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)
Jonathan gave his attention back to Van. “And it was yours?”
“Fuck no. But I wouldn’t pretend it was either. I’d say I’m too pretty for that shit, but that wouldn’t explain why Shane could do it.” Van winked and Shane playfully rolled his eyes.
Jonathan frowned. “It’s been a long time. I feel like I don’t know who you are anymore.”
He never had, but Van couldn’t blame that on Jonathan. No one had known who he was because Van hadn’t wanted them to.
Jonathan looked back and forth between Van and Shane. Van could see the wheels turning in his head, could see him wondering, putting the pieces together and that twisted up Van’s insides because it wasn’t his place. He shouldn’t have said that about Shane, without Shane’s permission. He’d just wanted to knock Jonathan for a loop.
“I’m worried about your mom. She’s been through a lot. I know you haven’t been around, but the past few weeks since your father’s passing haven’t been easy on her. And she missed you…we all did,” Jonathan said.
“I’m trying to be there for her,” Van said through gritted teeth. “There’s only so much I can do.”
“Why don’t you stop by my office this week. I’ll see if there’s anything I can do to help.”
The sad part was, he thought in his own way Jonathan probably did want to help the old Max. But would he want to help Van—the gay man who painted and photographed nude men and hated his old life and everything he’d stood for? Would he want to help the man who hoped to spend every second he could in Shane’s bed for the duration of his time there?
But there had been a time when Jonathan was his best friend. He’d never been blind where Jonathan was concerned. He’d mostly been out for himself, but there had been times he was there for Van too. “Yeah, I’ll do that in the next few days.”
“Good. I’ll let you get back to your…lunch. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Without a word to Shane, Jonathan walked away.
“I’m sorry about him.”
Shane shook his head. “I’ve known Jonathan my whole life. I know who he is. You have nothing to apologize for. We should get going though. I need to get back to work.”
Van nodded. He paid the tab and then the two of them were in the car, heading back to Shane’s shop.
Van parked in the same spot he had when he’d gotten to Shane’s the first time and said, “So I’ll see you tonight?”
“If you want. But the same possible out you gave me earlier. If you need to be with your mom, I understand.”
There was a slight distance in Shane’s voice and Van wondered if it was because he hadn’t really talked to Shane about his mom. Not what was going on with her now. “Our families are different. She pushes me away at every turn. I’m not as good a man as you are, Shane. I’ll do what I can but that’s all I can do.”
Shane nodded. Opened the door, stopped and then turned to Van before taking his mouth. He pushed past Van’s lips. His right hand held the side of Van’s neck, and Van wished he could see them together. That he could photograph the way Shane’s rough, tanned hand would look against his own skin.
Shane pulled back, said, “See you tonight,” and then Van watched him in the rearview mirror until he disappeared from sight.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Shane got home from work that evening, showered, changed, and then ran over to see his mom for a few moments. She was pulling out fresh baked chocolate chip cookies when he stepped into the kitchen.
“Smells good in here,” he told her. The scent of chocolate and sugar beckoned him, but that wasn’t it. The air was fresh, earthy.
“Thank you. How was your day?”
He looked around and saw she had all the windows and blinds open, which made him smile. It was always easy to tell what kind of mood she was in by the blinds. If she was feeling down, they would be closed for days on end. When she was happy, she kept them open. The windows were a plus.
“Good. Looks like you had a good day as well.”
“I had the best day,” she replied.
“Why?” Shane questioned. “Not that I’m not glad. I just mean….”
“That I’m not typically happy for no reason?” She cocked a brow at him.
“Oh, you’re full of jokes today, I see.”
“I’m always full of jokes. Where do you think you got your outstanding sense of humor from?”
“Luck?” Shane teased and the two of them laughed. He loved it. It was moments like these where he could almost forget that sometimes she had panic attacks so severe she couldn’t leave the house and often got so depressed she would stay in bed for days on end. “When does your knitting group get here?”