Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
We had another cup of coffee, and I told her a little about Danny and the things Will was up to in the city. It wasn’t long until we said our goodbyes and I was on my way back to my duplex.
I’d just pulled into my driveway when my cell rang. Danny’s name was on the screen. I frowned, answering the call. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Doom and Gloom. I don’t have much time because I’m on a break at work, but I wanted to let you know I stuck my foot in my mouth. I didn’t know quite how far your brooding silence actually went, and—”
“I don’t brood, and I’m not silent.”
“That’s actually not a bad thing. Guys think it’s hot. It makes you irresistible because it’s mysterious.”
Well, I had to admit the being-irresistible part didn’t sound bad, but I didn’t want that to be why a guy was interested. “Did you call to give me dating advice?”
“Okay, so that one was a little funny, but no, I called to tell you that I didn’t know you hadn’t told Will you agreed to move in with me. I mentioned it to Eli, who told Shaw, who asked Will about it, and poof, your secret is out.”
I frowned. That was an indirect route if I’d ever heard one. “I didn’t purposefully try to keep it from him. I just didn’t think about telling him.”
“Good. I feel better. Anyway, Will, Jameson, and I are going to come down tomorrow and help you move.”
“You guys don’t have to do that.”
“Fuck, Carson. You are so difficult. We know we don’t have to; we want to. You have to load your truck and the U-Haul, drive it into the city, unload some at the storage and the rest at my place. Are you Superman? You can do all that by yourself?”
He had a point… “There’s this group of college kids who help with odd jobs. They do last-minute stuff. I was going to call them today.”
“Nice eye candy, I’m sure, but we’re cheap.”
“I wasn’t… I’m not… That’s not why I was going to use them.”
“Well, that’s a shame. Anyway, we’ll be there at ten.”
“Sure…thanks. What’s up with the last name? You called me Carson,” I asked just as he said, “Gotta run,” then added, “I don’t know. It just came out. I need to get back to work. See you in the morning, okay?”
“Bye,” I replied right before Danny hung up, and I found myself disappointed the call had to end so soon.
Weird.
I got up early the next morning and went for doughnuts. I figured if they were coming to help, I should have something to give them. Then, for some reason, I felt stupid that I got them, which led me to being fucking pissed at myself for overthinking everything as if I couldn’t function. Second-guessing myself and stressing about every little thing was so unfamiliar to me. Everything felt like I was out of my element now, but there was no real reason to feel that way. It wasn’t as if I’d never had buddies over to help me with something. Maybe it was because these weren’t my friends; they were Will’s. Or maybe it was because it felt like everyone was coddling me since I’d been scared to come out.
I didn’t know, and I couldn’t make sense of my thoughts. Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to stop seeing my therapist.
I left the doughnuts on the counter. I’d already picked up the U-Haul last night. It was a trailer I just had to hook onto my truck. Time went by fairly quickly as I finished up last-minute stuff, and before I knew it, I saw Jameson’s car pulling up out front.
I turned so I didn’t look like a creeper watching them out the window. The door was already open. Will came in first, followed by Jameson and Danny. I wrapped an arm around Will’s shoulders and fucked up his hair, trying to act normal. “Hey, twerp. Thanks for coming over to help.”
“Stop it, fucker.” He jerked away.
“Your relationship always fascinates me because I don’t have brothers,” Jameson told us, and it was such a Jameson thing to say. I was pretty sure I saw my brother melt, which was weird as hell. Why did he melt over that? Because Jameson was quirky?
“I wouldn’t base too much on us,” Will replied. “We’re probably not normal.”
“Well, I am.” I pointed to Will. “He’s probably not.”
“Be nice, or we won’t help you,” Will replied. He had a point.
I rubbed the back of my neck, my gaze flickering over to Danny. “Hey.”
“What’s up?”
“I, um…got doughnuts.”
“That was nice of you,” Jameson replied. Will was already going for the box.
“Did you get me a maple bar? You know I love them, and you guys used to always try and eat them before I could when we were kids.” Way to remind me I was a dickhead, baby bro. Thanks a lot.