Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“How did you do on your exam?” Seth asked.
“Pretty good, I think.”
“What are you going to school for?” Dane asked me.
“I want to be a therapist. I’d mostly like to work with kids—I hope to work a lot with queer kids too. Help people who felt like me when I was younger, ya know?”
Dane studied me in that way he did when he was surprised and not quite sure what to think. “That’s…that’s really cool.”
“Thanks. It’s taking me forever because I can only go part-time and I have to pay for it all myself, but I’ll get there.”
“Yeah, I know you will,” he replied, and damned if his confidence in me didn’t twist me up in the best way. Oh, I liked compliments from Dane.
“Thanks.”
“How did you guys meet?” Dane asked Seth.
“At a coffee house. Jesse just started talking to me, and I almost swallowed my tongue.”
I laughed. “Seth is a little shy.”
“I’m better than I used to be!” he countered. “Anyway, we started talking makeup. I’m not nearly as experienced at it as he is, and he was giving me pointers and showing me some of his favorite videos and stuff. We just hit it off. I was new to the area and didn’t really know anyone. Jesse took me under his wing. Then one time this guy was hitting on me…and he wasn’t real stoked to take no for an answer. Jesse stepped in, and he’s been my best friend since.”
“Oh shit,” Dane said. “I’m sorry that happened, but I’m glad Jesse was there.”
I was surprised Seth had told him that. It wasn’t something he liked to talk about, and the fact that he had, proved he felt comfortable with Dane. “How old is your niece? Jesse raves about her.” I also wasn’t surprised he’d changed the subject.
Dane and Seth began chatting, and it turned out they had quite a bit in common. They both liked reading and history, these old souls trapped in a younger body. It was strange, but I liked the idea of them being friends—my best friend and the guy I was having fun with while not having fun with anyone else.
When we were finished eating, Dane insisted on helping with the dishes before he said, “I should probably head out…”
“Yeah, okay,” I replied, even though I’d hoped he would stay and we could have fun again.
“It was nice meeting you,” Seth said, then disappeared into his room. It was his way of giving us some privacy.
I felt…bashful for a moment, which was just plain weird and made no sense. Why I would be shy to say goodbye to Dane, I had no idea. “Are you sure you can’t stay?” I asked, running my hands down his chest as he stood in front of the door.
“I think so. Got a lot going on up here.” He tapped his temple, and I exhaled a breath. I understood that, and I was glad Dane was being honest instead of hiding shit. “You’re going to school to be a therapist?” he asked again, as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Yep. All I ever really wanted to do.”
He reached out, cupped my cheek, and brushed his fingers against my skin. It felt good, too good, and I trembled in response. “You’re full of surprises, is all.” Then he leaned forward, pressed a quick kiss to my lips, and said, “Good night, Jesse,” before walking out, leaving me dumbstruck in his wake.
26
Dane
“What the hell was that tonight?” Chet asked at the end of my shift when I walked by his open office door. It was Friday night, the first time I’d seen Jesse since we’d had mind-melting sex, agreed to continue seeing each other, and I’d met his roommate.
I was still having a hard time wrapping my brain around it all, but as soon as I saw Jesse in his small shorts and makeup on the riser, my heart stumbled. I tried not to get all bent out of shape over all the men ogling him, because logically, I knew this was his job and he got more tips by flirting, and I needed to extend some amount of trust. It was hard. Mostly because I’d been burned pretty badly. Damn, I’d never realized what a possessive bastard I could be. But underneath, it was more about protection and respect, and I could totally picture Jesse rolling his eyes at me right now while I tried making excuses to myself.
“What do you mean?” I leaned against Chet’s door, wondering what in the hell he was talking about.
“You and Jesse. The tenderness and soft eyes.” He waved his hand absently while clicking the mouse on his computer. “What happened to all the spitfire between you?”
“There’s definitely fire,” I replied in a defensive tone. Was he fucking blind? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”