Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 94220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Until Leif.
I was supposed to protect him, not fall for him, but I couldn’t help myself. He’s too fucking hot. Everything from that sexy-ass smile to those goddamn beanies. And now that I’ve gotten to know him, I’m greedy for more.
ME: You know damn well your boyfriend doesn’t have other plans. I’ll be there.
LEIF: Cool. I’ll let them know, and see you later tonight. ;)
Of course he’s gonna come over again, but hearing him say it excites me. My feelings for him are such a fucking cliché, and I don’t give a fuck as long as he’s mine.
*
“So…Zane, tell us about yourself,” Leif’s dad says as I’m scarfing down Leif’s roast.
Eh, not much to know. I’m kind of fucked up, and I’ve been protecting your son from what I think is a serial abductor, who I’m pretty sure abducted my brother and another guy, but maybe not, because sometimes I have trouble distinguishing between what’s real and what’s not. Also, I’ve been fucking your son. A. Lot. Like I don’t know if it’s normal for a guy to come so many times in one day. And we’re now officially an item. Can you pass the brussels sprouts?
I don’t say that, of course, but damn if it’s not right on the tip of my tongue.
Something about having so many goddamn secrets has them bubbling up to the surface, and the way I’m stuffing my face like I’m about to go into hibernation makes me think some part of me is trying to keep all those secrets down.
“Not much to know,” I say. “Grew up closer to the Snellville area. I’m a freelance IT guy. I do odd jobs here and there.”
“It must be expensive renting next door,” Ginny says.
“It’s pricey, but I do fine. And I cut back on other areas to make it work, you know?”
“Is there a reason you chose this neighborhood? Do you have family nearby?”
“Somewhat. Jill and Todd are about twenty miles from here.”
“Are those your parents?” Paul asks, squinting—maybe wondering why I’m using their first names.
“Foster parents. The better ones, so I keep in touch.”
“Oh, sorry,” Ginny says. “We didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s all good.”
“Well, how have you liked the neighborhood so far?”
“It’s great. And Leif’s been helping me get to know the area better.”
Particularly the area around his ass.
“Can I grab some more of the brussels sprouts real quick?” I ask, and Leif passes them to me.
“So Leif told us you came over when there was that break-in?” Paul says.
“Yeah. I saw the guy outside, looking around your place, and I called the cops.”
True enough.
“We appreciate that. Otherwise they could have taken something or worse.”
If only he knew how bad the worse could have been.
“Well, don’t worry,” I say. “Your son’s safe as long as I’m next door.” It’s like my dumb fucking mouth is desperate to give me away, and as soon as Paul and Ginny react to the odd-ass comment, I say, “I meant, you guys are safe as long as I’m next door. I’ll keep an eye on your place, and you guys can keep an eye on mine, right? That’s what neighbors are for.”
Leif purses his lips.
You find this so fucking funny, don’t you?
I’d punish him later by edging him, but I doubt I’ll have that kind of self-restraint.
The rest of the dinner goes fine, and I have fewer slips, mainly because I’m wise enough to keep my damned mouth shut.
Afterward, I head back to my place and wait for Leif, who tells his parents he’s gonna come over and hang out. We fuck around some before lying in bed. I curl up close to him, his ass gravitating to my pelvis as our bodies lock together like a puzzle.
“Your parents are nice.”
“Yeah, I think I’ll keep them.”
I laugh. “You think they liked me? Or did I come off too weird?”
As he rolls toward me, I pull away to let him face me. “You worried they might not?”
“I don’t know. I said some weird shit…”
“You always say weird shit. That’s what I like about you.”
“You know that makes you really weird too, right?”
“I’m getting more comfortable with my weirdness,” he says, leaning close and offering a kiss. Gentle, tender. When he pulls away, he adds, “I think they like you.”
“I don’t think they’d like me if they knew all the bad things I had in mind for you tonight.”
“Talk is cheap.”
So I show him just how serious I am.
*
I’m sitting on a bench in a long, familiar hallway.
Muffled voices come from nearby—an office along the same wall as the bench.
I look down the hall again, trying to figure out where I am, when suddenly Shelly is standing beside me. She’s the social worker who’s been working with Mike and me.
She wears an apprehensive expression and makes eye contact as she says, “Zane, I’m sorry, but we won’t be able to find a family that can take both you and Mike.”