Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
I had an ulterior motive for coming to this bakery, one that arrived on a vintage motorcycle right around seven forty-five every weekday. “I am! And here he comes, I can hear his engine.”
“Let me see.”
“Spying on him like this always makes me feel like such a perv.” I flipped the camera around anyway and tried to be subtle about pointing it at the small, funky diner directly across from the bakery.
“Not even. You’re just letting me admire your dream man. You’d be a perv if you recorded him and fapped to it afterwards.”
“Yeah, that would definitely be pervy.”
Like clockwork, the aforementioned dream man rode up and parked at the curb across the street. As he climbed off the bike, my gaze went straight to his perfect ass, showcased as usual in a pair of tight, faded jeans.
“Here comes my favorite part,” I said.
Hot motorcycle guy took off his helmet and shook out his shoulder-length dark hair, like a model in a shampoo commercial. I was definitely buying whatever he was selling, no question. I took in as many details as I could, including his short beard and broad shoulders as he hung the helmet on the bike’s handlebar and unzipped his black leather jacket. Then he went into the diner, and I sighed as I flipped the camera back around.
“Damn, that man is sexy,” Hal said. “You really need to go over there and talk to him.”
“Oh, obviously. Who doesn’t love a sweaty, unemployed single dad in a ratty old outfit? He’d be all over me.”
Hal rolled his eyes. “You’re selling yourself short. Not that it would be the worst idea to invest in some new clothes. I’m pretty sure you used to wear that sweatshirt to gym class in high school.”
“I think I did, actually. But my entire budget has already been blown on this luxurious five-dollar breakfast, so the gross sweats will have to do.” While I said that, I wiped the baby’s mouth with a napkin. He gave me a big, gummy smile, and I smiled back and said, “Isn’t that right, Owen?”
My friend took a drink of water from a sports bottle before saying, “One of these mornings, leave the bambino with his Uncle Lark for an hour. Then put on a cute outfit, go have breakfast at that diner, and strike up a conversation with your dream man. Now that you’ve escaped the clutches of your awful parents, you can finally explore your bisexuality! Aren’t you dying to test the waters?”
Hal and I both came out to each other when we were fourteen, but given the way my parents had treated my brother, I knew I had to keep my sexuality under wraps as long as I was living at home. “Yeah, I guess I am, but I wouldn’t start with someone as hot as motorcycle guy. That’s just guaranteed rejection.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Sure I do.” I finished my coffee, then said, “I’d better go, the baby’s getting impatient.” Owen had finished eating and was slapping his palms on the tray like a tiny dictator.
“Okay.” Hal sighed and told me, “I wish you weren’t so far away. That new Marvel movie’s out, and it would’ve been fun to see it with you.”
“It would have been fun for sure, but make your boyfriend go with you. He always acts like he’s too highbrow for stuff like that, but I think he secretly enjoys it.”
“Maybe. I just miss you, Logan.”
“I miss you, too.”
He grinned at me and joked, “That’s understandable.”
After we said goodbye and ended the call, I threw out the trash and tried to clean up the baby with a wet wipe. He laughed and pulled his hands away like he thought it was the most hilarious game in the world.
As I disengaged the brake on the stroller, I glanced across the street one last time. It was always impossible to see inside, given the way the early morning sunlight glinted off the diner’s windows, but that was okay. I’d see my dream man again tomorrow.
I swung the stroller around and told the baby, “Okay, kiddo, let’s head home. It’s a big day today. Your uncles are hosting a dinner party, and we need to help them clean up. The living room has turned into Owen central, and we need to move your stuff upstairs so the guests have room to mingle.”
Lark and Dylan had had the idea to host this dinner before I moved in. But since then, they’re reframed it as a way to introduce me to a lot of their friends all at once and had started calling me the guest of honor. I was trying to be gracious, so I didn’t point out that was actually terrifying to an introvert like me.
It only took five minutes to get home, and catching sight of the Victorian always made me happy. It was the most cheerful house on the block by far, not only because it was hot pink, but because of the rainbow-striped curtains in all the windows and the huge Pride flag flying majestically from the peak of the porch. It felt liberating to go from hiding my sexuality to living in a house where everyone was out and proud.