Chapter 39

"Just move in with me," Javier said one morning, watching Messiah pack another overnight bag. "You here most nights anyway."

Messiah paused. "For real?"

"Yeah." Javier pulled him close. "Plus your cat already claimed my side of the bed."

They spent the weekend moving Messiah's stuff, mixing their lives together. Javier's art supplies next to Messiah's soccer gear, their clothes sharing closet space.

"You sure about this?" Messiah asked that night, watching Javier arrange his shoes by the door.

Instead of answering, Javier just picked him up. "Stop overthinking chiquito."

Later while they was laying in bed, Javier pulled up something on his phone. "So I been thinking..."

"That's dangerous."

"Shut up. Look at this." He showed Messiah pictures of Miami beaches. "Spring break coming up. We should go."

"For real?" Messiah sat up to look better. "Just us?"

"Yeah baby. First vacation together." Javier's hands found skin under Messiah's shirt. "Get you on a beach somewhere, just relaxing."

"Sounds expensive though-"

"Don't worry about that. I got some money saved." Javier pulled him closer. "Let me take care of it."

Messiah was quiet for a minute, thinking. He ain't never been on a real vacation before - his family never had money for trips.

"You thinking too hard again," Javier said soft.

"Just... all this happening at once. Moving in, planning trips..."

"Too much?"

"Nah." Messiah turned to face him. "Just different. Good different though."

"Yeah?" Javier's thumb stroked his hip. "You happy?"

Instead of answering, Messiah kissed him deep. When they broke apart he stayed close, letting himself feel all this new happiness.

"Book the trip," he said quiet. "I wanna go somewhere with you."

Next morning while they was arranging the bathroom - Messiah's products next to Javier's, their toothbrushes sharing a holder - it hit different. This was really their space now, their life together.

"What you smiling about?" Javier asked, coming up behind him.

"Nothing." But Messiah leaned back against him. "Just happy I guess."

"Yeah?" Javier's arms tightened. "Good. Cause you stuck with me now. In our place, on vacation, wherever."

And something about how he said it - firm but soft, sure but sweet - made Messiah believe this was just the beginning of their story.