Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“She didn’t.”
“Oh, she did. It was cute.”
“I’m going to kill her.”
“Don’t. I saw her leaving with Gordo. That’s punishment enough.”
He pauses with his pants halfway up his thighs. “Gordo … the best man? Is he a decent guy?”
I laugh. “It’s adorable how you two are protective of each other.”
“She’s practically my sister. I see her more than my actual sister.”
“You should make time to go see your family in Rhode Island.”
“It’s hard with work and everything, but I should.”
That means he won’t. I’ve been around him long enough to know his dismissive tone. He used the same one when both Coach and I told him he should contact the hockey camp guy.
I slowly climb out of bed and reach above my head, stretching out all of my tired and aching muscles.
Rainn watches me, his eyes taking all of me in, but then he shakes his head. “Nope, nope, nope. We’re going to be late.” He turns and walks out of his bedroom but not before glancing at me over his shoulder. “Keep moving, Rainn,” he mutters to himself.
I love the way he’s obvious in the way he wants me now.
He’s been hard to read from the start, but the more we’re together, the more he’s letting down his guard.
Whatever weirdness he had last night at the wedding is gone this morning, and I’m chalking it up to nerves about sex. It was subtle, but I know he was in his head about something.
He had nothing to worry about. Even though my ass is a little tender this morning, I wouldn’t have changed the way it happened.
I know I’m lucky and not many people get to say the man of their dreams came through for them, but mine did. This is not how the straight guy and the gay friend story usually goes.
“I’ve already got my shoes on,” Rainn sings from the other room.
I get my ass in gear and dress quickly so we can get on the road. Luckily, we thought to shower last night before falling asleep, or we’d be even later.
As Rainn predicted, we’re the last ones to brunch, and Mom, Dad, Campbell, and Christie are already at the dining table when we walk into the farmhouse.
“Sorry, we’re late,” I say as I take a seat. “Rainn slept in.”
“Lies,” Rainn says.
“Fine. I slept in. For maybe the first time ever in my entire life.” My dramatic tone is not lost on my mother.
She rolls her eyes. “Guilt trips don’t work in this house. You know that.”
“You work me so hard!” I exclaim, and my brother and father give me the same look they always do when I complain about how much work I do around here. It’s the “you have it so easy” look.
“How was your first night in the new house?” I ask Campbell and Christie. I’m not using it as a diversion tactic. Nope, not at all.
Their house has been ready for a few weeks now, but they wanted to wait until their wedding day to move in.
“It’s amazing,” Christie says. “You’ll find out soon enough when yours is finished.”
Mom has her usual spread on the table that she cooks up for the farmhands, but they would’ve eaten an hour ago.
This brunch is just for us.
With the wedding craziness over, Mom and Dad have a better chance to ask Rainn some questions, and as Rainn and I pile our plates full of bacon, eggs, toast, and hash browns, they don’t hold back. It’s not an interrogation, but I realize they hit him right where it hurts first.
Mom smiles at him. “What do you do for work?”
Ouch. Sore spot right out of the gate.
“I currently work at Vino and Veritas in Burlington.” Rainn plays it off breezily.
“Are you in graduate school?” Mom asks.
“Uh, no …”
“Oh, sorry. Just how you said currently, I thought you had plans.”
I wince.
“I, uh, had a pretty bad hockey injury my senior year of college.”
“Oh, you play hockey too?” Mom asks.
“Played,” Rainn says.
Mom doesn’t pick up on the hurt in his voice. “No wonder you get along with Leighton. What did you get your degree in?”
Oh, geez. I really should’ve spoken to my parents about safe topics to bring up around Rainn. Like books, or … Well, shit, that might be the only safe topic.
“Recovery was kind of long, so I didn’t finish out the last semester. I did plan to go back eventually, but I haven’t managed to get there yet.”
I have to hand it to Rainn, he’s being open about it at least. And he’s not grunting or scowling. That’s better than when I met him and brought up all the same questions.
“There should be no rush to go back, either,” my dad says. “I tell my boys to be young while they can.”
“And then he works us seven days a week,” Campbell quips.