Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Inspired.
Zachary had become fast friends with Henry, discussing art deco (Henry’s favorite style) and Henry’s renovation of the Odeon and other theaters he’d worked on before settling in Garnet Run.
He’d also gotten close with Simon. Initially it was through Simon’s help with his branding, but it turned out that they both enjoyed taking long walks, during which they hardly spoke, just appreciated the company.
For himself, Bram had been excited to get closer with Wes, bonding over a mutual passion for environmental solutions to problems, and enjoying tinkering with things.
Little by little over the last six months, in fact, he and Zachary had been spending time with (as Rye affectionately christened them) all The Queers of Garnet Run. Simon and Jack, Charlie and Rye, Henry and Cameron, River, Marie, who worked at Matheson’s Hardware, and Jack’s friends Rachel and Vanessa, not to mention a lot of animals.
It was starting to feel like they were creating a whole little family of their own. Every time they’d get home from spending time with them, Zachary would look a little spacey, as if he still weren’t used to having friends that he saw regularly. But he was getting more confident in being himself with them the more he saw that they all liked him. In fact, Jack had said multiple times, “I can’t believe I didn’t know you before; this is so great.”
Bram had also been spending more time with Mrs. Lundy, and when he met Simon’s grandmother, Jean, and her friend Wayne, he did a friend fix-up of his own. Now, Jean, Wayne, and Mrs. Lundy could be seen around town making mischief at all hours. It made him happy to see it.
All in all, Garnet Run had begun to feel like home, not because of the place—although Bram loved the beauty of the landscape and the animals he could see there—but because of the friends he’d made.
And because of Zachary.
Zachary Glass who he fell a little more in love with each day. Zachary Glass who he couldn’t wait to move in with. Who he couldn’t wait to live with. Who he couldn’t wait to wake up next to every morning for the rest of his life.
He looked at Zachary, appreciating the soulful dark eyes, the glorious curls, the somber set of his full lips, and the slight line that appeared between his expressive eyebrows when he was listening intently, as he was now.
Bram’s mother was deep in the world of solar energy and Bram could see Zachary practically itching for a pad of paper to take notes.
God damn, he loved this man so much that seeing him with his family brought tears to Bram’s eyes.
He blinked them away, relieved that Zachary was too focused on his conversation to see. Zachary still got nervous when Bram cried out of happiness because he hadn’t realized it was a real thing until he met Bram.
But Moon reached over and wiped his cheek with her finger, expression tender.
“Oh, man, you’ve got it so bad, huh?” she whispered.
Bram bit his lip and nodded. “So, so bad.” He grinned and Moon grinned back at him. She interlaced their fingers and squeezed, and he squeezed back and enjoyed watching his beloved boyfriend interact with his beloved family.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Zachary
The Larkspurs were their own country. They were warm and welcoming, and Zachary knew that he was always only getting half of the currents that were lapping around him.
But it was fine, because Bram was home and Bram was happy, and Zachary had realized lately that he would do quite a lot to make sure Bram was happy. Including, apparently, drinking something that tasted like the bottom of a pond and answering some rather personal questions as, one by one, Bram’s siblings each found a way to be alone with him when he was on his way to the bathroom, or got water (to wash down the pond-drink), or looked at the garden.
When Moon, the final sibling to have her go, intercepted him in the hallway, he said, “You all should’ve coordinated your efforts.”
“Huh?” she said, feigning innocence.
“You should’ve just decided on all the questions you wanted to ask me beforehand, and sent a delegate.”
Moon looked mildly abashed.
“You, uh, got asked these things before?”
“Yes. By all of you. The whole brood.”
“Oh.” She narrowed her eyes, evaluating him. “You mad?”
“Nope. I know you love Bram. Just sick of answering the same questions. I should’ve just addressed the whole family: Yes, I love Bram and swear to be good to him. Yes, we’re moving in together. Yeah, I don’t like dogs, but I promise I’ll be nice to Hemlock anyway. Yes, he’s great in bed, I’m sure you’re all very proud.”
Moon’s eyes got wide. Zachary had not intended to say that last part out loud.
“Er. I did not intend to say that last part out loud.”