Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“You didn’t tell me that.”
“I’m telling you now. Wyatt’s dying to meet you, too.”
“I can’t wait. Let’s go next weekend.”
“This is exciting,” I said. “I’ve never brought anyone home to meet my family before.”
“Will you teach me some sign language between now and then? I know I won’t be able to manage much in such a short time, but I’d like to say some basic things, like hi, nice to meet you, and I adore Jack.”
I grinned at that and took a step back. Then I signed exactly what he’d just said and told him, “I’ll teach you more than that, obviously, but it’s a good starting point.”
Just then, we were interrupted by a knock at the door. “That’s weird,” I said. “We’re literally in the middle of nowhere out here. Who’d be knocking?”
As I followed him into the bedroom, he said, “It might be one of my three neighbors. They all pretty much keep to themselves, but maybe one of them needs something.” He picked up his phone and accessed the app that went with the camera on his doorbell, and his eyebrows shot toward his hairline. When he turned the screen to face me, there was Doctor Ford, his ex, pacing nervously.
“What do you suppose he wants?”
“No idea, but I guess I should answer it.”
He quickly traded the towel around his hips for gym shorts and a T-shirt before hurrying downstairs. Meanwhile, I took a seat on the top step, where I was out of sight but could hear everything. I was way too nosy not to listen in.
Adriano answered the door with, “Hey, Ford, what’s up?”
“We need to talk. Can I come in?”
“I don’t have much time. I’m about to head to the airport.”
“I know,” Ford said. “I ran into Romy at a coffee house a little while ago. He was on his way to work so he couldn’t talk long either, but he mentioned you were about to head back to San Francisco with some guy. He also said you’re moving in together.”
“You’re intentionally being rude by calling him ‘some guy.’ My boyfriend’s name is Jack, which you know because you met him.”
“Boyfriend,” Ford scoffed. “What are you, in high school?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be calling him my husband soon enough.” That made me grin.
“I don’t understand what’s gotten into you! We were together for four years, and everything happened at a glacier’s pace. Now all of a sudden you’re moving in with someone you’ve known for a few weeks? It’s not like you, Reno.”
“No, it’s not, and thank god for that. I was just coasting through life before, and I feel like I finally woke up when I met Jack.”
“It’s exciting because it’s new,” Ford said, “but once the novelty wears off, what are you left with?”
“My perfect match.” Adriano sounded like there wasn’t a doubt in his mind about that. “Jack is exactly what I need. In fact, he’s what I’ve always needed. He and I are the same, and we understand each other.”
“Meaning what, he’s a criminal like you?”
It was obvious Ford was trying to goad him into an argument, but Adriano didn’t take the bait. Instead, he asked, “What was your objective in coming here, Ford? Did you feel like picking a fight? If so, you wasted your time, because I’m not doing that anymore.”
“No, of course I didn’t come here to pick a fight. I came to ask you for another chance.” Oh, hell. Now I felt bad for the guy. He pressed on with, “We had four years together! That has to count for something.”
Adriano’s tone turned sympathetic. “It’s too late,” he said gently. “I’m in love with Jack. He’s everything to me, and I plan to spend the rest of my life with him.”
“How can you say that, after such a short time?”
“Time has nothing to do with it. You and I proved how irrelevant it is. We were never right, and we were never going to be, no matter how much time we invested. Sometimes I think we stayed together out of habit more than anything, and because it seemed easier than getting back out there and starting from scratch.”
“Maybe…”
“Do yourself a favor, Ford. Accept the fact that you and I failed. Actually, that’s probably another reason we stayed together so long, and why you’re here now—because you feel like you have to succeed at everything. But failure isn’t a bad thing. Look at it as a chance to learn and grow.”
After a pause, Ford said, “I guess you’re right. So, do you think you and I can be friends?”
Adriano told him, “We already are,” which I thought was sweet.
They spoke for another minute or two, and after Ford took off, Adriano appeared at the foot of the stairs. He grinned when he saw me sitting there and said, “I suppose you heard everything.”