Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Am not.”
“Pretty sure you are.” He nodded toward the garage. “That’s the guy everyone is talking about being back, isn’t it? You didn’t seem too happy about that the first night.”
No, he hadn’t been. But he was now. Funny how quickly things could change. “It’s a long story. Do you mind if I cut out and go have some lunch real quick?”
Ryan shrugged. “You’re the boss.”
“Will you be okay?”
“Um…yes? Is that a trick question? Is there a reason I wouldn’t be?” Ryan frowned and Shane realized how silly the question was. They weren’t busy. Of course, Ryan could handle the shop while he was gone. “You’re being weird. You know I don’t give a shit you’re gay, right? I mean, people talk and you and I have chatted a little bit, but you never put it into words. I’m just putting it out there that I don’t care, in case you were afraid I do.”
Shane shook his head. “I know. Sorry. Didn’t get much sleep last night.” And now I’m wondering if you’re in the closet and I didn’t know. Fucking Van. “Alright. I’ll be back in a bit.”
Ryan nodded and Shane went into the bathroom, took off his coveralls, and washed up. He’d be lying if he didn’t admit that it was strange to be going out to lunch in Last Chance with another gay man. Well, not strange. Just different.
He put the coveralls away before heading back out to meet Van. He was in the lobby, walking around and looking at all the photographs on the walls.
“Are these all cars you’ve done work on?” Van asked.
“Yeah. Just the special ones though. The classics. Engines I love having my hands in.”
“I think you love having your hands in all of them.”
Shane shrugged. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” He knew Van was right.
“Come on. Let me take you to Lucky Rose.”
Shane followed Van to his car. There were a few bags in the back and an easel. He wondered if that meant Van wanted to paint at his house that night. Or hell, maybe Van didn’t even plan to come to his place and Shane was getting ahead of himself. He wanted Van there, he realized. Wanted to talk to him more…maybe fuck him again…and wanted to watch him paint.
It didn’t take them long to get to the café. Lucky Rose was slow for it being after one. They were seated quickly and were left with menus before Shane realized what table they were at.
“I’m sorry,” Van said as though he could read Shane’s mind. They did seem to be on the same wavelength. That wasn’t the first time he felt it.
“You remember that?” Shane questioned. Van remembered knocking the dishes from Shane’s hand at that very table.
“I remember everything and I hate it. Things would be much easier if I’d forgotten, but then I know that’s not fair either. I was a dick to you. I took my pain and fear out on you and it’s the biggest regret of my life.”
Shane’s chest got tight at the honesty in Van’s voice. “You already apologized, more than once if I remember correctly. It was a long time ago. Neither of us are the same men we were.”
Van leaned back in his seat and looked across the table at Shane. “No…no we’re not. And this isn’t an excuse, but my dad had lost it on me that night. I fucked up the game and I cried so I was weak, a pussy—that was one of his favorite words to throw around. That and faggot. So yeah, he smacked me around and I came here and tried to prove how strong I was by picking on you, by hurting you the way he hurt me. Didn’t realize at the time that’s what really made me weak. Not what my dad said, or the game, or anything else, but the way I treated you.”
“You weren’t weak…you were a child.”
“So were you, and you didn’t go around hurting anyone else.”
No, Shane hadn’t, but he’d also not had to deal with the things Van did. His mother had never tried to hurt him. She’d always shown how much she loved him, she just had other wounds to bear.
He didn’t want to talk about their past right now, though. “It’s over. You like me now.” Shane winked.
“That I do.”
“And you’re buying me lunch, so I can’t complain.”
The two men laughed. He really fucking liked laughing with Van. Liked talking with him too.
“What are you going to get?” Van asked opening the menu. “I mean, besides a grasshopper shake, because if you’re not ordering that, I’m not sure we can be friends anymore. Jesus, I missed those.”
“Shut up. You can’t tell me you couldn’t get a good chocolate mint shake in Los Angeles and also, I knew I liked you for a reason. Grasshopper was always my favorite. Weird, that you like them too.” He wasn’t sure why it was so weird. Just that they shared a favorite shake?