“Go for it,” Riley said, turning to look at him.
“I wanna borrow your barn,” he said. “Just for a day.”
Riley raised an eyebrow. “It’s… kind of a mess. Not evenwatertight. Needs painting. What for?”
“I’m getting married,” Max said.
Riley’s eyebrow inched up.
“It’s, uh… look, this is a secret, but it’s a fake… thing. Do youknow Connor?”
“I knowofConnor,” Riley said. “The new guy. Spends a lotof time in the bookstore. He’s from Chicago.”
“Huh.” Max frowned. Connor hadn’t actually said where he was from,not to Max, but that sounded about right.
He’d definitely seemed like he was a long way from home when he’dfirst arrived.
These days, he seemed a little more at home here. Less out ofplace. More like he was finding his feet.
Max was glad to see that. Connor deserved to be happy, too.
“Uh, anyway, we’re getting married, but not for real. It’s for acompetition, for Zoe. He’s doing me a huge favor, but we need somewhere to holdthe whole thing, and… I thought of your barn. If that’s okay?”
“Well, that explains the rumors,” Riley said.
“Rumors?” Max asked.
“Rumors that you were cozying up to him,” Riley said. “I thoughtit was kinda sweet. Although, I guess it stilliskinda sweet, but in atotally different way.”
“I’m not gay,” Max said.
For the third time in a handful of days.
It was starting to feel like a theme.
“Really?” Riley asked, eyebrow raised again. “Wow, my gaydar isusually laser-accurate. I’ve been assuming you were bi this whole time.”
Max wet his lips, not entirely sure how to respond to that.
That was the lie he’d told the photographer from the magazine.It’d seemed closer to the truth than trying to claim he was gay.
But that didn’t mean it wastrue.
Even if he’d been kind of disappointed last night when Connorhadn’t even seemed like hewantedto make a move.
He was still unpacking that disappointment. He had no idea how hewould have reacted.
Which was both exciting and terrifying. He didn’tknowhowhe would have reacted.
He wasn’t sure he would have said no.
So far, he was coping with that by trying not to think about it.
“Sorry.” Max shrugged. “But if it helps, my own mother said kindathe same thing when she found out about all this, so… you’re not alone.”
Riley nodded. “Okay. None of my business anyway,” he said. “Youcan use the barn, but you gotta help me paint it. At your normal hourly rate.”
“I wasn’t trying to make work for myself,” Max said. “It’s fine asit is.”
