I so didn’t want to continue this anymore. “Mom. It’s okay. I’m a big boy. Frisco and I had a few dates and enjoyed ourselves, but it wasn’t going to last. He told me from the beginning he wasn’t interested in a relationship. I knew what I was getting into.” I took her empty mug and mine and rinsed them in the sink. “Now I’m going to take a shower and then run out to get those suits I got with Val altered and maybe pick up another few as well. I’ll see you later upstairs.”
With a nod, my mother rose from her chair and gave me a kiss. Of course, she wasn’t done with the conversation yet. “You know,” she said with her hand on the doorknob, “just because you say something, it doesn’t mean it’s written in stone. I remember a man I fell in love with in high school told me he didn’t want to get serious. He wanted to travel and see the world, and a wife wouldn’t fit in with those plans.”
“You never told me that story.” Fascinated, I pressed on. “Who was the guy? Do you know what happened to him?”
Her eyes warmed. “I married him, and we had forty wonderful years together.”
It was my turn to hold her close. “I love you, Mom.”
“I know. And everything will work out for the best. I’ll see you later.”
I shut the door and shook my head. Sometimes the best simply wasn’t good enough.
* * *
“Thanks for helping me. These bags are heavy.”
Mike held one suit bag while I dug my keys out of my pocket. “No problem. What’d you buy?”
I pushed the door open, and my brother followed me inside, where I dumped everything on the couch, then flopped down next to it. “Two more suits that I’m having rush-altered and four more dress shirts. Then while I was there, I bought some new jeans and sweats. I’m sick of the ones I’ve had for years already.”
Mike nodded approvingly. “Good. Clean house, fresh start. New job, new man…new everything.”
I said nothing, and Mike went to the refrigerator, took out two beers, and after uncapping them, came back to me. He sat next to me with a sigh.
“You’re not gonna forget him that easily, are you?”
I shrugged and drank my beer. “I’m doing okay.”
“Which tells me nothing.”
I scowled and took another drink. “What do you want me to say, that I’m happy about being ghosted? I’m not. I liked him. I’m not going to lie to you. Give me some time to get over it.”
He put a hand on my shoulder. “Maybe I should’ve given him another chance in the kitchen after that first night. I know he did a great job, but something didn’t sit right with me. I’m sorry.”
My lips might’ve twitched, but there was no humor in my attempted smile. “No, I don’t think you are. You never liked him.”
“I didn’t trust him.”
“Guess you were right and I was wrong.” I finished my beer. “Anyway, I need to put all this shit away and prepare for the staff meeting atUltimatethe day after tomorrow. I have tons of paperwork to go through before then.”
My brother slung an arm over my shoulders. “Happy for you, bro. You deserve it. I’m so fucking proud of you and what you’ve accomplished with the blog. And with Harvey’s backing, the fucking sky’s the limit.”
“Thanks,” I whispered, overwhelmed by Mike’s words. “That means more to me than anything.”
“I know I stress out, and I can be a bastard, but I love you, man. I would’ve been shit outta luck if I didn’t have you, not only for all the help you’ve given me in the business, but just having you in my corner. That’s why I hate seeing you so miserable over another fucking asshole who doesn’t deserve you.”
Tears burned my eyes. Mike and I had been close growing up, and after I came out, he became my biggest champion. Few guys I dated ever met his expectations, and unfortunately for me, he’d been proved right over and over. From the first, he’d warned me about Pete, but I ignored him, believing I had finally found someone who cared for me. I knew he had his reservations about Frisco as well. Once again, it looked like my little brother knew best.
“I’m fine, really,” I lied effortlessly with a smile. “I knew all along Frisco wasn’t a forever kind of guy. It was my choice to take it as far as I did.”
Mike’s eyes narrowed. “Just how far did it go?”
Anxious to end the conversation, I chucked the empty bottle in the recycling bin. “Not far at all. Don’t worry. I’m not in love with the guy just because we were together a few times.”
“Uh-huh.” Mike crossed his arms and hit me with a stare reminiscent of my father when one of us was trying to wiggle out of trouble.
“Damn, stop. You look like Pops when you do that. I’m not lying to you. I’m doing what everyone suggested—playing the field.”
