Page 47 of Our Secret Summer
Dylan put a hand on Raffo’s forearm. “He shouldn’t see us together.” Dylan frantically rubbed her fingers along her chin.
“It’s okay. I’ll talk to him.” Raffo opened the door.
“I wanted to surprise my boo,” Murray said. “Con has no idea I’m coming.” His eyes widened. “Oh, hello, Dylan.”
“Hi, Murray. How lovely to see you.” As though a massive stick had lodged itself up her backside, Dylan strutted toward Murray and stiffly kissed him on the cheek. “I was just dropping something off for Connor.”
Murray tilted his head, and his gaze skittered from Dylan to Raffo and back.
“Sure,” he said, because he wasn’t stupid, but he was kind.
“How long are you in town for?” Dylan asked. “You and Con should come to dinner.”
“I’d love to.” Murray painted on an innocent smile. “I’m here until Sunday night, if his Connor-ship will have me.”
“He’ll be delighted.” Dylan turned around and looked at Raffo. “I have to go. Have fun.” She suddenly looked as though she couldn’t be out the door fast enough.
Murray put his hands on his hips and stared straight into Raffo’s eyes, clearly conveying that he most certainly wasn’t born yesterday. Raffo only wearing a robe probably wasn’t helping.
“It’s not what you think,” Raffo said, although it was. “I mean, not really.”
“Would you like to tell me what it is?” Murray opened his arms to Raffo and she rushed into them. Then she cried on his shoulder until she could find the words to tell him the reason for her tears.
CHAPTER 32
“Are you in love with her too?” Murray asked once Raffo finished explaining the afternoon’s events.
“I don’t know. I haven’t let myself explore those feelings—and what’s the point? We can’t date. We can’t... We can’t do anything.” Raffo was still in that damned robe and she felt a lot more naked than earlier when Dylan had pushed it off her shoulders. “I will tell Connor about this. I promise you, no more lies. I can’t deal with any more lies.”
“Listen,” Murray said. “Connor’s your chosen family—I get that. But he has me, he’s in a great relationship, even if I do say so myself. You deserve that too. You deserve to be happy.”
“Sure, but not with his mom.”
“But what if she’s the one who makes you happy? And vice versa? I saw the look on Dylan’s face just now, Raff. I’ve never seen her like that.”
“I can’t. I won’t come between them.” Raffo shook her head. “They have such a warm, respectful relationship. I refuse to be the one who fucks that up.”
“What if I tell you that Connor is a big boy who can step into his big-boy pants and accept that his mother is in love with his best friend?”
Raffo scoffed. “He shouldn’t have to do that.” Not that Raffo believed for one second that Connor ever would.
“Con’s happiness doesn’t outweigh yours or his mother’s. That’s my view. I’ve told him this, by the way.” Murray’s laid-back nature hadn’t rubbed off on his partner, even after three years together.
“What did he say to that?” Raffo asked.
“You know Con—drama queen, highly strung, gay alpha. Perfect for running an art gallery, not so great at empathizing with loved ones.”
“Next you’ll tell me he’s a top,” Raffo joked.
“I won’t go that far.” Murray shot her a smile. “Once a power bottom, always a power bottom.”
Raffo chuckled and oh did she need a laugh. “Now that I’m single, Connor is the most important person in my life. I’ve been living in his house for months. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for me. The least I can do is not fall in love with his mother.”
“Yes, Connor is a sweetheart, but your friendship is not a one-way street, Raff. You are also his most important client. By a very long stretch. He’s so lucky to have you at his gallery and to represent you. Besides, I know you, and there isn’t anything you wouldn’t do for him either. Case in point, you are clearly smitten with Dylan, yet you tell me you hadn’t seen her in five weeks until today. How’s that for sacrifice for the sake of friendship?”
“You have a very different take on this, Murray. Although refreshing, it’s not very realistic.”
“Says who? Maybe I see it more clearly because I’m not tangled up in it. Yes, Connor’s my boyfriend—I don’t want him hurt. But this won’t hurt him. Not the way you both think it will. You know what real pain is, Raff. I know it, too. And it’s not having to accept that two people that you love also love each other. That’s just an abundance of love, really. And sure, it’s awkward and maybe not ideal or how Connor prefers it, but it’s hardly the end of the world. Nobody’s dying here. Nobody has a life-threatening illness. Nobody’s going bankrupt. It’s just family.”
