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 mean, it’s not like I’m about to drop to one knee and propose to you,” Rome continued. “But if I’d met you at a bar or a coffee shop or something like that and you were gay, I would be asking you out on a date. We’d be doing things to get to know each other.”
“We already know each other.”
Rome frowned and glanced at me before returning his gaze to the road. “Do we? We knew each other inside and out when we were kids, but there’s twenty years of experiences we don’t know about. But I want to know. I want to know everything about you—good and bad. I want to ask about your ex and not feel like I’m invading your privacy. I want to ask about all the things from your past—dating, college, family, favorite movies. The works.” He stopped at another red light and made a noise. “But I’m getting away from the reason I brought this up. I don’t know whether you’re interested in continuing the physical side of things with me. If it was me, I’d want to explore in a safe environment. However, it’s only right that I tell you it won’t be just casual sex for me. My heart is involved with you. And unless you say otherwise, there would be the understanding that I’m the only guy you’re fooling around with, unless you say that has changed. Actually, scratch that. I’d want to know if you were fucking a man or a woman.”
That was a lot to unpack, but none of it was bad. These were all things I wanted as well. Considering how often we were seeing each other and talking, I didn’t think he was seeing anyone else. Not that I’d given it much thought.
“So…you’re not currently dating anyone?”
“Nope.”
“You had a date at the museum symphony performance back in October, right?”
A smirk lifted the right corner of Rome’s mouth, and he drove into my rental complex. “Yeah. We went on one date. I think we figured out pretty quick that it wasn’t what either of us was looking for. Since then, there’s been no one else but you. How about you? Dating?”
I snorted. “Fuck, Rome. You know how awkward I am. I’ve never been good at dating. I wouldn’t be surprised if my wife married me out of pity.”
“That’s not true or funny,” Rome said sharply.
His protective tone and words warmed me on the inside better than the seat warmed my ass. “No, I’m not seeing anyone. I haven’t even tried since I moved to Cincinnati.”
Rome smoothly pulled his car into an open spot near my town house and shifted it into park. He turned in his seat, flashing me a tentative smile. “So, you’re okay with all that?”
A grin spread on my face as I leaned toward him. “I am.” Ignoring the butterflies in my stomach that were evolving into condors, I licked my lips. “I was thinking that you haven’t shown me your place yet.”
It was crazy. We were sitting outside of my town house. We could so easily go in and resume the fooling around that we’d started on Saturday. But fooling around at his home felt bigger. I would be “trapped” there. Escape would be a tiny bit more difficult. I couldn’t run at the first moment I became nervous.
And he was right. We didn’t know the adult versions of ourselves. I wanted to know everything about him I could.
Well, and maybe by being at Rome’s, I could step out of my life for a little while and exist in his, where being gay and sexy with a man was a normal, everyday thing.
Rome’s eyes widened, and his breath caught in the more adorable way. “You sure?”
I opened my mouth to say that I was, but he stopped me before I could speak.
“You know what? Never mind. You already said it. It’s happening.” He threw the car into reverse, backed out of the spot, and zoomed out of the parking lot with a brief squeal of tires that had me laughing. Rome’s enthusiasm was everything.
20
ROME ASHBRIDGE
Liam was in my home.
This was a big moment. Enormous. Monumental.
When I’d started this stupid arrangement, it had been with the idea that Liam would never step foot inside my home. I would torment him, get even for years of pain and confusion, write a check to the museum, and walk away from him forever. By not letting him into my sanctuary, I wouldn’t allow the old anguish and dark shadows to seep into my safe place.
At least, that was the bullshit I’d told myself.
Just because Liam wasn’t physically in my home didn’t mean that I hadn’t dragged all my Liam-shaped baggage through my house, dumping it in every room with all my fears, worries, and ancient anger.
But things were changing. He wasn’t my enemy any longer. Liam Rose was my friend, possibly more.