, not the best parts from a lot of them. There’s no build-up that way. No payoff for sitting through the boring parts.”
Beats of time went by. “I’m sorry? Did you say boring parts?”
“Yeah. Some ballets are snooze fests. You know that.”
“I certainly donotknow that,” he balked, visibly affronted.
I laughed. “You look so horrified, but come on, I kept nodding off duringSpectre de la Rose.”
He was staring at me, eyes wide, lips parted, utterly horrified.
“You weren’t bored dancing it? You looked bored.”
“I looked bored while I was dancing?” he repeated, voice rising.
He was stunned, and it was hard to keep a straight face. “A little.”
“I’ll have you know I wasn’t bored, I was emoting!”
I couldn’t help cackling. “Come here.”
“I willnotbe doing that,” he declared.