Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Both.” She sighs. “I love them both.”
“How long did it take Donny and Callie to fall in love?” I ask.
“Not long.”
“It didn’t take us long either.”
She pulls back and looks at me. “I feel like it’s not fair to you, to be honest.”
“How can it not be fair to me? It was my idea.”
“I know, but I don’t want people to say I married you on the rebound.”
“Who gives a fuck what people say? I don’t.”
“I really don’t either.” She shakes her head. “I gave up giving a fuck what people said years ago. You kind of have to when you’re bisexual.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“It’s just too soon.”
“Rory, look at me.”
She meets my gaze, and my God, her eyes are beautiful. So loving and tortured and beautiful.
“Do you love me?” I ask.
“More than anything,” she says. “You know that. I love you so much, Brock.”
“And I love you. I’ve never been in love before, Rory. It’s all new to me. But I can’t imagine, for one moment, ever not being in love with you.”
“I can’t either,” she says, “but Brock, this is new. It’s exciting. What if it doesn’t…”
“What if it doesn’t work?”
She sniffles a bit. “What if it doesn’t last, Brock?”
I step backward. Surely she can’t be thinking…
“Oh God, that look on your face.” She touches my cheek. “I don’t mean it that way. I love you. I love you so damned much. I can’t imagine ever not loving you either. But…with everything else that’s going on, Brock. For all I know, Pat Lamone has already sold my pictures to some sleazy social media outlet.”
“Then I’ll kill him,” I say, totally meaning it.
“You have your own issues.”
“Your issues are my issues, Rory. Don’t you see? You’re mine. I’m yours. It’s a package deal. All of the good with all of the bad.”
“I get that, it’s just…”
It dawns on me then.
What I’m going through is bigger—much bigger—than the high school drama she’s going through.
“You don’t want to be saddled with all my issues. Do you?”
She bites her bottom lip.
“Just say it. Rory.”
“It’s not that. Your problems don’t scare me. It’s just… I have no way of helping you, Brock. I live paycheck to paycheck teaching music to kids. My family lost almost everything in that fire. My dad is working at the hardware store to help make ends meet.”
“I can help your family.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. I wish I could just drop everything and be there for you.”
“Rory, I’m not asking you to drop everything and be here for me. I’m asking you to be a part of my life. To share everything, the good and the bad. I could help your family if you’ll let me.”
She shakes her head vehemently. “My family will never accept.”
“Maybe they will. If not from me, maybe they’ll accept it from Donny. He’s marrying Callie.”
“You heard my father at dinner. He’s too proud.”
For the love of… A sliver of anger wells in me. Why won’t they let me help?
“There’s pride,” I say, “and then there’s stupidity.”
I clamp my mouth shut.
Rory reddens.
This time I went too far, and I instantly regret it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
RORY
No, he did not.
Brock Steel did not just call my father stupid.
My father, who is the proudest man on the planet. My father, who accepted me without question when I came out to him. My father, who I knew would always accept a man or a woman in my life, unlike my mother, who only gives lip service to it.
I curl my hands into fists, turn, and walk out of Brock’s bedroom.
Only to be yanked back in.
“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”
“Save it.” I tear my arm away from him.
“I didn’t mean that. I just…” He rakes his fingers through his hair. “I like your father. I respect him. I don’t for a minute think he’s stupid. I just want so much to help you, and helping your family helps you. I want to take care of you. Do everything for you.”
“But don’t you see? I can’t have you do everything for me. Or for my family. We need to stand on our own feet, Brock.”
“But I have—”
“Don’t. Just don’t. Yes, you have everything. Everything material, anyway. You never have to worry about money. You never have to worry about how the bills will get paid. Or about whether you’ll eat steak or hamburger for dinner. You don’t have to worry.”
“I know. I have enough for five lifetimes, and I want to share it with you. With your family.”
“I’m not ready.”
“Rory…” He gazes at my abdomen, which I’m absently stroking. “What if…”
“What if, indeed? Let’s find out. There are tests now that can determine HCG levels within five days before a woman misses her period. We could find out now, Brock.”
“Fine.” He finishes dressing quickly. “But we’re not relying on any drugstore test. We’re going into the city. You can see a real doctor.”