"Jerry, how do you sell a house?"

I sat at the register with my notebook and pen. Over the last few hours, I had made a long list of things Nick needed to get in order now that his father is moving to Italy, which is still insane to me. He was just abandoning his son. I hated him before, for obvious reasons, but when I saw how hurt Nick was by his sudden move, I've never felt such rage. It was so selfish, and even if he was choosing to leave, he could have at least waited until his birthday past. Or Christmas, if he was feeling generous.

I could barely sleep last night I had so many thoughts racing through my head. There was so much that needed to be done, Nick has to move in, he has to get rid of all of his furniture and all of his Dad's things, and then he has to sell his home, which neither of us has ever done before. The next few weeks we're going to be interesting, to say the least.

"Well first you have to find a real estate agent, and they'll make sure it's fit to go on the market. And once they put it on the market, people come and look, and eventually, someone will buy it." Jerry explained as he created a pyramid out of CDs. He drifted over to me with his leftover stack of CDs. "Why do you want to know? Did you inherit a house from a long lost relative or something?"

"I wish." I made a note of what he said: "find a real estate agent." "Nick wants to sell his house and I'm just trying to help."

"How sweet of you," he mused. "Is he buying a new house?"

"No, he's moving in with me." Even saying it felt strange but also exciting. He's there all the time so it won't be much of an adjustment, but I was still giddy about getting to see him full time, all the time, and I know Charlie was going to love being able to rub his fur all over him.

Shocked, Jerry asked, "Really?"

"Yes, you don't think it's too soon?"

"Please," he chuckled. "How long have the two of you been dating; a few months? Frankie moved in after three weeks."

"So you think it's a good idea?"

"I think if you're ready to move in together, then that's exactly what you should do." He bumped my shoulder with his. "I can't believe you two are so serious. When am I going to finally meet this dreamboat of yours? I'm starting to think you're hiding him from me."

As Jerry talked, Nick waved at me through the front window.

"Looks like this is your moment Jerry." I waved Nick in, standing from my stool. I've always liked the way he's looked in his school uniform, almost as much as I liked seeing him in his motor oil-stained jeans and t-shirt.

Jerry whipped around suddenly excited. "Oh my god, he is so sexy," he said as Nick walked up to us.

I rolled my eyes at him but didn't disagree. I met Nick on the other side of the counter, "Hi, I didn't expect to see you until later."

He smiled, putting his arm around my shoulder. "I wanted to see if you wanted to get a bite to eat?"

"Yeah--I would love too." I looked over at Jerry who waited patiently for his introduction.

"Jerry, this is Nick my...." I hesitated the word boyfriend on the tip of my tongue. I was going to say it-I was, but before I could Nick opened his big mouth and said.

"Hi, I'm Nick, Maya's lover," he introduced himself making me choke. My what?

Jerry's eyes widened. Laughing, he said, "Well, Maya's lover, it's nice to meet you."

I could feel myself face growing hot even if no one could tell. I can't believe he would say that. Never mind, yes I can, it's just the type of thing I would expect from him. He's such a cornball sometimes.

"Maya has told me so much about you," Jerry told him.

"I hope it was good things," he smirked, rubbing a hand up and down my arm.

"I was telling him about how you snore," I said poking fun at him. It's what he gets for his lover comment.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "I would believe you if I actually snored."

"He does," I mouthed to Jerry, who laughed at the two of us.

"My husband says the same thing about me. I think he's hearing things."

"Yeah, Maya, you must be hearing things."

Yeah, and what I was hearing was snoring.

"Jerry, is it okay if I go on lunch?" I asked I was anxious to go over the list I made with Nick.

"Go ahead, I'll see you when you get back."

I grabbed my stuff and we began walking to the food court. "Do you feel better today?" I asked as we walked hand in hand.

"I feel okay. I'll feel better once everything is settled," he said.

"Oh, I made a list of moving companies and donation centers that will pick up your Dad's stuff, but we should probably go through it to see if there's anything worth keeping."

"More like if there's anything worth selling." He ran a hand through his hair. He's been using my shampoo, and it's made his hair so shiny and now it smells like coconuts."I don't want to keep any of it, but we might as well try to make some money."

"If that's what you want."

"I'm so glad you're helping me," he said kissing the back of my hand. "You know you can stop anytime, this is my responsibility."

"I know but I want to, and I know you would do the same for me if it was the other way around." As soon as we stepped foot inside the expansive food court I immediately gravitated to the smell of pizza. Nick followed my lead without complaint.

"And I appreciate it more than you know."

"Do you want to start moving your stuff this weekend?" I asked a surge of excitement flurrying in my belly. I tried not to show excited I was for him to move in, though I think he's excited too.

"Yeah, sounds like a plan."

"Isn't your interview next weekend?"

"Yes," he breathed. "I'm nervous. I was talking to the Dean of my school about it today, and it dawned on me that I have no idea what I'm going to say or what I'm going to wear or who it's going to be with. I don't know anything."

"You know about cars, and that's what they care about. Don't psych yourself out before you even get there."

"I know, it's just--what if I don't get in?" he asked fretfully. "What will happen with us?"

I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "We'd figured it out. And I have no doubts you're going to get in, you're the best mechanic I know."

"I'm the only mechanic you know."

I poked him in the side as we got in line."And why is that? Because you're so good I haven't needed to go to anyone else."

He rolled his eyes at me, but a faint smile turned up the corners of his mouth.

As we ate our greasy slices of heaven, I went over my notes with him pointing at the ones I thought were the most reliable and writing down phone numbers and names of local real estate agents as he read them out to me. We make a great team, Nick and I. We just get each other.

