Cronkri: I won't let you down

Chapter 31

Aranea came home at the end of her work day to find Cronus and I snuggling on the couch.

"Hello, lovebirds~!" she said jokingly, setting her bag on the coffee table.

"Sup?" Cronus said dismissively.

"Everything." Aranea stood in front of us with her game plan face on. "Cronus, I'm glad you're here. You have extra living space at home, right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, I recently met up with an old friend, and she said that she wants to move in with me. I was thinking that it would work out better for all of us if she moved in here, and then the two of you found a place together. I mean, after all, I was here first."

Cronus grinned at me. "So you gotta move in with me now!"

"But there's so much to figure out! Like, where would I even stay? Your house doesn't have a lot of extra rooms to go around... And I'm sure your family wouldn't want us in there permanently, they want you to go off to college and move out on your own, right?"

Aranea interrupted, "I'll let the two of you talk about this. Do either of you want tea?"

I smiled gratefully. "Some tea would be nice, thank you."

Aranea nodded and walked off to the kitchen.

Cronus continued, "Yeah my parents want me out eventually, but that could be five years from now and they wouldn't care. And don't worry about bein' a pest or nothin', they love you more'n they love me, and that's sayin' somethin'."

I sighed. "I don't know..."

"It's not like this'll be a permanent thing. If it all works out, we'll end up goin to college and we can room together!"

I didn't mention the fact that we would probably end up at different colleges; that was a problem for another day. "You're right. It can't hurt if I stay with you until then." I looked up and met his eyes, then he leaned down and kissed me sweetly. I smiled.

Aranea came back in with two cups of tea. I took mine and sipped it carefully.

"So, have the two of you made up your minds yet?" she asked.

I nodded. "Yes. I can move out by Friday."

She smiled and clapped her hands together. "Excellent! I'm so glad we could come to a consensus."

____________

"That's it?" Cronus looked me up and down, noticing that all I had was a backpack of clothes and necessities. "Where's the rest of it?"

"This is all I have. I tend to be more frugal with my earnings, unlike someone I know." I smirked as I walked past him.

"Huh. How'd you fit everything in there?"

"I just... Packed it all in." I shrugged.

"At least let me help you carry it."

I sighed and handed him the bag. "If you insist."

"Yeah no prob- HOLY SHIT THIS IS HEAVY!!What's in here, bricks????"

I laughed. "Just all my clothes, toothbrush, deodorant... The usual." I sat down in the passenger seat of his car. He tossed my bag into the backseat and got in on the driver's side, then started driving.

"Glad I can finally take you home with me, chief," he said as he reached for my hand with one of his.

I gratefully held his hand, enjoying the warmth and comfort of his presence. "Me too, Cronus."

He held my hand all the way through the drive home, keeping it warm, sure never to let go. The sun began to set and the stars illuminated the sky as we traveled away from the big city and through the countryside.