Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
And this morning, it was making me see Jade Brewery and the whole town in a new light. This place finally meant something more than just being a home for old, sad memories. If someone had told me two months ago that I might actually enjoy spending time here, I’d have laughed them out of the room, but at least right at this moment, there was nowhere else I’d choose to be.
Weird.
Really weird.
“I think we might be able to double our production with the stuff she was talking about,” Harlan said, nodding sagely. “She’s sharp as hell.”
“I think Harlan might have a little crush,” Jax teased, and I could practically feel Harlan’s immediate shock in reaction to the comment.
“Crush?” Harlan said, lifting an eyebrow and barking out a laugh. It was the first time I’d heard him laugh that hard. “Not exactly my type.”
“What is your type?” Jax asked, clearly curious.
Harlan looked at us like we were insane. “Men. Tall men, short men, skinny men or big men, clean-shaven or hairy as hell. I’ve been gay since before you could speak.”
I tried to hide my surprise again. “Oh,” I said.
Harlan gave us both a smirk that said you guys are idiots before slapping the side of one of the tanks and getting right back to work. Jax and I exchanged a glance and I shrugged.
“You learn new things every day,” I said.
I’d had no idea Harlan was gay, but if he was that proud of it, there was no way that my father could have been homophobic. Dad worked with Harlan for years and years, and they’d been friends, even though Dad was a lot older than him. He must have known Harlan was gay. And he must have been okay with it.
It made my heart ache a little, thinking how much Dad must have grown in the years I’d been away.
Would he have accepted me, if I’d moved back sooner? I could hardly stand thinking about it. If Dad really had loved me all of those years, and had just been too afraid to reach out….
I heard the sound of the front doors swinging open and Jax and I returned to the front bar area. Nathan and Charlie walked in, both of them wearing Fixer Brothers shirts and work pants, probably already hours into their long days.
“First customers of the day,” I said, glancing down at my watch. “We aren’t open for another two minutes, but you two can get the special treatment.”
“We’re in need of an early lunch situation,” Nathan said. “And then we’re headed over to your house to help my brother out with the kitchen demo.”
“Two buffalo chicken wraps?” I asked.
“God, yes,” Charlie said. “Sounds perfect.”
After putting in the order to the kitchen I slipped out my phone, seeing a text and a photo from Shawn.
>>Shawn: Check it out.
The attached photo was a selfie of him in front of the far wall of the kitchen. All of the doors and shelves had already been removed, and Shawn was winking in the photo.
>>Rush: An incredible work of art. Oh, and the cabinets are looking good, too.
>>Shawn: A few hours into telling me you want to date me, and already you’re this cheesy?
>>Rush: Deal with it.
>>Shawn: I think I’ll have a lot of fun “dealing with it” next time you cum—sorry, come over.
>>Rush: Now who’s being cheesy?
>>Shawn: Like you don’t have a half-chub just from seeing me write that word.
>>Rush: I hate when you’re right.
>>Shawn: Back to work.
>>Rush: Yes. Also, just saying, whenever you do decide I’m awful at dating, I just want you to know that I’ll still be attending your family dinners with Nathan sometimes, because your mom’s cooking is just too good. I don’t care how awkward it might be, I’m not giving that up. Okay?
For a few minutes, Shawn didn’t reply, and I went about my normal routine getting the bar set up for lunch. Looking up at Nathan right after texting with Shawn, I had no idea how to proceed.
Was I supposed to tell Nathan now?
Hey, just do you know, I’m attempting to date your beloved little brother even though you think I’m a walking red flag for relationships, and you’re 100% right?
I had a headache already. The idea of dating seriously was already hard enough without having to explain it to my best friend.
I just needed a little more time. To figure out what the hell I was doing.
My phone buzzed again and when I looked down at it, I couldn’t keep a smile off of my face.
>>Shawn: You’ve got it, cutie.
For fuck’s sake. People had called me sexy, confident, hot, and all sorts of other compliments over the years. But cutie? I didn’t think I’d ever gotten that. For some reason hearing it from Shawn was hitting me in all sorts of good ways, making me feel bubbly inside all over again.