Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I didn’t reply. Everyone at the table was quiet and began digging into their food again. An uncomfortable minute later, Bruno said, “My best friend back home is gay. If you ever do realize you are, I can hook you up.” It was the type of thing Bruno would say. He meant it as a joke and also as an offer of support. My lips curled up in a smile, and I could see Mere was caught between wanting to laugh and freaking out because it was closer to the truth than Bruno knew.
“You’re trying not to laugh,” Mom said to me. “It’s not funny. He’s not gay. He said so himself.” The slight quiver in her voice told me she was hoping that was true, but she wasn’t sure.
And because I’m me, and I was so fucking over this and feeling all kinds of weird since Remy was back, I opened my mouth and let the words fall free. “Bisexual, actually. Bruno, if I’m ever looking, I may take you up on that.”
The room was deadly quiet. I could feel six sets of eyes trained on me. Bruno’s went wide, a very clear apology there. He hadn’t known and hadn’t meant to make me out myself, but fuck, why in the hell did it matter? I’d never come out because I’d never been serious about a guy other than Remington, but I was so damn tired of it all.
“That’s not funny,” Dad said.
“It wasn’t meant to be. If anyone has a problem, we hash it out now. If not, I’d like to go back to my lunch.”
No one replied, so I took a bite of my food, Mere’s hand on my thigh in support.
When lunch was over, I left while everyone pretended I didn’t say something that shouldn’t be a big deal, but to some of them, it definitely was.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Remington
I was in over my head. I’d known that for a couple of days and did a pretty good job ignoring it. I’d ordered furniture but needed to redo the flooring, which was the first task I’d planned to take on, but yeah, it wouldn’t be easy with stuff in the house, and I needed stuff to live. This job was obviously bigger than me, but I wanted to hire out as few people as possible. I needed this, to get my hands dirty and work on this place for myself.
I started outside. The old shed was full of stuff I needed to go through. I should have asked that it be emptied before I bought the house, but I’d been so damn impatient. I’d wanted to be here, and I hadn’t wanted to wait.
I spent most of the afternoon sorting through it, hauling things outside and making different piles. A lot of it was junk, but there were some cool things out there—a trunk I fell in love with instantly, and an old typewriter that looked really neat.
I’d need to call someone to haul shit off, and I needed a vehicle. Yeah, hadn’t thought any of this through. So I ignored all the ways this didn’t make sense, how it was a disaster waiting to happen, and went over to a tree, where I’d left my jug of water. I took a few swallows.
It was a warm day, pretty humid, but that hadn’t ever bothered me much. I liked it cold, and I liked it hot. Well, and most of the time I was inside anyway.
Something brushed my leg, startling me, and I looked down to see Bear had sneaked up behind me. I’d seen Law’s truck drive down the road about half an hour ago. I sure as shit hadn’t expected him to come over. We’d said we would be friends, but I hadn’t seen him since, which to me meant he didn’t really want to.
But when I turned, there he was, in faded jeans and an old T-shirt and boots. “I thought maybe you could use some help,” he said without taking his eyes off me.
It was such a Law thing to do, but a part of me still couldn’t believe it. “Yeah, sure. If you’re up for it.”
“I’m always up when I need to be.” He winked, and heat rushed through me. He could always do that. He was a good flirt.
He paused, as if realizing he’d been playfully flirting with me and didn’t like it.
“What do we got going here?” He pointed to all the stuff on the lawn as Bear sniffed around.
“I need to get the shed cleaned out. Some of it is junk, but some I thought I could use in the house. There’s some pretty cool stuff. Look at this trunk.”
It was obviously old and really scuffed up. One of the latches on it was broken, but there was gorgeous carving along the edges, swirls and designs that were intricate and perfect.