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Two weeks later, Joseph sat Benji down at the kitchen table, his eyes shimmering with excitement. "I've been thinking," he began, his voice earnest. "I know we've talked about this before, but... I think it's time for us to take the next step."
Benji's heart raced, his eyes wide. "What do you mean?" he managed to ask, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I mean," Joseph said, his voice steady, "I want us to find a place together. A home. Something that's just ours."
Benji's heart skipped a beat. "Really?"
"Yeah," Joseph nodded, his expression earnest. "I want to wake up to you every morning and come home to you every night. It's time we stop pretending we're not in this for the long haul."
Benji felt his heart swell, the warmth of Joseph's words filling him with a happiness he had never known. "I've never felt more ready for anything in my life," he said, his voice a little shaky. "Let's do it."
The following weeks were a whirlwind of excitement and nerves as they looked at houses together. They had set a clear vision for their future home - a place that reflected both of their personalities, filled with art, music, and memories. They spent their free time scrolling through real estate listings, discussing the pros and cons of each place they saw.
One evening, Joseph brought his laptop into the living room, where Benji was sprawled out on the couch with Whiskey curled at his feet. "Come here, baby," he called, patting the cushion next to him. "I found something you need to see."
Benji sat up, the dog's head popping up at the sudden movement. He leaned over Joseph's shoulder as the screen lit up with images of potential homes, each more beautiful than the last. The scent of their shared space, a blend of Joseph's musky cologne and Benji's sweet incense, filled the room as they clicked through the listings. Each house was a new possibility, a fresh canvas for their life together.
