Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
“I think you’re doing just fine talking to me, but when I spotted you, it looked like you were having a bad day. Is Rome being an asshole?”
“No, definitely not. If anything, I’m the asshole. I—” I stopped myself from pouring out my life’s misery and shook my head. “Forgive me. I don’t mean to keep you.”
“You’re not.” He lifted the case into the air a bit. “I came over early this morning to use one of the hall’s practice rooms to get some work done on a side project. But I’m free for the rest of the afternoon if you’d like to grab some coffee and chat.”
I hesitated. While I admired his skill with the violin, Simon was a total stranger to me. Did I really need to pour out all my problems to a stranger? Especially one who was a friend of Rome’s? He didn’t need all my dirty laundry.
Of course, he was a bystander with almost no interest in any of this. Maybe he would have a fresh perspective.
“Nope. That was way too much thinking there.” Simon stepped up and looped his arm through mine before spinning me away from Music Hall. “I discovered a great coffee shop down the block from here. Excellent coffee and tea. Great pastries. Cozy and quiet enough for some pleasant conversation. You’re coming with me.”
Wisely, I didn’t argue.
Simon released me as soon as he was sure I wouldn’t run, and we walked to the coffee shop, which was moderately busy. We settled into a pair of comfortable chairs near the front window, giant mugs of coffee on the table. I might have also bought Simon a raspberry scone as thanks for the intervention while I grabbed a lemon square.
“So, I might have heard through the grapevine that you recently discovered that you’re bisexual and that you are possibly falling in love with Rome,” Simon began lightly. Thank God I hadn’t been taking a drink because I almost choked on the breath I’d drawn in. He smirked at me. “Sorry, but if you’re going to date Rome, you’re gonna have to learn that these boys gossip worse than a Southern sewing circle. They don’t mean any harm, but ever since Sebastian started dating Byron, they’ve all been about trying to get the rest of them happily settled into relationships.”
“And Sebastian hasn’t tried to meddle in your love life yet?”
Simon’s smile turned enigmatic. “Oh, not yet. But it’s unnecessary. I already found the person I want to spend my life with. The situation is…complicated.”
I winced. “Married?”
Simon frowned. “No, he’s just a stubborn fucking asshole.”
“Ah.”
He broke a corner off his scone and waved in the air as if it could dismiss our conversation detour. “My problem won’t be resolved over coffee and scones. Maybe yours can. How are you dealing with your new sense of self? Your family giving you static?”
“Being bi hasn’t been the upheaval I thought it would be. Work is accepting. Rome’s friends obviously have no problem with it. I would imagine the first time I have to deal with hate from a homophobe will be hard, but I want to believe that I’ll push through.”
“Having good friends helps with that part a lot.”
I nodded and gazed at my coffee. “I haven’t told my family. My father is dead, and I’m not all that close with my brothers, though I kind of think their reaction is going to be the same as my mother’s, which will be terrible. Truth be told, I’m not too worried about it. I’ll tell them eventually and stop talking to them. My life won’t change all that much.” I paused, and a wicked grin spread across my face. “I am tempted to wait and tell my mother on her deathbed. If I give her a heart attack, no one would notice, right?”
Simon laughed hard and suddenly snorted, which made me giggle like a lunatic. The sounds of talking and the clink of glasses seemed to quiet as half the coffee shop turned to stare at us for a moment, but everyone returned to their business.
I took a deep, cleansing breath, soaking in the scent of coffee, sugar, and yeast. The shop was sprinkled with the glow of Edison bulbs and decorated with dark wood and old iron, giving it a rustic charm. Everything about it felt like a warm hug.
“Okay, so the problem isn’t being bi,” Simon said after clearing his throat. “What’s really got you tied up in knots?”
“You’re going to think it’s stupid.”
“I doubt it, but even if I do, who cares? Who am I? Trust me, I have no room to comment on stupid behavior. Right now, I feel like I might be the king of it.” He broke off another piece of his scone, a bit more violently this time, and shoved it into his mouth. Yeah, definitely a story there, but I was afraid to ask.