Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Jack kisses his cheek. “I tried telling you last night, but you were nearly asleep.”
Aaron’s voice is all low and seductive when he says, “Well, when you—”
“We don’t need to hear it,” I interrupt, taking a step back. “It’s enough that you two can’t keep your hands off each other.”
June smirks. “Agree. Gross.”
“Whatever.” Jack rolls his eyes. “Anyway, Johnny’s ex is back in town.”
Aaron’s eyes widen. “Like, for good?”
“No, because his grandfather passed away.”
“Grandpa Malone raised him,” I add. “Well, that’s not totally accurate. But he saw him through adolescence.”
Aaron glances toward the parking lot as if Grandpa Malone might suddenly appear. “Have I met this man?”
Jack exchanges a look with June. “Likely not. He was a bit of a recluse.”
Aaron frowns. “That’s a shame. He was probably an interesting guy.”
I clear my throat. “Anyway, what can I get you? The usual?”
“Sounds good.”
I turn my back to grab him a bottle of his favorite beer, and it gives me some time to breathe. Was Old Man Malone an interesting person? Certainly. If you ever got him to open up. Micah comes from a long line of fishermen, and if my suspicions are right, Micah has already scouted out a watering hole in LA. Or maybe not. Maybe he gave it all up, even his favorite hobby, to pursue his dream.
I hand Jack and Aaron their drinks.
“So, you’re still married to this guy?” Aaron asks.
“His name is Micah. And yep. But it’s only a technicality.”
“Why separated and not divorced?” Aaron clamps a hand over his mouth. “Sorry, too curious for my own good.”
When Jack seems amused by his boyfriend’s nosiness, I scoff. “And yet,” I tell Jack, “you hate being the one under scrutiny.”
“You’re right, he does,” Aaron agrees. “But you two are different, so I thought maybe you’d indulge me.”
“I don’t mind.” I smile blandly. “Micah was going to file after the accident, but I was never served, and he never brought it up again.”
His brows rise to his hairline. “You have no desire to initiate the divorce yourself?”
“I’ve considered it over the years, but I don’t know. Maybe time got away from me. Maybe it’s not as big of a deal as people make it out to be. Besides, it’s not like I’ve…” I glance away uncomfortably. “Never mind.”
“That’s the most anyone’s gotten Johnny to talk about Micah in forever.” Jack clinks Aaron’s glass. “I applaud you.”
June snickers, then shoots me a knowing look. “I know how hard it is to let go of the love of your life.”
My pain is not the same as losing a spouse in an accident, but it still makes me ache all over. My stomach throbs even considering any sort of finality with Micah, but maybe it’s time to fully let him go.
“By the way, Micah is looking for someone to help him fix up Grandpa Malone’s house so he can sell it.”
Aaron’s eyes light up. “Really?”
“Apparently, it needs work.” I wince. “And not only because of all the junk that needs thrown out.”
“Well, I’d be happy to take a look.”
“Okay, cool. We can schedule a time to drive over there so I can introduce you.”
“Sounds good.”
The night gets busy, but I can’t stop thinking about Micah and how good he looked standing in my bar.
Back home that night, even more memories surface, especially since this is the place where Micah and I got our start as friends, then lovers, but also where we lived after returning from our Vegas trip unexpectedly married. I think about how young and innocent we were—at least in the sex department. In high school, Micah might’ve been known as the bad boy who was always in trouble, but he was only starting to explore his sexuality.
Soon enough we were sneaking around, trying to get any time together we could before our families found out. Not that they’d object, just that being in our secret bubble for as long as we could felt right to both of us.
My hands shake as I climb the trellis on the side of Grandpa Malone’s house. Once I make it to Micah’s second-story window, I knock lightly. It’s not like we didn’t plan this, but his look of surprise tells me he had his doubts. He carefully opens the window so as not to make too much noise, and I climb inside.
“I didn’t think you had it in you,” he says as my feet hit the carpet. It looks brand-new, as if his grandfather made some updates when he found out Micah was coming to live with him.
As he closes the window, I take in his room. A queen-size bed, a tall dresser with a television sitting on top of it and a gaming system underneath.
“This is nice.”
“Not any nicer than your room.”
“Except your stuff looks newer. My Xbox is old, and you have those fancy wireless controllers.” He looks away as if embarrassed his grandfather bought him stuff. Maybe because he works so hard on the docks. He’s in charge of the deckhands on a large ship called Calamity Jane, and they keep the vessel in tip-top shape. At least, that’s how Micah described it.