Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 64929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
I doubted a Denny’s steak was going to be anything more than meat-flavored rubber, but I didn’t point that out. “Yeah, sure,” I said. “As long as you’re not going to order your steak well done.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, just waiting for him to tell me he liked it the consistency of shoe leather.
Adrian just shook his head. “Medium? So it’s not too tough? I don’t think I’ve eaten a steak well done in years.” It had been years since I’d gone out to eat with my brother, too, and it shouldn’t have surprised me that so many things had changed. I didn’t know Adrian, not really, and he wasn’t the easiest person to get to know. He was so serious, so earnest, but at the same time…
He was vulnerable, unable to hide his emotions worth a damn.
I couldn’t help but wonder if I was unreadable to him, if everything was as new as it was to me or if I was more predictable.
“Medium’s good,” I agreed. “That’s a pretty drastic change,” I said, smirking. “Next you’ll be telling me you like boys.”
And if he does?
That would make everything even more convoluted and complicated than it already was. I took a sip of my water, trying not to squirm. Adrian just blinked at me, and I could see a thousand thoughts flash across his face. I’d pictured him laughing or even making some kind of a sarcastic comment like I would have, but his response was nothing like I’d expected.
“I don’t think I’ve changed, but I think that would mean that I knew what I liked to begin with.” The sentence was slightly convoluted but if I followed it right… No. I didn’t want to try to guess what he meant. It would only confuse everything even more. Before I could figure out a way to break the awkward silence, the waitress paused by the table. “You boys decide what you want?” she asked. It was probably the third time she’d come by, but she was still as casual and friendly as she’d been the first two times.
“Oh. Um, yeah,” I said, fumbling as I tried to remember how to use my words. “I’m gonna have the prime rib gouda skillet thing. He’ll have the steak, cooked medium.” “Sure thing,” she said, dipping her head in a nod.
It wasn’t until she was walking off that I realized I’d just ordered for my older brother.
“Um. Sorry?” I ventured.
Adrian lifted one shoulder in a casual shrug. “I don’t mind when you take charge of me.” He honestly didn’t seem to realize how it came out. When I started coughing, he looked at me like he was starting to worry about my health — or maybe just my mental health, which seemed to be hanging by a thread lately.
“Are you okay?” His confused expression turned concerned when it took me a minute to catch my breath. It took me a few more seconds to gather myself, but I nodded quickly. “Oh, yeah, completely fine,” I lied. “Just a little cough.” As though to prove my point, I picked up my glass of water and took a sip. “Fine now. How’s the project going?” I asked, and again, I realized too late that I was turning the conversation into zones with “danger” and “do not enter” — for fuck’s sake, Owen, stop that line of thought right the fuck now — signs all over the place.
His brows came together, and he looked down at the table. His shoulders hunched down, and his concern faded into something that looked like shame. “Um, some of it’s going fine. I talked to… I interviewed someone about the lifestyle so that will be good for the paper, but the actual practical part isn’t going as well.”
He’d actually talked to someone? I gaped at him for a moment, surprised. “How’d that go?” I finally managed to get out. “Actually talking to someone in the know? I mean, maybe they could help you with the practical part…” I trailed off, surprised by the fierce stab of jealousy the idea evoked.
No, it wasn’t jealousy. I was just feeling protective of my big brother. His head popped up, and his frown deepened. “No, just on the outskirts. It was interesting. Um, did you want… I mean, did you want me to find someone else to help me? I guess I know how to find more people in the lifestyle now, but you said…” His voice trailed off. He blushed before looking back down at the table, suddenly fascinated by the way his silverware was wrapped.
“No!” I said, a little too hastily. “No,” I repeated, taking my time in repeating the word. “It’s okay. If you still want my help, I’ll help.” I’d enjoy the fuck out of helping, too, just like last time — with that perfect peace descending over us, and feeling closer to my brother than I had in far too long. The rest… The rest, I could deal with later.