u/Small_Spare_2246

This is a long shot mostly because I didn’t read this book, but saw a user comment describing a scene from a book as part of a recommendation to another user prompt. At the time I was not in the mood for another sports book but now I keep remembering the description and wish I had saved it.

It was a grumpy sunshine setup with a clingy teammate (I assume hockey) and he kept wanting to get to know / engage another teammate who was more of a lone wolf/quiet and absolutely found the other guy annoying/too much. I assume they were the two main MCs not a yuppy side character. Anyway, at some point, maybe when he tries to sit next to him when the team is getting on the bus before (or after) a game, the other MCs gets irritated and ‘pushes him away’ don’t remember if this was in the literal sense. The sunshiny MC takes the hint and starts giving him space which the grumpy MC is at first happy with but soon realises he misses his constant presence and now has to try to befriend again. Sorry, I know this is very loose and just based on this one scene but I would appreciate any guesses. 

I have read Thrown off the Ice, and Between the Teeth, which both have the same puppy dog x leave me alone dynamic, but they didn’t have this particular scene unless I’m misremembering. 

We are both in our 40s and live about two hours apart. We both own our homes but I have a larger home with a basement that I converted into an apartment.

My boyfriend offered to move in and pay what my current lodger pays. (When lodger’s lease ends) Initially he was going to try to rent his home out short term until we are sure that living together works for us. But now he is leaning more towards selling his own home.

Anyway. My question is, previously I was declaring rental income and claiming all the related shared expenses for maintaining that space and also utilities etc. when he moves in. The space will mostly be a guest wing but technically his if we need personal time to do separate things, gaming, movies etc.

I make about 2x what he does and have a stricter approach to budgeting, investing and spending. I would prefer not to merge finances or start declaring as a couple.

What are the rules for this? Would it be wrong(legally) for me to continue filing as I have been and showing his rent as rental income and split bills as expenses the same way I do now with a lodger I don’t have intimate relations with?

If in two years we become common law (fate allowing) what happens to rental income? If CCB is not a factor (no children on either side) do we still have to file jointly?

The rent value is about 1/3 my mortgage, I will continue to pay all other property related taxes since there is no intention of him going on the mortgage.