He shows up with a van.

Fine. I’d anticipated that.

But the size of the van?

Whoa, where is all this stuff going to fit? I didn’t even get around to clearing a spot for his clothes. I did not expect for him to turn up with a huge truck filled with his belongings.

He grins as he bounds off the back of his motor bike, parking up in front of the moving van. “Good morning.”

My astonishment dissolves into the cold winter sky.

“Brrr, it’s freezing. I’m glad I won’t have to make that journey again.” He rubs his gloved palms together, locking his fingers, and twisting as he blows into them.

Pulling him into me I say, “I can warm you up if you like.”

“Now, Elliott Judd, getting it on while the movers work around us may be a little forward. Even for you.” He whips his helmet over his head, and plants his lips against mine before turning to the truck. “This is it then. It’s real.”

“It certainly is,” I mutter under my breath. I have no clue where all these possessions are going to go. This is a big house, but you still need to have a place for things. The impending mess is starting to give me palpitations.

Taking a deep lung full of air and a firm grip on myself I step forward, following him to the back of the truck where one of the guys has just rolled the shutter up.

“Where do you want this?” He points at a couch. I had no idea he was bringing that old thing with him. And I swear that’s a microwave I spot perched on top of some boxes behind.

I expected him to be moving himself and his clothes in. I didn’t anticipate all the second hand crap that he bought to see him through his period of being single to be hauled over here, too. He has this horrendous golden horse and carriage affair his mother and father bought him back in the day and even though that’s not second hand, its traditional, no old fashioned, styling is quite appalling. Some things need to be found a home purely for sentimental value rather than style. But that sofa only has sentimental value to the people who owned it before Kyle.

“I didn’t do very well last night.” I decide to forewarn him. The statement was true before he turned up with all this junk.

“That’s OK. We can find space together.” His grin is going to be the death of me. Every time he flashes it anywhere near me, my heart melts.

“That’s what I thought. This way we can make this our home together.”

He nods. Phew, looks like I got out of that one. But really, Kyle, I muse, what were you thinking?

I hover in the doorway as the staff brings in the sofa. “Where do you want this?”

I look at Kyle for inspiration. “Did you have anywhere in mind?”

He shrugs. “Not really. I guess the living room will be OK?”

I’m not a house-proud man but I do like the way it's decorated. The interior designer cost me a lot of money. And Kyle's old flea pit did not factor into the design.

“How about in the garden room?” I suggest, hoping he’s not too offended. The last thing I want is for him to feel like he doesn’t have a place in his own home.

“Sure, that’s fine. Great idea.” He wraps his strong arm around my waist and pulls me into him.