Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Yeah, his brother had guessed it. Salem offered the tiniest nod, as if to confirm that he’d have his brother’s back as he waded through this minefield.
“Kevin and I broke up,” Samuel announced. Just dropped that bomb right in the middle of the kitchen, not caring where the shrapnel flew.
What? Why? How? What happened? What did you do?
The questions flew at him from both parents while his brother remained silent, which Samuel appreciated. He didn’t like a lot of poking into his private life, even from his family. Salem understood that he’d talk about things when he was ready.
Salem would have also been the first to point out that this was the very reason he never brought home anyone he dated. Of course, Salem was a short-term serial dater. No one stuck around long enough in his life to be introduced to their parents.
“It’s just one of those things. We weren’t a good match and decided to go our separate ways.” Samuel shrugged a shoulder.
Lies. All of it lies.
It had actually sounded something more like, “I can’t deal with you anymore! Being with you is like dating a robot. You have no emotions whatsoever. Your whole being is focused on your stupid research. Why would I want to stay with someone if I don’t even register with them? You don’t feel anything for me. I want to be with someone who notices how I’m feeling and cares about me!”
Oh, and Samuel had made the entire situation way worse by blurting out the first thing that’d come to mind: “You’re doing this now? The trip is in three months! You promised to help me with my research.”
Yeah, in hindsight, he really should have said something that didn’t have to do with his research. Or at least made some noises about how he did love Kevin and did worry about how he was feeling, or apologized for focusing all of his attention on his research and neglecting his lover.
But he hadn’t. Most likely because it would have been a lie.
Kevin Myers was a hot, sexy, funny man who was so fucking out of Samuel’s league that he never should have noticed Samuel in the first place. Of course, Kevin was the first to admit he had a weakness for the nerdy types, which fit Samuel to a freaking T.
When they’d started dating, Samuel had had a feeling both of them were sure it wouldn’t last more than a month or two. But then it simply became comfortable, and they just never bothered to end it.
Until now.
At the worst fucking time.
And in the brief moments when he wasn’t focused entirely on the upcoming trip, it felt like a lead weight had settled on his chest, threatening to crush his heart and lungs into a pulpy mush.
He didn’t miss Kevin like he should because they had been growing apart for several months now. The pain was more from his failure. He just wasn’t good enough for a relationship. There were things inside of Samuel that were so broken he was sure he wasn’t fit for anyone. He was better off alone, happier alone. At least, for now.
“What are you talking about? Not a good match? You and Kevin were together for more than a year. He took great care of you,” his mother argued, sounding way more invested in his relationship than Samuel had been. “What did you do? Were you neglecting him?”
“Mom, I have work. He has work. It was hard for us to find time to be together,” he snapped more sharply than he’d meant to. He was still inwardly flinching at the sting of her words.
She was already shaking her head and clucking her tongue before he even finished speaking. “Well, I’ll make a plate for him anyway. You can take it to him and use it as an apology. Tell him you’re going to start making more time for him.”
“We’re not getting back together,” Samuel replied flatly, trying not to clench his teeth.
“Of course you are. Don’t give up hope, sweetheart.”
Samuel tilted his head back and rolled his eyes so hard he nearly gave himself a headache. In one ear and out the fucking other. He wanted to scream.
“Mom, Samuel can do so much better than Kevin. Samuel doesn’t want to be with him. Quit trying to push them together,” Salem argued.
Samuel opened his eyes to find both of his parents looking thoughtfully at their other son before turning their gaze back to him.
“Is that true, son? Are you happier without Kevin?” Norman asked.
“We thought you were happy, but if Salem says you weren’t…” Janice’s voice drifted off before she finished.
Samuel clenched his teeth against a roar of frustration and kept his expression completely blank. This had been his entire life. Whenever Samuel said something they didn’t want to believe, they argued with him and brushed off his words, seeming to assume that he didn’t know his own mind. But the second Salem backed him up, their ears magically started working.