Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“Yeah, lots of people suspect,” Max said, leaving his position with his elbows on his knees to sit back into the corner of the sofa. One arm spread over the armrest, the other over the back of the sofa. He appeared perfectly fine with what he’d heard. “What I want to know about is him?” As if we didn’t know whom he spoke of, he pointed a finger to Slade.
My family turned a unified gaze on Slade. “Is he responsible for bringin’ you back to life?” my mom asked, and like she did with people, she left me and went to where Slade was standing off to the side, clutching my hand in support.
It was all too much for me. I’d fought my tears until that moment. The love and acceptance to both of us pushed me over the edge. They had known or highly suspected and had given me the time to come to terms with myself. Man, I thought my heart had drummed violently when I’d arrived, but that was nothing compared to right then.
“He’s having a hard time,” Slade said. “Honestly, I am too. I’m not actively out either, but we’ve fallen in love. I think we’re both tired of hiding all this from everyone important in our lives.” Slade’s eyes were only on me as he stepped closer. My mom wrapped an arm around his waist. We were all standing close together, meaning my mom and dad, Slade and me.
Tears slipped free, running down my cheeks. Slade closed the space between us, taking me in his arms. He clasped me with both hands, holding me tightly. Of their own accord, my arms circled him as I stared at my entire family, lovingly watching me and Slade. My father took hold of my mom to share in all the love of the moment.
Yeah, this was too much. My eyes closed, my head bent, and Slade let me cry into his shoulder.
“Of course, greatness comes from greatness,” Slade whispered into my ear, his palm caressing my back. “I love you.”
“Here, babe. Dry your eyes. This is a happy moment.” Mom wedged between us and a warm towel dabbed at my face, lightening the moment. She was five foot nothing, having to lift to her tiptoes to reach me. This might be the moment I appreciated her the most in my life. She broke the seriousness, allowing Slade to release me and chuckle with the family as I cleaned myself up. “Drink this Dr. Pepper. It’ll make you feel better.”
She’d placed a glass of ice and a cold Dr. Pepper can on the edge of the TV stand near me. She went to Slade with another towel, cleaning his shoulder where I’d given a pretty good sob.
“What can I get you, dear?” she asked Slade. “Do you know how much he loves Dr. Pepper?”
“No, I didn’t, and I’m good. I’ll have some of his if I need to sip on something with the rest of what we have to say.” Slade retook his seat and patted the armrest to hail me over. I didn’t sit, my legs were still nervously wobbling but there I stood.
“Are you gettin' married?” Lori asked with a happy clap of her hands again.
Slade immediately chuckled and glanced up and back to me. “I’ve been giving him time to settle before I push for more in that direction. I’ve been the one driving us forward. But something has opened that my team can’t put their finger on. We’re here under an abundance of caution.”
Slade reached for my hand, and I took it, which drew fresh tears that I fought against. Outside of my mom and dad, I’d rarely touched anyone for most of my life. My hiding was the bitch that held me down. The world had only just opened for me. I had to learn to deal.
“Okay, go ahead. I have so many questions,” my mom said.
Lori gently swatted the back of her hand on Max’s leg. “You owe me fifty dollars.”
Slade let all that happen before he took hold of the conversation again. “I’ve been identified as being in this area. I’ve come to Texas for the last several summers to regroup my life before jumping back into the ring of fire. This week, we received a blackmail email of sorts with pictures of me on the property of the sanctuary. My manager and head of security are working in tandem to find the source. Mace and I are here to protect our loved ones for a possible public outing.”
“Yeah, Mom. Slade’s not out either,” Lori said, reiterating Slade’s words. “When I was tryin’ to pin Mace down, I researched Slade.”
“You knew Slade was in town and didn’t tell me?” my mom asked my sister, her voice thick with accusation. Since I generally liked Lori getting into trouble with my parents, I nodded the truth to my mom. “We watch his TV show religiously. They’ll sometimes come over and let the kids watch it with us. You’re so talented and look just like we thought you would.”