Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“Hey.” Denver looked deep into my eyes, a level of compassion there that worked to instantly settle my nerves. Moving his hand from my leg, he laced our fingers together, resting our joined hands on the truck’s middle console. “I’m staying for me. Because I want to save Honey’s. Because I want to see who I might be if I stay somewhere for a change. Who I can be with you. One family dinner isn’t going to make me flee.”
“Good.” I closed my eyes, taking a deep, grateful inhale. When I opened my eyes, Denver was still smiling. I leaned in for a kiss, making it fast because two different sets of neighbors were out doing yard work. Time to go in. “The faster we make it through lunch, the faster we can get back to the carriage house and get naked.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Denver chuckled as we exited the truck and made our way to my parent’s front stoop. As usual, my mom had said I didn’t need to bring anything, but I’d spotted a fun flavor of local soda at the store. I had that, plus some cookies for what was sure to be a loaded dessert table.
“Sean!” My mother opened the door with her usual flourish, immediately seizing the bag with the food. “And this must be Denver!” Bag dangling from one arm, she swept him into a hug. Like my sisters, she was a natural hugger, so I wasn’t surprised by her greeting. Denver, however, made a startled noise before she released him. Turning back to me, my mom flashed a gleaming grin that matched the cartoon characters smiling across the front of her T-shirt. “And we have a surprise for you!”
Oh, please no. I’d been pleasantly surprised so far by the reactions to my coming out. If this were an intervention or, worse, more matchmaking, I was going to lose the calm I was so known for.
Mom ushered us into the sunken living room of the split-level house. Three generations of Murphy family photos lined the mantel and the walls. Happy chaos reigned throughout the older home, with the sound of the kids filtering back from the kitchen and yard. My sisters and their husbands were in the living room, but my gaze went right to the couch centered by the front window.
“Declan.” My heart lifted as my son stood and crossed the room toward me. His auburn hair was shaggier and more styled than our last visit, and he looked to have lost a little weight. Probably training too hard. He gave me a fast hug and a back slap. He was taller than me—had been for years now—but I still wasn’t used to having to look up. “What are you doing here?”
His presence was indeed a surprise, and as happy as I was to see him, my head spun with a fresh new set of worries.
“I came in early for the race next week in Washington. Told Grandma not to tell. I figured I’d get a little extra practice at the track and cruise down here to see the fam. Introduce y’all to Stacey.” He returned to the couch and a model-perfect young woman in a tight black V-necked tee advertising an energy drink. The red can on her shirt matched her lips and manicured nails, while her blonde hair was almost longer than her tiny denim shorts. Declan threw an easy arm around her shoulders. “Stacey runs promo for one of our sponsors. And she’s why we’ve been playing text and phone tag lately.”
Declan had a smug smile, but my stomach clenched.
“Ah. That’s…awesome.” I nodded at both of them. Declan had a revolving door of girlfriends, going back to his middle school years, and had always been one to have a lot of female friends and dates. “Nice to meet you, Stacey.”
“Of course.” She gave a pageant-worthy smile as Declan looked expectantly at Denver, who was still by my side. Undoubtedly, awaiting introductions, which would have been far easier had Declan picked up the phone any of the dozen-plus times I’d tried to reach him over the last week.
“And uh…this is Denver. My…um…”
“Fr—” Denver’s mouth opened at the same time that three of my tween-aged nieces came running through the room.
“Uncle Sean’s boyfriend is here,” the oldest shrieked, red curly hair spilling down her back as the other two giggled. My sisters tried to quiet the trio, but I was actually a little relieved. Grateful even.
Denver had been ready with the save because I’d had an attack of nerves. But now the news was out, and I was strangely calm amid all the laughing and carrying on.
“That’s right. This is my boyfriend.” I grabbed Denver’s hand and held on tightly.
“Wow.” Declan went pale, classic Murphy freckles standing out in stark relief. He tilted his head, then shook it like he was testing reality.