Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Fuck. I don’t know.” I run a hand through my hair. His question reminds me how important this is to me. “Raymond likes Gary a whole hell of a lot. That’s gotta be a plus, especially since most people don’t like me much.”
“People like you. Shut up.”
“Aww, that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.” I tease him but I’m not in the mood. “I’m nervous. We’re going over tonight to finalize fundraiser shit. Thanks for participating, by the way.”
Cody rolls his eyes. “Please, baby boy. Like I need a reason to take my clothes off in front of people.”
He’s got me there.
We talk for a few more minutes about the fundraiser and some guy he took home last night. As soon as he leaves, I ignore the coffee I just made, head to my room, and fall face-first onto my bed.
I’m not thinking about what Cody said about relationships, getting hurt and all that other bullshit.
I’m not.
***
“You look nervous,” Gary tells me as I pull my car up in front of Raymond and Steven’s house. Inwardly, I groan because it looks like the house I grew up in—where you have to hide who you are and be absolutely perfect all the time.
“I’m not nervous,” I grit out, annoyed at myself.
“Yes. You are. You get little crow’s feet by your eyes when you’re stressing or nervous.” Gary reaches over and rubs my temple, but I jerk away.
“Did you really just tell me I have crow’s feet?”
“Only when you’re worried. It’s not like you need Botox. Just need to relax, so you can continue to look gorgeous as always.”
I realize then that he said it on purpose just to get a rise out of me and to help me relax.
“It’s just dinner. You’ll be fine. I know that’s easy for me to say since you’re actually doing this fake relationship thing for a good reason instead of just to make your ex jealous like me, but you’ll be great. I know it. The fundraiser will go well, and I have no doubt Steven is going to invest in you. I would if I were him.”
His words bounce around in my chest like a pinball machine. I would if I were him.…You’ll be great.
And somehow, those statements help, even though I don’t like that they do.
“Oh no! What happened now? You looked fine, and now you look even more nervous! Should I blow you real quick?” he asks and I wish like hell we had time for that.
“No.” I get out of the car, fully aware that I’m in Grumpy Travis mode. I have to get all my asshole behavior out before we head inside.
Gary gets out behind me, and I make myself stop to wait for him. When he reaches me, I thread our fingers together as I lead us to the front door. After ringing the bell, I look his way and mumble, “I’m sorry. I’m nervous, and I don’t know how to deal with it.”
He sighs, sets his head on my shoulder, and says, “I know, Travis.”
I sort of freeze up at the intimacy of the moment just as the door opens, and we’re standing here, holding hands with Gary’s head on my shoulder, and I hope I don’t look like I’m going to throw up.
“Aren’t you two the cutest! I remember those days when Steven and I first got together!” Raymond reaches out, hugging Gary first and then me.
Raymond shows us into the living room. Steven is sitting on the brown, leather couch with a coffee table in front of it. He stands and as I walk over, holds out his hand, which I clasp with my own. “Hi, Travis. It’s good to see you again.”
“Thanks. Same to you.”
He shakes Gary’s hand next. Raymond sits in one of the chairs across from Steven and then Gary takes the other so I sit down beside him on the couch.
“Let’s see where you are,” he says. Gary and Raymond pull their seats closer, so we can all see well, while I pull out the papers and start going over all the details with him.
Every so often, Gary will jump in with a thought or an idea. At one point, his cheeks flush, and he apologizes as if he doesn’t have the right. Reaching over, I squeeze his knee. “No, it’s fine. I couldn’t have made it this far without you. I value your opinion.” Which is the God’s honest truth. Gary has likely saved my ass in more ways than one recently.
Steven and Raymond both seem impressed with all the things Gary and I have to say. Once we’re done going over everything for next week, we head into their dining room where Steven brings out the lasagna he made for dinner.
The conversation flows well. There are laughs and not many lulls, especially when Raymond and Gary start going off about musicals again. The night has a strange vibe to it that’s unlike anything I ever thought I would experience. It reminds me of dinner parties my parents used to have with other couples, only no one here is an asshole, except likely me.