“Sure, I’m gonna change real quick.”
He smiled like he was in on the secret. He’d probably try and beat the shit out of me if he knew what I’d been up to all night and this morning. Maybe it was a good thing he thought I’d hooked up with a chick.
Once I was in my room, I shut the door. It didn’t take me long to change. I’d contemplated taking another shower since I’d dressed in dirty clothes for my ride home, but I liked smelling like Wild’s soap. I plugged my charger into my phone and sat down on my bed as it powered on. I didn’t have any missed texts from home, and I exhaled, relieved. Thinking about everything last night, I wanted to text Ethan, tell him about Wild. It was obvious he was kind of into me, and I didn’t want to lead him on. Maybe if I told him about last night, he’d understand that friends were all we would ever be. And I think he’d be happy that I’d allowed myself to be out, even if it was only one night. The first night. I reminded myself. I had work to do at home, and I wasn’t totally out of the closet yet, but I would be soon.
I picked up my phone and typed out a message.
Me: Hey.
As I waited for him to respond, I called my mom. The phone rang twice before she answered.
“Hey there, sweetheart.” My mom’s voice rang through the phone, and that homesickness returned with a vengeance. “Missing home yet?”
Did she love me enough she’d accept me like she’d said that day at church?
“Nah…” I coughed, trying to speak past the lump in my throat. “Not any more than yesterday.”
She laughed and it made me smile.
“Listen, I’m about to head next door, did you need something?”
“What do you think about getting Jason a dog?” I asked, hoping she’d be okay with it. “I think it’d be good for him, having something to look after. Make him proud.”
“I think that sounds like a great idea, honey.”
“Really?”
“If you’ll help house train ’em. Why not.”
“I was thinking of getting one while I’m here. Training it a little before I brought him home with me when I come to visit.”
“Do you want to tell Jay, or let it be a surprise?”
“A surprise,” I said.
“Sounds good, Jax. I gotta run.”
“Tell Jay I’ll video call him later.”
“Will do, sweetheart. Love you.”
“Love you too, Momma.”
I ended the call and opened up the text I’d gotten from Ethan while I was on the phone.
Ethan: What’s up?
Me: Any news on camping?
Ethan: I checked out a few camp sites online last night.
Ethan: I think I’ll show them to your mom and let her decide.
Me: She’ll like that.
Ethan: Are you working?
Me: No. There was a delay with the lumber shipment. But it should be here by tomorrow.
Ethan: Cool.
Ethan: Did you and Hudson do anything fun for your night off? LOL.
I laughed as I tapped out a message.
Me: Hell, no. Living with him is hard enough.
Me: Actually, I saw Wild last night.
The three dots at the bottom of my screen appeared and reappeared four times before a text finally came through.
Ethan: Did it go okay?
Me: It did.
Me: We met up at a club in Atlanta.
Ethan: Was it a … gay club?
Smiling, I replied.
Me: It was.
Ethan: Shocker.
Ethan: How did you handle it?
Me: I actually danced.
Ethan: Damn… I wish I could’ve seen that.
Awkward again, I hesitated. When I didn’t reply fast enough, he sent me another message.
Ethan: So… you and Wild…
Me: We’re gonna try and make it work.
Ethan: Good.
Ethan: Like I said before. You should get to do what you want.
Ethan: Your mom just texted me and said you’re getting a dog!!!
I laughed, that woman couldn’t keep a secret if she tried.
Me: Yes! I’m going to bring him home when I come to visit in a couple of weeks.
Ethan: It’s a boy! Send me a picture!
Me: LOL. I haven’t gotten him yet. But I think I’m gonna go look today.
Ethan: Go. Find. Dog. Now.
Me: Talk to you later.
Ethan: Send me a picture if you find one.
Me: I will.
I left my phone on my nightstand to charge and headed to the kitchen. Hudson sat at the breakfast bar staring at his phone with a half-eaten sandwich in his hand. Without looking up he said, “Your food is in the microwave.”
“Thanks.”
I set the dish on the kitchen counter, standing opposite of Hudson, I asked, “I think I’m gonna get a dog for Jason.”
He looked up from his phone. “You are?”
I nodded as I took a bite of the grilled ham and cheese.
“When?” he asked.
“Today. Want to go with me?”
His smile was disarming when it was real.
“Fuck, yeah,” he said. Holding his fist up, I rolled my eyes and knocked my knuckles into his. “We’re getting a dog.”
WILD
“Wilder.” Kris’s familiar smile lifted to her dark brown eyes as she looked up from her computer. “It’s good to see you.”
Standing up, she leaned over her desk to kiss my cheek.
“You, too. It’s been a little while. Is this new?” I asked, fiddling with the small family photo she had displayed.
“It is.” Her nose crinkled. “I hate that dress.”
“You do?” I picked up the picture, pretending to scrutinize it, and lifted a brow. “I think you look gorgeous… if only I wasn’t so attracted to your husband though...”
“Oh my God, stop.” She laughed, snatching the frame from my hand. “Every time I tell Cesar you think he’s hot, he blushes.”
My head tipped back as I laughed. “Really? Maybe I have a chance after all.”
“You’ll have to fight me for him.”
I held my hands up in surrender. “I’d never.”
“You’d never what?” Anders asked as he opened his office door.
“Steal her husband.”
“Wilder is in love with Cesar.” She giggled as I lifted my hand to my heart.
“You definitely married up,” Anders teased.
“You guys are both terrible,” she said, her smile widening as she handed Anders a red folder.
He laughed and nodded his head toward his office. “Come on, I have a few things to go over with you.”
Insecure, I stared at the red folder in his hand and wondered if it had the unfinished manuscript I’d sent him on Wednesday. I followed behind him, giving Kris a small wave before I shut his office door. Anders looked good in his charcoal gray slacks, the maroon button-down he wore was open at the collar revealing a small V of smooth, tan skin. The room was filled with the scent of his cologne, and as I took a seat, it was difficult not to notice the way his eyes picked me apart.