Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
He would feel better about tonight if he knew her motives.
His cousin’s husband Bellamy appeared behind Seamus, wrapping his arms around him while eyeing Solomon’s new look. “It’s not long enough for a good braid, you’re too pink to wear pink, and I vote no on the haircut. You look hot like this. Nothing like you used to.”
Seamus grinned and even Solomon found himself fighting off a smile. “I won’t ask you to expand on that, buddy. A man can only take so many compliments in one day.”
Bellamy shrugged one shoulder. “It was a compliment. And you don’t need to be nervous about the Waynes. They’re good people. You’ll be fine.”
Solomon crossed his arms, wincing when the hard cast knocked him in the chest. “If they expect me to talk about current events or tell them about my future prospects, they might be sorry they invited me.”
“Bronte invited you,” Seamus reminded him. “And if anything comes up that you aren’t comfortable with, change the subject and talk about my kids. Cassandra thinks they’re all angels. Little does she know.”
“Who’s Cassandra?”
“Didn’t you used to investigate things for a living? Cassandra is Hugo’s mother. If this plan of yours is going to work, you have to get in with the family. Trust me. I speak from experience.”
As he listened to Bellamy he had a vague recollection of a beautiful woman in yellow as well as an older man with dimples and a pair of round, old-fashioned glasses perched on his nose. He’d seen them at Hugo’s graduation, when he’d gone to congratulate James. “I don’t have a plan, beyond not embarrassing myself. Who said I had a plan?”
“How drugged up were you yesterday?” Seamus was squinting in confusion. “You asked us to help you get Hugo back.”
“No, I didn’t.” Solomon would have remembered that.
“That’s why we’re giving you a pep talk and dressing you like a grownup—which I used to think you knew how to do before I realized you cheated with your uniform. That’s why you accepted his sister’s invitation. Solomon Finn is going a-wooing.”
“A-whating?” Son of a bitch. “I’m going to kill William for leaving me there to make a fool of myself.”
And he didn’t care how much his arm ached, those pain meds were going in the trash. He’d take physical discomfort over saying too much any day of the week.
“You already accepted his apology when he called a few hours ago.”
He avoided Bellamy’s gaze. “I felt bad for the kid. James pulled him over and gave him hell for an hour.” He didn’t need to ask for more details. William’s outrage was enough, and his brother wasn’t known for being subtle.
“He said he’d gotten the feeling you wanted privacy. Did you tell him about Hugo?”
“Who the hell knows? Apparently I told everyone who’d listen anything they wanted to know.”
And he’d made Hugo uncomfortable.
I want to kiss you.
“Maybe I should stay home.”
“You can’t back out now.” Bellamy walked over to straighten Solomon’s tie. “You may not have meant to share that much, but I’m glad you did. Your cousin has been worried about you.”
He looked to Seamus for confirmation. “Why?”
“We all are, Younger. Rory most of all. You two have gotten a lot closer this year, and he was the first to notice you’d started closing off again. What he doesn’t know is why.” Seamus held up his hand before he could ask. “And before you ask, I haven’t told anyone but Bellamy how you feel about Thoreau’s brother. You know that.”
Seamus had been his only connection to Hugo via Thoreau, and he’d noticed how often Solomon managed to work questions about him into their conversations. There’d been no way to avoid sharing, thought he hadn’t told him everything. He had to admit it was nice to have someone to talk to. He and Seamus had always been two peas in a responsible, repressed pod, so he understood what Solomon was going through better than most.
The only difference was Seamus had always had his kids and his parents to support him and keep him grounded. And now Bellamy.
“I’ll talk to Rory tomorrow.”
“But will you talk to Hugo?”
The couple stared at him expectantly. “He isn’t going to be happy I’m there, Seamus. He looked like he would rather be doing anything else than standing in that hospital room.”
He remembered that clearly. Hugo had been jumpy and tense. It was out of character for the man he remembered. He was always confident and compassionate. Always comfortable around everyone.
And that said more about what Solomon had put him through than words ever could. Did he have the right to keep pushing his way in like this?
“You’ve lost your confidence,” Bellamy said, shaking his head. “Chief Finn would pull any string and cross any line—right or wrong—to help his family.”
“I’m not that man anymore.” He hadn’t been for a while. “And my family is fine.”