"Will I see you later?" I asked. We stood outside of Spins, the sounds of Britney Spears greatest hits, blasted out of the store. It surprisingly wasn't James' pick, but Terry's, nothing like a little Britney to bring good luck to your shift, or so she says. I prefer it to the screamo that she plays at the end of her shift.

"Of course," he answered. " But I'm going to stop by my house and start packing up some of my things, I should be there by the time you get off work."

I suggested, "Why don't I just come over there instead?"

"Are you sure? I know the last time you were there it wasn't so pleasant." Nick's hands rested on my waist.

"I know, but that was an isolated incident," I said picking the lint from his jacket, "We don't have to worry about that happening again. I want to come over. It'll be fun I can bring Charlie and we can help you pack."

He laughed, "I don't think he's going to be much help. I hope he doesn't piss on anything."

"My Charlie doesn't piss anywhere but in his litter box." The little menace only chews up phone chargers and other unsuspecting chords.

"Well your Charlie, and my Charlie is the same, and I hope he doesn't pee on anything."

"He won't," I said, confidently. "He'll be a perfect angel."

He raised his brows warily but was otherwise silent. My alarm started going off on my phone alerting me that it was time for me to return to work.

"I have to go," I frowned. Now that I had taken a break I didn't want to go back, but the bills weren't going to pay themselves. "I'll see you later."

"Later," he muttered against my lips. "Don't forget to bring our Charlie."

"I would never," I smirked. He would never forgive me.

He gave me another quick kiss before pushing me inside and leaving. When I went back to work James and Terry were waiting at the register with giant grins on their faces.

"What are you two smiling at?" I asked putting my stuff under the counter.

"The fact that you are in love," James sang swaying happily from side to side.

"I couldn't believe it when he told me that you were moving in together, but after seeing you together I believe it," said Terry, pushing up the sleeves of her sweater. "You're like glowing and shit."

"Shut up, I am not." I folded my arms across my chest, uncomfortably. I was not glowing. I am happier than I've ever been--ever, but I doubt that's resulted in any sort of glow.

James threw his arm over my shoulder. "Yes, you are and it's the cutest thing I've ever seen."

I scoffed, brushing his arm off me. I moved away from them going to work on organizing some cases of vinyl records but the two of them stayed behind, giggling behind their hands like two school girls. "Leave me alone and get back to work, you slackers."

****

"Charlie! Charlie! Please don't run away from me," I cried in distress as I chased after him. "Nick is waiting for us!"

I had been chasing him around for the last thirty minutes trying to get him into his carrier. As soon as he heard the metal latch open he bolted, he was currently hiding under my bed, soon to be Nick and I's bed. Reaching under the bed, I fished around for my little furball only to met with claws striking back at me.

I snatched my hand back. "Ow, why do you do always do that?" It was then I realized that trying to reason with him wasn't going to work. Nick had begun keeping treats in the side table on his side of the bed, he doesn't know that I know about it. Rifling through the drawer, I found the bag of bow-shaped cat treats and pulled one out. If he's not going to come out for me he would definitely come out for treats.

"Sweet Charlie, I have a treat for you," I called out to him, dragging the treat over the floor. His little head popped from under the bed, I knew it. I wiggled the treat in front of his nose, before tossing it in his carrier. As predicted, he followed the treat into the carrier I quickly closed and locked the carrier.

I sighed, relieved that he was finally in the carrier. Now that Charlie was stashed away, we could finally head out the door. I put my bag on my shoulder and grabbed Charlie who was starting to show his distaste with his cage.

I hustled out the door, as Charlie meowed and cried.

As I drove, I began to feel horrible about having to keep Charlie locked up in there. "I know you hate it, but I can't let you out or you'll scratch up your seats." He pawed at the gate of his carrier. "It's only for a few more minutes."

I shivered as I stood outside waiting for Nick to answer the door. The temperature was steadily dropping, and the news was even calling for snow at the end of the week. I continued to press on the doorbell even if my finger was quickly becoming numb.

As I reached I pressed on the doorbell again the front door swung open. Nick stood at the door in sweats and a lightweight t-shirt. "I'm sorry, I was on the other side of the house," he apologized.

"It's fine." I stepped inside, sighing as I took in the warmth. "Charlie was starting to get antsy."

Putting his carrier on the ground, I undid the latch and opened his gate. Finally free, he shot out of the carrier. But he lost his footing and slid across the marble floor.

Nick and I watched him try to find his footing. "He has no idea where he is," Nick laughed as Charlie looked around.

"He's not used to being in such a big place."

Nick leaned forward capturing my lips between his. I leaned in closer, mostly to steal some of his warmth. "You're so warm," I sighed.

"I've been moving things," he told me, wrapping his arms around me. "I started to break a sweat."

I laid my head on his chest, he might be hot but I was freezing. "What have you done so far?"

"I just started in my dad's room," he explained. "I'm still not finished yet. I was going to work on my room next. I didn't realize he had so much shit."

"Find anything good?"

"I found some jewelry and some drugs. We can only sell one of those things, but I'm sure there's more. I haven't sorted through half of it yet."

Legally. Looking up at him, I asked, "Did he leave everything behind?"

"Seems like it," he said, "His closet is still full, drawers too. Everything is exactly where it always is."

"Show me. I'm ready to sort through everything."

He rested his forehead against mine. "I have a cardboard box with your name on it, beautiful."

I smirked. "That's the most romantic thing you've ever said to me."