It wasn’t exactly that Charlie minded talking to Owen about sex—he’d done that with great success before—but he hated to admit to anyone how lonely he was.
He’d started applying for jobs in bigger cities, toying with the thought of moving to one of them and hoping that he could find love there.
He hated the idea of leaving Hope Springs. All his friends and family were here, he was proud of his tiny community library, he loved his job and all the people he got to see during the week. But he couldn’t see himself finding love here.
Everyone told him that there was time, that there were millions of people in the world who could love him. If he didn’t ever go out and try to find them, though, how the hell was he ever going to meet The One?
Charlie nursed his third beer for the evening quietly, letting the conversation wash over him. It was quiet in the bar tonight, like it sometimes was. There was a rhythm to Hope Springs that it took a lifetime to learn. Charlie still wasn’t sure he had the hang of it.
He grabbed his coat when Lanie stood up, stretching his arms far above his head.
“We’ll walk you home,” Lanie offered. The group of people Charlie thought of as his friends often walked each other home, despite the fact that bad things rarely happened in Hope Springs. It was a quiet little town, and you could walk the streets at three a.m. if you wanted to without fear.
“You guys don’t have to. I’m a grown man and I only live ten minutes away.”
“We want to,” Amber said. “You look sad.”
Charlie smiled wryly. At least he didn’t have to pretend with them. “I’m gonna die alone. But that’s okay.”
“You’re not gonna die alone. You’ve got a ton of friends. Plus, you’re cute and smart and you’ve got a steady job. Someone will snap you up eventually and then everyone else will wonder why they didn’t.”
Charlie snorted, holding the door open for Amber and Lanie. “It’s because they don’t like dick. That’s really my whole problem.”
“There are nine thousand people in Hope Springs. If ten percent of the population is gay or bi, that’s nine hundred people. Let’s say half of those like are men. Four hundred and fifty possible partners is a lot,” Amber pointed out.
“Many of whom are married, too old, too young, not attracted to me, literally related to me…”
“Your family is surprisingly gay,” Lanie agreed. “I guess it’s a combination of this place and your mom being really cool.”
Charlie smiled at that. He’d never been made to feel uncomfortable about his sexuality by anyone in his family. He even had a gay cousin.
It was more of a surprise that he had astraightcousin.
“It’s probably more than ten percent,” Amber said. “Come to think. Considering how gay-friendly this place is. And all the tourists and stuff. At any one time, up to fifteen or twenty percent of the town could be queers.”
“This is actually depressing, since none of them seem to be interested in me. I’d actually like to go back to telling myself that I’m only one of maybe three single gay men and they’re all off-limits for one reason or another.”
“I’ll shut up,” Amber promised, pulling her long red hair into a ponytail at the back of her neck to keep it from blowing in the wind.
“Same time next week?” Charlie asked as they approached his house, smiling to himself at the light being left on for him. Twenty-four was a little old to live at home, but he hadn’t had any reason to move out, yet. Helikedhis home. He liked his family. He liked his town.
The thought of losing them because he’d never have a family of his own if he stayed made his stomach twist into knots, but he knew he had to consider it. Nothing was going to change if he just stood still.
“Same time next week,” Lanie agreed. “Love you, Charlie.”
“I love you two, too.” Charlie got out his keys, heading for the door. “Get home safe,” he said, waving at the two women as they walked away, arm in arm, giggling between themselves.
All Charlie wanted was a romance like that. It didn’t seem too much to ask.
Chapter Two
Scott looked around the library furtively, checking to make sure no one was watching what he was about to do.
Once he was sure the coast was clear, he took his water bottle and the powdered puppy formula out of his laptop bag and poured the formula into the bottle, shaking it as quietly as he could to mix it together. He didn’t really need the whole batch right now, but it’d keep okay and he didn’t have anything else to mix it in.
He couldn’t exactly ask the librarian for a cup or anything. Not if he had to explain why he needed it.
Just as he was about to get out the tiny feeding syringe he intended to use, someone came around the corner.
