“Shh.”
The joy on Bradley’s face fades into a sober expression. “Sheryl’s his aunt.”
I know.“It doesn’t matter. He and I… it’s early stages. Maybe nothing will come of it.” But he feels in his gut that what has started between them is quickly growing like wildfire. When he’s not with Owen, he thinks of him, and when he’s with him, he doesn’t want him to leave. He has so many doubts circling in his mind, but when they are together, his mind is at peace.
“I really like him,” Bradley says. “He’s sweet.”
And romantic, and creative, and quirky, and passionate, and so kind.
“If I end up liking him more than you, would you mind?”
Will shrugs. “If you don’t mind me liking Esteban more than you.”
Bradley gasps. “You jerk! I’d kill you. What does Esteban have that I don’t?”
“Tact, for starters.”
Bradley waves his hand dismissively. “That’s overrated. Anyway, is Owen supposed to be here?”
Will glances at his watch. “Yeah, he should be. We’re supposed to have dinner here, then head back to my place.”
“Well, it’s Saturday, so he’s not working at the library. Maybe he just forgot.”
Unlikely.“Maybe.”
He catches Doctor Levi sitting down with his wife at a nearby table. His stomach twitches from sharing the same space with that man. When their eyes lock, the doctor waves and smiles, but Will looks away. His poor wife must have no idea how much of a pervert her husband is, or maybe she does know but is choosing to look the other way. In a town so small, people tend to keep their affairs private as much as possible, or they might end up lepers like Will.
An hour later, he gives up on waiting for Owen and goes to take care of his check. Before he can get his credit card out and pay Bill, Doctor Levi puts his own credit card on the counter. “My treat.”
Will bites the inside of his cheek. He should tell the man to fuck off, but he doesn’t want the drama. Bill looks to Will for approval, and he reluctantly nods.
“Thanks,” he says once the payment goes through.
Doctor Levi leans closer. “It’s the least I can do. You know how happy you make me.”
He never sees any of the mayor’s other guests aroundtown, and he’s grateful they don’t live in Van Buren like Doctor Levi. “Have a good evening.”
“I do wish that we could come to some sort of arrangement about private sessions. I can be generous, Will.”
I’m not a whore, he stops himself from saying, knowing it’s not the full truth, but Will’s reality never had the privilege of being black or white. He turns and leaves without saying a word, knowing the doctor would likely be extra rough the next time they meet at the mayor’s house.
He hurries back home, hoping to find Owen waiting on his porch, but he isn’t there, and Will can’t pick up the phone and call him like any other normal person. It only emphasizes how complicated their situation is.
Yet I still chose to kiss him in the library and invited him to my house.
He regrets many things about his life, but Owen isn’t one of them.
He sits on the stairs and watches the dark road leading to his house, waiting until the night becomes too cold and forces him to go inside alone.
*
“What’s wrong?” Julie asks when he meets her in the garden of the hospice. She’s holding a book, of course.
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“You seem down.”
He gives her a kiss on the cheek and sits on the bench while she’s in her wheelchair. “Didn’t sleep well. How are you?”
