"Thank you," I murmur to William with pink cheeks when he pulls out my chair for me when we're shown to a table at the local Italian restaurant, the table is for two people, and is in the corner next to the window.
"You're welcome," he murmurs back with a grin as he rounds the table to sit down across from me.
Just as he's settling on his chair, a server approaches the table with a small smile; "Hello, and welcome. My name is Ash, and I'll be your server tonight. Do you know what you'd like to drink?"
"I'd like a coca-cola, please with no ice," William requests, briefly glancing at the server before looking at me, and I tell the server I'd like the same thing as him.
"Great, I'll get those, and be back in a moment to take the rest of your order," they reply before walking away.
"Wanna share a pizza?" William asks with a wide grin, knowing damn well I never turn down pizza because it's one of my favorite foods now.
Eagerly nodding with wide eyes, we agree on our toppings - pepperoni, cheese, sauce, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers. William orders the pizza when our server returns with our drinks, and they promise to place the order right away, and bring the pie out when it's ready.
"So, um, do you remember a couple of years ago when my brothers, dad and I went to the reading of my mom and step-dad's Last Will and Testament?" I quietly ask him, and when he nods, I continue. "Well, um, they left me the house I grew up in until their deaths, along with two thousand dollars that I've left in the savings account. So, that money is accumulating interest, and um, dad has been renting out the house for the last year and a half, and putting that money in the savings account, too, minus the money needed to pay the property taxes. Now that I'm eighteen, the money in the account I can now access, and I can now decide on if I want to continue to rent out the house, sell it, or move into it myself. Dad, and my brothers were given three thousand dollars apiece, along with the cabin on the lake, and the boat that mom and Greg owned."
William's eyes widen in surprise at my confession, and I duck my head with pink tinted cheeks again.
He stays silent for a moment before speaking, and when I nod in reply to his question, he continues; "Is this the cabin we've gone to over the last two years? That's so awesome."
"They sold the boat, and split the money evenly between the five of us, so I'm sitting on a decent sum of money, and a choice to make, and I'd like your input on what to do with the house?" I state, hoping he'll help me make a decision about the house.
He raises his eyebrows toward his hairline at my question, and seems to be thinking over my question for a moment before answering; "Baby boy, I can't make this decision for you, but only offer my opinion. You've got, what, three years of college left? Why not continue to rent the place out, pay the property taxes, and repairs as needed, and then a few months before you graduate, and hopefully already have a job, let the tenants know they need to vacate the premises. Then you can move into the house, and have a home that's yours already."
Chewing on my lower lip as I intently think over his suggestion, the server returns with the pizza, and leaves it in between us, and tells us that they hope we enjoy our food before leaving us again.
When they're out of ear shot, I say; "That's a good idea, thanks, William. Um, I have another question, equally important to me, and I don't expect an answer right now because I'd like you to think it over, okay? Um, when I move into the house in a few years, would you please move in with me?"
William's entire face lights up, and he instantly grins at me; "Of course! I'd love to move in with you then!"
My entire body instantly relaxes with his agreement, I can't help the smile that graces my lips while thanking him for this, and he assures me that I don't need to thank him. He continues to tell me that it's him that should be thanking me for this, and for believing that we'll still be together in three years, and beyond that, too.
We eat and talk, and when we've finished the large pizza, William insists on paying because he's the one who asked me out on this date. He pacifies me by telling me that for our next date, I can plan it, and pay for it. After he's paid, and left a tip, we leave the restaurant hand in hand, and he opens the passenger side door for me again. He then drives us to the location where we can go-kart, and pays for two times each for us.
"Alright, baby boy, which cart do you want?" he questions when we reach the front of the line, and I tell the employee that I'd like to drive the purple and pink cart, and William requests the blue and black cart.
Our carts are next to each other, and once we're settled, and the straps have been checked by the employee, William and I grin at each other, and I tease him; "Are you ready to lose to me, William?"
He grins at me, sassing me back; "Oh, game on, Lake!"
We raced along with six other people in both races, and William and I each won a race against each other. As we're leaving the track after the second race, holding hands, I decide to be bold again tonight when we reach the truck.
After he's opened the passenger side door, I stand on my tip toes with my palms on his shoulders, giving him a kiss on the lips, and murmuring; "I love you, William Lee Noble."
"I love you, too, Lake James Matthews," he mumbles against my lips.
Oh, yeah, a year and a half ago, dad had my last name legally changed at my request.
YOU ARE READING
The Lost Child
RomanceLake's life is thrown into a take spin when his parents died and he finds out that his 'dad' wasn't actually his dad. He goes to live with his biological father and three older brothers.
