And it's so hard to change

 

"Go ahead," Nora said she had a guestroom. Alec could stay there. "You can sleep with Alfie." Oh, and she expected at least three hundred dollars a month from him.

"What?" Gage cringed at the thought of sleeping with Alfie. "Why three hundred dollars? Especially, if I sleep with Alfie?" He crossed his arms. Gage was in a huff.

"Have you paid your utility bills lately? Heat alone has been awful," she reminded him that winter was cold. Someone was going to have to help her pay the bill.

"Couldn't I..I just sleep with Alec?" Gage said.

"I don't think so." She was adamant. "A boy needs his space. A growing boy. He needs a place to study, but of course, you could always read to him, and then you could let him read to you." She thought that was the solution.

Gage sighed even more as if the whole thing was ridiculous. 

"Let's just think of it being temporary. You could find your own place," she said. "Sooner or later."

Naturally, Gage drew a frown. 

"Maybe you and Alfie could find a place together," she smiled ever so brightly as she went on to start dinner. 

Of course, she had Alec helping her, discussing what they should have to eat. Gage only watched as the two were really bonding. Something he hadn't seen in a long time. Alec didn't even help at home. He was always watching TV, but it wasn't on. 

"Fine." Still, he didn't like the idea of sleeping with Alfie.