Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
That command shouldn’t be turning him on. “I can take it if you can.”
He settled in, noticing the inside was as bright as the exterior. “Is she still in college, or does she work part time as a cartoon character?
“Neither.” Hugo chuckled. “This is a statement. She says programming is a boy’s club, and making pink her signature quirk is her way of giving them the finger.”
He could appreciate that. His eyes might never be the same again, but at least it was for a good cause. “She’s a computer programmer?”
“She’s a genius. I might be biased, but I’d say she’s around Tanaka’s level in the brains department, only she’s not into hacking or anything like that. She went to a tech school for a while, but tested out and started making apps full time. You know those games people play on their phone? A few of them got popular last year and she sold them to a larger company. She’s now been voted most likely to be taking care of the rest of us when we’re old.”
Solomon was impressed but not surprised. “Your family is made up of overachievers. Thoreau, Austen and Shelley. You. I think Barry might be an artist.”
He showed the ocean scene Hugo’s nephew had drawn on his cast last night.
He smiled. “We have great role models. Learning is like a hobby for my parents, and they love challenging themselves. Say it keeps them young. Dad still gets giddy every new semester, and before Mom had us she’d gotten a master’s in Sociology and was working for the state. She’s a natural at organizing, which, with seven kids, is probably a blessing.”
“I’m glad I didn’t know any of that before dinner.” Solomon shifted in his seat and glanced out the window. “I was already intimidated, and I didn’t even go to a regular college.”
“You have nothing to be intimidated about. They loved you. And I know enough about you to know that you were busting your ass raising your brothers and joining the police academy the day you graduated high school. And let’s not forget those night classes that moved you up in rank. Your resume is impressive. Don’t knock your skills, Younger. No one else is.”
“Well, my main role model taught me to fear change and stick with the safe and consistent, so I’m still trying to shake that off.” Solomon grimaced. “God, that sounded bitter. Forget I said it, okay?”
“It sounded honest. What about your mother?”
He knew Hugo didn’t mean anything by it, but the question always made his jaw clench. “Elder fought her for custody and won. End of story.”
“I know, but doesn’t James spend time with her?”
“I try not to think about that. He’ll have to find out about her in his own way.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“She isn’t mother material. If she’s giving him attention, she wants something.”
It was harsh, and he’d never say it to James, but it was the truth.
His parents had both been too dysfunctional to have a healthy relationship, let alone children they were responsible for. Sol wanted to collect sons as if they were trophies or baseball cards, and he’d married multiple women to make that happen. Donna, the first wife who’d given him Solomon and James, was selfish in the extreme.
Some role models.
“I’m sorry. Should I change the subject?”
Yes.
“No, I’m glad you asked. I’m realizing there’s a lot we never talked about. My parents, your family, the fact that your sisters call you Les Mis when they think you’re being dramatic.”
“They told you that? Of course they did. Did Robert slip any naked baby pictures in when I wasn’t looking?”
“Maybe one, but it was tasteful.”
He glanced at him, his smile disappearing. “We didn’t talk about things like that because we were too focused on not touching each other in public to ask the personal questions or find out about the ordinary details other people learn in a regular relationship. Our time together was always intense and urgent. Unless we were working, and then it wasn’t appropriate. It was never the right time.”
“I want to ask now.”
Hugo was hesitant. “Why?”
“Like you said, things are different now.”
He placed his hand on Hugo’s thigh, feeling his body heat through the denim. “We can talk about whatever we want. We can touch each other. Anywhere we want. Anytime we want.”
“In public?”
The idea was arousing. Freeing. “Why not?”
“I know you’ve been out of the loop for a while, but public decency laws still apply around here.” He was trying to joke, but Solomon could hear the excitement in his voice. The need.
His hand slid higher and Hugo tightened his grip on the steering wheel in reaction. “What are you doing?”
“Where are you taking us, Wayne?”
“A hotel room. It might sound like a sad cliché, but since both our houses were out of the question, I thou—Fuck,” he moaned when Solomon’s fingers finally reached his erection, the van jerking forward. “Younger, I’m driving. It’s a good thing she got an automatic or we’d be a brightly colored wreck on the side of the road right now.”