Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“She inspired you, huh?” she asked affectionately.
“She did. I haven’t told the team or the school yet. I probably won’t have a job when I do, but I’ll be all right.”
“You will be,” she said softly. “Hey, if possible, I’m more proud of you today than yesterday. Good luck, Blake.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate it. And if the offer is still good, I’d love to be your friend.”
“Yeah, it’s still good.”
Okay, that went well. But coming out to everyone on my list would take for-fucking-ever, and I didn’t have that kind of time.
After some thought, I came up with a better plan and got to work.
Later that afternoon, I pulled up behind a Range Rover parked in front of Asher’s house. An athletic dude carried a large box down the pathway while a familiar-looking man with curly brown hair and glasses hurried to open the SUV’s hatch.
Topher.
I shoved my sunglasses on top of my head and waited awkwardly on the sidewalk. “Do you need any help?”
“No, thanks. This was the last one.” The bigger man turned to his boyfriend and groaned, “Please tell me this was the last one.”
Topher chuckled. “There’s one more in the closet upst—Jake. Sorry. Blake, right?”
“Yes. Blake.”
Topher introduced me to his boyfriend, Simon, who I instantly remembered as the quarterback who’d quit the NFL after sustaining numerous concussions last year. And then came out. Geez, small world.
I shook Simon’s hand and glanced at Topher. “I’ve been hoping to run into you. Do you have a minute?”
“Um, sure.”
Simon sighed. “I’ll get the box.”
Topher cocked his head curiously. “Asher isn’t home. He went to see his mom, but he should be back soon.”
I nodded toward the house before meeting his gaze. “I owe you an apology.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I do. I should have been clear and I wasn’t. I should have been…honest.”
“Neither of us knew how to communicate. I should thank you for making me realize how important that was,” Topher said kindly.
“Very important,” I agreed. “It took me a while to learn that lesson myself.”
“We’re all works in progress.” He pushed his glasses to the bridge of his nose and smiled. “Is there anything else?”
“Yes. Can I wait for him?”
Topher didn’t prod or ask a million questions. He must have read my desperate expression and taken pity on me. Not gonna lie, I breathed a sigh of relief when he smiled and motioned for me to follow him.
“Sure.”
I grabbed the bag I’d left in my front seat and went inside. Tommy and Holden greeted me politely and didn’t seem to mind when I asked to wait in the backyard.
I pulled the lopsided cake I’d made out of the bag and set it on a small side table next to Ash’s binder. I tried to relax, but my heartbeat was erratic and my hands were clammy. I wiped my palms on my T-shirt and paced from one end of the yard to the other, planning my speech, then revising it. I was a good ten laps in when I heard the kitchen side door creak open. I froze and waited.
Fuck, he was…everything.
My beautiful man with a clever mind and an endlessly sweet heart.
“Blake.”
I sucked in a breath as I picked up the binder and met him near the lemon tree. “I, um…I wanted to return this to you. I don’t need it anymore.”
Asher glanced at the cover and read the title aloud. “The J Script. Did it help?”
“Oh, definitely. I’ve spent my whole day coming out.”
He furrowed his brow, then adjusted his glasses. “You have?”
I inclined my head. “Yeah. I called my parents, talked to Katie, and even ran into Topher. It’s like you said it would be…a little easier every time.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah, and while I was at it, I checked off every item on your list. I wrote a coming-out blog post and made a video. I wanted to ask you to proof them before I press Go…if you don’t mind.”
He didn’t hide his surprise very well. “Oh, wow. Of course.”
“And…I made a cake.” I pointed at the chocolate concoction I’d set on the side table nearby.
He wandered toward it and read the messy inscription. “I’m bi.”
“Short and to the point. But there’s more.” I pulled the tube of frosting from my pocket and added another line. I, a heart, a U.
Ash pursed his lips together, darting his gaze between me and the cake. “I owe you what?”
“It’s not a circle, goofball. It’s a heart.”
“I heart?”
“Yeah, I heart you. I love you.”
His mouth fell open. “But…”
“No buts. It’s true. I love you, Ash.” I dropped the tube on the table and took a deep breath. Here goes everything. “I’m famous for saying too little, too late. It’s cost me a lot of sleepless nights, but I will not let it cost me…you. Us. My biggest truth isn’t that I’m bi. My biggest truth is that I fell in love with the guy who taught me to trust my voice and follow my heart. I love you, Asher. I love you.”