Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“His name is Shane. I’ve known him all my life. You’ve known him all his life, too. He’s a man, not a boy and yeah, I spent the night with him. I like spending the night with him. He makes me happy. Is there a problem with that?”
“I just don’t think you should flaunt it. People are talking. Jonathan said so.”
“Fuck Jonathan,” snuck past Van’s lips. “I don’t care who talks. I don’t keep secrets anymore. I’ve kept enough of them to last a lifetime.”
She shifted uncomfortably at that. “I’m not asking you to keep secrets, Maxwell.”
“Van.”
“I’m pretty sure I chose your name.”
“And that’s not who I am anymore. I wish you’d take the time to get to know me. Maybe we’d have something in common.”
“You’re my son. Of course, I know you, and if I don’t, it’s because you left and didn’t come back.” She picked at her nail for a moment. “I don’t want to argue with you. I have an appointment today. You can sign the papers so—”
“I don’t want it. How many times do I have to say I don’t want his money?”
“Your father wanted you to have it. He loved—”
Van held up his hand and she stopped speaking. “I’m not taking the money. What time is your appointment? I thought maybe we could pack together today. There’s so much you don’t use daily that we could put away until you find a house.”
She shook her head which Van knew she would do before he even finished asking her. “I can’t. I have a few other appointments as well because I assumed you’d be busy with Shane anyway.”
Van sighed. He knew, fucking knew none of this was going to change. He was hanging on for nothing. “I’d like to go down and see the lawyer. I want to officially sign whatever I have to sign so the bank and any of his money is yours. I don’t want it, Mom. That won’t change.”
He could have sworn he saw a flash of something—guilt? Pain? Fear? In her eyes but then it was gone.
“I’ll see what I can do. He’s very busy. I—”
“I’m not going to change my mind,” he reiterated.
“Okay.” She nodded slowly. “I’ll make us an appointment as soon as possible.” She gave Van one last look that he couldn’t read and walked out.
Before he lost his fucking mind, Van shoved out of the chair, grabbed his things and went straight for the door.
He wasn’t surprised when his car practically drove itself to Shane’s shop. The second he pulled up he saw Shane and Ryan together under a raised car.
He got out and walked over. Just as he did, Shane slid out from the vehicle. “Oh. Hey.” He smiled. “I didn’t expect you. What’s up?” He pushed to his feet and walked over and some of the heavy fog cleared from Van’s chest.
He saw Ryan sit up too, he looked at them for a moment and said, “I’m going to run and take a piss real quick,” before he disappeared, no doubt to leave them alone.
“You look too clean for me. I kind of want to get you all messy.” Shane winked at him and then frowned. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” And he was. Like Shane had said, they knew how to make sure they were okay. “Wanted to see if you had time for lunch or something later today.”
He could tell before Shane said it that the answer would be no. “I wish. I’m a little fucked on this car right now. It’s supposed to be ready tomorrow afternoon and one thing after another is going wrong with it. I don’t want to risk losing the time. Mr. Wells is going out of town and he needs this car.”
Shit. That sucked. “I hear ya. I can grab dinner to bring back to your place tonight. Maybe that will help.”
“That will definitely help.” Shane smiled, looked around and then pressed a quick kiss to Van’s lips. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah. I got into it with my mom a little, but it’s nothing new.”
“You can head over to my place if you want. It’s unlocked. Paint or do your thing. I know you have trouble being you in her house.”
Yeah, yeah he did, and he hadn’t realized until Shane said it that this was exactly what he needed. To lose himself in the things that made him Van. “You’re sure you don’t mind me being at your house when you’re not there? Feels very domesticated.”
“What about me isn’t domesticated?” Shane asked.
Van laughed. “A different kind. I’m giving you shit though…and thanks. I appreciate this.”
Shane just shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
There was a noise behind them and Van looked over Shane’s shoulder to see Ryan standing there. “Hey, man. It was good to see you,” Van told him.
“You too.”
He said his goodbyes to Shane and left. He ran to the grocery store and picked up a few items and then made his way to Shane’s. It was only a little after 10 a.m. when he got there. He unloaded the groceries before setting up his homemade studio in Shane’s dining room.