Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 56831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
There was so much sympathy in his eyes when he whispered, “I wish I knew.”
11
Marcus
Shortly before midnight, I stepped out onto the hotel balcony and shivered. No wonder, since I was still dressed in the T-shirt and shorts I’d put on that morning in San Diego.
That felt like a million years ago. So much had happened since then, and a lot of it was a blur. I had only the vaguest recollection of packing my things, checking out of the resort, and getting myself to the airport. I didn’t remember where I’d left the Porsche, either. Wherever it was, maybe someone would call it in, and the rental agency would send someone to pick it up. If not, I really didn’t give a fuck.
I braced my hands on the cold steel railing and looked around me. My suite was on the top floor of the hotel. From here, San Francisco sprawled in every direction, blanketed in a million lights.
Romy was out there somewhere—in a room with one of those lights, or maybe in the darkness in between. He’d mentioned his brother, so I was sure he’d come here instead of returning to Las Vegas. And of course I’d followed him, because I desperately needed to talk to him, apologize, and beg him to take me back.
I just had no idea how I was going to find him.
12
Romy
After about a week spent moping around their house, Reno and Jack convinced me to go with them to Sunday dinner at their friends’ house. I didn’t really want to go anywhere, but everyone was starting to worry about me, so I scraped myself up and went along to try to make them think I was okay. In reality, I was a mess, and I didn’t see that changing any time soon.
It was a five-minute walk to our destination, and Pete texted along the way to see how I was doing. He’d been great about checking in regularly. I told him I was fine, because I didn’t want him to worry, and when I asked how he was, he sent back a smiley face emoji. Then he wrote: I’ve started dating one of the big, hot muscle daddies your brother hired to guard the bar. His name is Guillermo, and it was lust at first sight.
I wrote: I’m happy for you. I didn’t realize Reno had hired guards.
Pete’s next message said: Oh yeah, there are teams of two here on eight-hour shifts, literally 24/7. I’m surprised Adriano didn’t tell you.
So was I. After we exchanged a couple more texts, I glanced at my brother. He was holding Jack’s hand, and each of them was carrying a bottle of wine, as their contribution to this dinner we were attending. They’d both tried to dress down, which meant they were in nice jeans and button-down shirts with the sleeves rolled back. I wondered if they’d planned to coordinate their outfits like that.
As I returned the phone to my pocket, I said, “That was Pete. What’s this about a round-the-clock security detail at Mom’s bar?”
“It’s just a precaution,” he told me with a shrug.
“Because of Marcus?”
“We don’t really know why he came to the bar the night you met him, and I figured there was no harm in upping security.” It seemed like overkill, but I didn’t feel like arguing.
I was pleasantly surprised when our destination turned out to be a funky pink Victorian with rainbow curtains in every window and a big Pride flag above the front porch. Just as surprising was the eclectic group of people who lived there. I’d expected buttoned down guys in suits, like Jack and Reno. Instead, the place had a bohemian vibe, and just about the entire rainbow flag was represented among its many residents and their dinner guests.
Soon after we arrived, Jack made a point of introducing me to Timothy, a gorgeous blue-eyed brunet with unruly curls and a slim build. Then he made an excuse and left us alone together. Was it my imagination, or was he trying to set us up?
Timothy turned to me and said, “I heard you recently had a bad breakup. Are you doing okay?”
“No, but let’s pretend I said yes so I don’t drag the mood down. When did Jack tell you?”
“Technically, he was telling his good friend JoJo, not me, when he came over for tea a couple of days ago. She’s that pretty blonde bombshell across the room, in case you haven’t been introduced yet. Anyway, I’m super nosy, so I butted into their conversation. I missed most of the details, but it sounded messy.”
“You could say that.”
“Been there.” Timothy slumped dramatically. Then he perked up and pushed a dark curl out of his eyes. “You know what we need? A huge batch of gin and tonics, to drown your sorrows. Let’s go make some.”