The Last Architects

Chapter Forty.

'I'm busy currently. But mom will organize a family dinner soon so we can see each other then.' I sent the text to Cameron, looking up as we approached Luis's dance bar. "This is the place Jane said would have live music." I gave Ema's hand a gentle squeeze.

"It looks nice! I hope you're good at dancing." He grinned, pulling me forward to admire the archway into the bar.. "And that the infamously straight Skyler wouldn't care about dancing with a man."

"I don't. Not when it's with you. And our future house should have archways since you love them." I kissed his head, opening the door for him after. He was so cutely obvious sometimes.

He froze, looking up at me with a startled expression. "Well, you definitely are a romantic." He walked inside, giving me a pat on the chest.

"Tell me something new." I laughed, following him to be greeted by the live music playing while people danced messily. "You can dance the basic steps at least, yeah?" I placed my arm around his waist as we walked to the bar.

"I should be asking you that, Skyler." He leaned into me with a laugh. "And we're still young, so let's focus on right now and not our house." He winked, and I held back from kissing him.

"Yes, yes. And I do dance, especially ballroom for some stupid reason." I rolled my eyes, "but I do. Enough to lead. What would you like to drink?"

"Nothing. I don't need to drink when I'm with you." He leaned up to kiss my neck softly. "I'm not stopping you, though."

"Let's dance then." I walked backwards with him to the dance floor, pressing him closer by the waist, taking his hand as I led in the dance. Ema actually smoothly danced off me, running his hand down my chest cheekily as we began, his eyes sparkling and a stunning smile on his face, already speeding my heart up before we could even get a sweat in. "Have I mentioned how beautiful you look today?" I leaned by his ear in a tight spin.

"You don't think I look like a twink?" He laughed as he pulled me down into a kiss, which I returned with all too much happiness. "You look very handsome, too, Sky."

"Thank you, and no. I was trying to get under your skin before, and admittedly, it worked, so..." I winked.

"Oh? And you're proud of that?" He rolled his eyes, tilting his head back. "You definitely made a serious change in your approach towards me."

"It was actually a very slow process, you were just too stressed to notice." I shrugged, "I knew I liked you when I made eggnog for you, but I just wouldn't admit it to myself."

"I suppose I knew you liked me then, too... I'm sorry I tried to ignore it." He sighed, leaning into my chest. "...But for now... Let's just take things slow, okay?"

"Of course," I kissed the top of his head, "we have all the time in the world after all."

. . .

It was a smooth transition for us into routines, and even if Ema whined about never being left alone for longer than half an hour, many times he'd shorten the time himself. I knew he was better, but the comments under people's breaths when they passed us in the halls or the fact no one wanted to sit next to him anymore always caused his smile to fade. And many times I found myself purposely degrading anyone's opinion in class, once even to the point a girl burst into tears, as the only retaliation I could offer for the dumbasses who believed such a stupid rumor.

And as we sat on the grass outside of the university, I frowned when I remembered Heidi mentioning it would be Ema's birthday soon about three weeks ago. "Ema? When's your birthday?" To which Ema pursed his lips, giving a guilty smile.

"Um... Next year."

"... When was it?!" I turned to face him fully, he hadn't mentioned trying to make a day special at all.

"You know, one of the days in the year," He shrugged, fiddling with a piece of grass to hide his smile, "as is every birthday."

"I'll ask Heidi." I took out my phone, "for this, you don't get to know mine." I scoffed as I texted her and Jane to warn him not to say shit.

"Obviously I already know my boyfriend's birthday. I'm not you." He laughed, falling back and turning to face me with a bright smile. "Don't worry about it, we had fun."

"... I swear to god I'll call your mother." I rolled my eyes when Jane sent a guilty emoji back, followed by a date, which I looked over. "... Your birthday was... our first date?" I took a deep breath.

"As I said, it was a good birthday! So don't worry." He leaned up to kiss me with a cute smile. "Besides, 18 isn't a big deal."

"It is when it's your birthday, but fine, just this once I'll let it go. But I am making up for it big time next year." I brought him onto my lap, cuddling him into my chest. "Saturday, tomorrow, we have a family dinner. My mom wants you there, since she somehow caught wind we are a thing. Probably Jane." I ran a hand through his hair, admiring the softness of it.

"Aha, well that makes me incredibly nervous... Did she seem upset?" He leaned into me with a nervous look.

"No, she's probably very happy. She really was worried I'd get together with another girl like my exes." I grimaced, "in her words, 'no brain Gucci and Prada nepo babies that just like your titles and money.'"

"...What were your ex's like? Do you have many?" He tilted his head, a soft blush on his cheeks.

"I have five... All musicians, they wanted to be spiritual or different, but never truly were. They were nice, and sweet. Had nice qualities, but just never fully invested in the relationship or couldn't-" I almost smiled when his brows furrowed, "they were horrible, absolutely horrendous." I pulled him closer with a laugh, "don't worry, you outshine them all in every aspect possible, I could see one of them now and feel absolutely nothing."

"Have I told you how much I like you?" He laughed softly as he draped his arms over my shoulders. "They sound terrible."

"Oh, just crazy women, I had horrible taste." I kissed his cheeks before his soft lips, bringing him even closer. "And you?"

"...Just one." He looked away.

"Bad one?" I took his face in my hand, gently turning it back to me.

"I guess you could say that. It was back in Slovakia and he was... We dated for a few years, and I guess you could say I was in love, but he did some things I wasn't very comfortable with, and so I broke things off and he outed me to the whole school. My mom took me out and we moved but I went through a lot of physical altercations at that time." He sighed, leaning into my hand. "But that's in the past."

"Past is in the past." I nodded, "though I do want to mention if you ever feel uncomfortable with something I do, anything, bring it to my attention."

"I will, I promise. I'm good at that, at least. But nothing you do could ever make me uncomfortable, so don't worry."

"You make it sound like a dare." I chuckled, "though I am glad, I'll do my best to keep it that way." Adjusting my glasses, I gazed down at his gentle eyes, making a silent promise to myself never to make him cry.