Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
“And your father granted it?”
Gadiel shrugged again. “Why not? There was no love lost there. I’m the result of a drunken hookup. Father married her because Islam doesn’t approve of having children out of wedlock. He didn’t want me either, but he had appearances to keep up, so he was forced to marry her. He seemed as relieved to get rid of her as she was eager to leave us.” He crossed his arms over his chest, all but hugging himself. “It’s fine. It isn’t like I miss her or anything. I never really had a mother. I can’t miss something I never had.”
Will tried not to frown. Gadiel wasn’t the first rich boy with neglectful parents that he’d met over the course of his career; far from it. It was actually surprisingly common. Rich people had some fucked-up relationship dynamics, and Will considered himself immune to that sort of thing. He’d always been good at keeping his distance from his clients. But now he felt uneasy as he imagined a small, blue-eyed little boy waiting and hoping for his parents’ affection in vain. Will found himself thinking about what Gadiel had told him when they’d first met. No one wants me.
Will looked away, struggling with an almost painful wave of sympathy.
“Your brother said you were going to start studying at Oxford after your wedding,” he said. “Are you hoping to reconnect with your mother?”
Gadiel laughed a little. “To reconnect with someone you need to have a previous connection. I wouldn’t expect to see her at all even if I went through with the wedding and left for the UK as planned.” He lifted his chin. “But I have no intention of doing it. I’ll leave the country long before the wedding. I’m going to America with Scott. I’ll—I’ll be happy there—as long as I can.” There was desperation in Gadiel’s eyes. Desperation and aching loneliness.
Averting his gaze again, Will got to his feet. “If we don’t leave now, Romeo, we’ll be late for your date.”
“Fuck!” Gadiel said, glancing at the screen of his phone. “We’re running late! Why didn’t you tell me? I didn’t even finish picking my clothes yet!”
“I just told you,” Will said dryly. “You look fine. Let’s go.”
“Fine? It’s not enough to look fine!”
Will rolled his eyes. “You look great. You’re the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever seen. Happy now?”
Gadiel blushed. “Really?” he said, a small, pleased smile tugging at his lips as he looked up at Will, almost shyly.
What an odd reaction.
Will stared at that bashful little smile and cleared his throat. “I’m hardly an expert, but you’re objectively very attractive. For a guy.”
Gadiel’s brows furrowed. “Attractiveness isn’t objective, though. What’s attractive for one person isn’t attractive for another.”
Normally Will would agree. Some women he’d been with could be described as average-looking, but all of them had a nice smile, which was the first thing he usually noticed in women. Gadiel couldn’t be described as average-looking by any stretch of the imagination, but he also had the prettiest smile when it was genuine. Will couldn’t help but stare every time the kid smiled.
“There’s the term ‘conventionally attractive,’” Will said. “You’re that. And stop fishing for compliments. You know how attractive you are. You own a mirror.” Will laid a hand on Gadiel’s shoulder blades and gently but firmly steered him out of the apartment.
Gadiel let him.
Chapter 10
Thankfully, they made it in time.
Scott was waiting for them inside the theater. Oh, Gadiel had almost forgotten how handsome he was in person. As handsome as Will. More handsome, though Will’s shoulders were wider and he was maybe an inch taller. Will’s features were a little firmer too. Not that Scott’s weren’t firm—they were plenty firm, just more refined. Scott’s features were objectively more handsome. Will’s were a little rough.
“Hello, beautiful,” Scott said with a flirty smirk.
Gadiel glanced sideways at Will and wasn’t surprised to see that he looked unimpressed.
“Lower your damn voice and stop being so obvious in public,” Will ground out.
Scott rolled his eyes but lifted his hands in a placating gesture. “I’m sorry, Mr. Bodyguard,” he said with his usual sass. “I’ll behave, I promise.” He smiled at Gadiel. “Shall we? The movie will start in five minutes.”
Their seats were at the back, and to Gadiel’s relief, there weren’t any people around them.
He sat down, and Scott took the seat to his left. After a moment, Will sat down next to Scott.
Gadiel frowned a little. He kind of... he’d expected that Will would sit by his side. But this was probably better. Thoughtful of him to give him and Scott some privacy. It was very dark here, the atmosphere suitably ominous for a horror movie. They could maybe get away with some cuddling.
“Fuck, I hope it isn’t too scary,” Scott said with a chuckle as the movie started. “I hate creepy horror movies. I could barely watch the original Alien without pissing myself.” He took Gadiel’s hand and squeezed it. “You’ll protect me, right, babe?”