AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You know how to turn on the charm,” I say quietly. A few patrons linger at tables throughout the shop, sipping their drinks while playing with the cats.
“Picked it up in college,” Cameron says. “Henry understands.”
“He mentioned something about that. You worked for that Boyfriend Café thing?”
For some reason, that question wipes away the final remnants of Cameron’s smile, replacing it with a scowl. “Yeah.”
“Didn’t enjoy it? Henry always talks about how much he loved it.”
“It was … fine,” Cameron says. “The café part, at least, but for some reason Avery had to go and hirehim, and I was stuck with him for four God damn years.”
Cameron’s eyes go even darker, narrowing as he glares at someone I can’t see. I have no idea what the history there is. Maybe I can ask Henry about it sometime. Whatever it is, it’s juicy, and I’m enough of a bitch to want to know.
“Ex-boyfriend?” I prod.
Cameron recoils like I accused him of dating a slug. “No. Absolutely not. I would die before I’d date Julian.”
I put up my hands in surrender. I want to know more, but I’ve clearly touched a nerve, and I don’t need to set off our new part-timer on his very first day. “Sorry, didn’t know it was personal. There are no Julians around here, so you’re safe from whoever this guy was.”
“He stayed on the East Coast,” Cameron says. “Thank God.”
If I were to bet, I’d guess whatever this thing is with Julian, it’s far from over, whether he lives on the East Coast or not. All of this is none of my business, however, and Cameron certainly doesn’t seem like he wants to talk about it more, so I let it go.
While the café is a little quieter, I take him through a few things that aren’t as obvious. How to answer questions about the cats and adoption, how to handle River’s yoga classes, things like that. Cameron listens attentively. I get the impression he’s storing my every word in his head, and that he’ll recall them all perfectly.
I get to put that theory to the test a little later in the day when a tour group comes through to play with the cats and we get many of those questions I warned Cameron about. He answers flawlessly, and even slaps that charming smile of his back on. All in all, I have to admit I’m impressed. He’s going to do great here, which will take a lot of the burden off Henry and I when some high schooler flakes on us.
I have to leave him toward the middle of the day, but Cameron seems unbothered by that. Chloe will be by in theevening to help out with closing, so all Cameron has to do is make some drinks and answer questions about cats for a couple hours.
I would join him, but I’m rushing from one job to the next today. I jog from the café to the bus stop nearby so I can head toward the city of Everett and my dance students. Their big performance is coming up this weekend, so these last few practices are extra meaningful. The kids are both nervous and excited, but I’m hoping I can make them feel like they’ve done everything they need to to prepare.
For a second, I consider inviting Luke to the performance, but it’s probably too early for that. He’s barely started thinking about coming out to one person; he’s not going to want to be at a public Pride event. What’s worse, it’ll be a pretty small event, the kind of place where you may very well recognize a random member of the crowd.
No, that’s not the kind of thing Luke is ready for. As much as I’d love for him to see a piece of my world, this isn’t the time for it. Maybe if we’re still doing this in a year, I can convince him to come next time.
The idea sets a smile on my lips. Luke and I dating for an entire year. Him seeing the results of my volunteering efforts. He and I attending a Pride event together. That all sounds like a far-off dream, but we made so much progress last night that it has me believing anything is possible — maybe even a realrelationship.
I quiet the flutter in my heart. I shouldn’t hope for too much too quickly. I’ve gotten burned that way in the past, and I’m not ready to get hurt again.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Luke
I PACE THE PARKING LOT outside the school. I’m supposed to be eating lunch, but I haven’t been able to stomach a single bite since I made the decision. My stomach is so knotted with anxiety I can barely keep water down, let alone anything solid.
I check my phone. Fifty-two minutes left in my break. Only three minutes have passed since I came out here intending to make the call, but they’ve felt like three years.
Baby steps. I unlock my phone, removing another barrier between me and the moment I’m dreading. Then I open the app where we’ve been chatting and contemplate the phone number sitting before me. All I need to do is click it and the call will go through. He’s expecting it. Iknow he’ll answer. What I don’t know is whetherI’mready to hear his voice after all this time.
A vision flits through my mind. Sebastian lying in my bed, clasping my hand between our chests, telling me everything is going to be okay. Even the memory calms my racing heart.
Fifty minutes left in my break. Someone is going to spot me walking around the parking lot, but at least no one will be able to hear me out here. It’s the most privacy I can scrounge up while I’m at work, so it’ll have to do. I could wait longer, but this was the time when we were both free. This was the time we agreed on. He’s expecting me any minute.
Come on, Luke. Just do it. He’s probably wondering if you abandoned him again.
That’s the thought that finally spurs me on. I click the phone number on my screen before I can dither any longer, struggling not to throw the phone as a little picture of me appears in the top corner.
“Hello?”
