Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry. When Rome and I began speaking, we weren’t on the best of terms. It has taken time to rebuild that trust and respect,” I explained.
She made a little noise of acceptance, though it was obvious from her frown that she still wasn’t happy. “Very well. But I think it might be best if you hurry things along. Get that donation to the department prior to the Christmas holiday. I’m sure none of us wants this matter looming over us as we head into that busy season.”
With one last tight, fake smile, Linda turned and strode out of the lab before filling us in on what the potential problem might be for our future dig. Of course, that problem could very well be a lack of funds, which I would fix by tapping Rome for a fat stack of cash.
I turned to my computer and began pulling up the work I needed to accomplish today, my back hunched and my head down. Everything I’d done with Rome recently, the headway we’d made in becoming friends again, suddenly left a sour taste in my mouth. Did he think I was only doing this for the money? That I was faking all the enjoyment I’d felt? Yes, I’d gone into this for the money, but I wouldn’t pretend to have fun or be nice to him for it.
Emily’s gentle voice suddenly invaded my thoughts. “Don’t worry about the donation. I’m sure you’ve got this.”
She was right. Rome was a nice guy. I had a feeling that if I picked up my phone right now and called him, asking that he cut a check for five million dollars to save my job, he’d do it. Without me promising to see through the last two dates.
But I didn’t want to cut corners and take advantage of his good nature. I wanted to see this through because I was banking on a substantial bonus at the end of this journey I hadn’t counted on. I was going to get my childhood friend back.
Except things were becoming more complicated than that. I was feeling things I shouldn’t.
“Em.” I paused and licked my lips. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Sure.”
“When…no, how did you know you were a lesbian?”
“Well, mostly, it was the way my heart raced and my body tingled each time I saw certain girls. I mean, have you ever really looked at Michelle Pfeiffer? God, that woman was so hot in the nineties. Not to mention Charlize Theron. And I’ve got such a thing for Cate Blanchett. But I digress.” The tension attempting to strangle me eased to hear the lightness in my voice at that moment. “At first, I claimed I was bi, but I think I clung to that because I knew my parents wouldn’t accept me being a lesbian, but it didn’t take long for me to figure out that there weren’t any guys that I was drooling over the way I was with women. As for the timing, I think I knew as a teenager, but I didn’t embrace it until college and I was away from the watchful eye of my parents. I could be me without horrible consequences.”
“Are they still…terrible to you about it?”
“Eh.” I peeked past my shoulder to see her shrug. She’d turned her back to me as she spoke, working on cleaning up a cephalopod we’d received from a local amateur fossil hunter. “They’re better than they were. You can tell they’re not thrilled about it, but my girlfriend might have let it slip that she wants kids one day. So, my parents are appeased so long as they end up with grandchildren. My dad won’t admit to it, but I swear he’s started searching for worthy Chinese sperm donors.”
I huffed a laugh. “Good luck.”
“Definitely.”
A long silence filled the room, and I tried to force my brain to focus on science things. At that moment, I would have even welcomed one of Rome’s stupid meme texts.
Emily was the first to break the silence, her sweet words squeezing my heart. “Liam, you never have to tell me anything, but I’m here if you ever want to talk.”
“Thanks, Em. I just…want to think about things.”
“Understandable. I’ll give you the best piece of advice I was told years ago. Never let someone tell you how you feel is wrong. There’s no should or shouldn’t. No expiration date either. If you’re attracted to men, great. If you’re attracted to women, also great. If you aren’t attracted to anyone, great. If you’ve always been attracted to women and one day wake up and find yourself attracted to a man, great. No one should have the power to tell you who you are or how you feel. Not parents, friends, strangers, or even the fucking government. Be you. In the end, you’ll be a hell of a lot happier than if you try to be something they want you to be.”