Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“Texting Brix to tell him his old boss is all … gooey and in looove.”
In a swift move, I steal his phone. Gideon is the manager of the pop star Brix left Mike Bravo to protect … and then fall in love with. But I can’t deal with this right now.
“Hey,” Gideon complains.
“Can you please save your mockery for after today? Then you can text whoever you want, whatever you want. This gathering is like putting Dylan and me in a pressure cooker and setting it to high. I need to get through it any way I can, and you need to help me.”
Gideon squeezes my shoulder. “I can do that. For you. Because you’re like my brother. And also, you have a fire to put out. My mom just inserted herself in between Dylan and his dad.”
Shit.
Okay, time to run interference.
A few hours turns into a billion, and Dylan and I get sucked into a swirling vortex that happens to be the Rodriguez-West families. From dodging questions about what I do to getting our mothers to stop mentioning the words wedding or marriage, I’m exhausted when we finally go out to Dylan’s car at almost midnight.
I immediately lean over and drop my head onto his shoulder. “It was horrible.”
Dylan laughs. “Oh no, our families—including my dad, who I never thought would accept a man in my life—love us and want us to be happy and married! It really was horrible.”
“Is that what your dad was saying when he pulled you away?”
“His exact words were ‘Your mamá wanted me to talk to you to make sure you know that I love you and accept you and your partner, even though I told her you already knew that.’ I said I didn’t, actually, but I’m happy he’s finally come around. He admitted to me that it was hard to talk about, but Mamá pointed out it was probably even harder for me.”
“Even though today was exhausting, I’m happy you got something good out of it.”
“It’s been a long time coming, but it’s crazy to think he was under the impression I knew he supported me because he didn’t disown me …” Dylan shakes his head.
“I can’t say I can even begin to relate because my parents were so great when I came out, but I remember similar situations in the military where the guys on my squad would think they weren’t being homophobic because they weren’t actively attacking me for my sexuality, like calling me names or taking a swing were the only actions that could be considered problematic.”
“It sucks we still crave that validation. I know that we’ve accepted ourselves, so anyone who disapproves can go get fucked, but …”
“But it’s nice to know you’re loved. Especially by family.”
“It is.”
I reach over and place my hand on his thigh. “Then today was worth it. And I have to admit, your parents know how to put on a family shindig. Even my mom was impressed.”
“It was a good day. Marriage jokes and all.” Dylan smirks.
I take my hand back. “Don’t you start.”
“What, now that we’re actually together, marriage scares you? You’ve joked about it in the past more than any of your family did back there.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t think it would ever actually happen.”
“There you go with your commitment-phobe backward thinking again. If it makes you feel any better, I’m in no hurry to get married. Or maybe I don’t want that at all, I’m not sure yet. But I do know that it’s probably a smart idea considering our career choices. We’d want our relationship recognized by the state if anything were to happen to one of us.”
I hold my heart. “That’s the most romantic proposal in the history of proposals.”
Dylan shoves me. “That wasn’t a proposal, jackass. I’m just letting you know I’m open to the idea—it would be smart, but also, no pressure. Because when the jokes get too real, suddenly the badass isn’t so badass after all. You can commit to a tattoo with my name, but not to a ring that, you know, can be removed.”
“Yep. Going to need that drink now.”
“Anywhere in mind you want to go?”
“I know the perfect place.” I direct Dylan where to go, and when we pull up outside a notorious strip club, he side-eyes me.
“How … romantic?”