Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Despite bad luck in the romance department and the collection of children he was raising as a single parent, he was the true rock of the family. And that rock had been shaken. In one year he’d discovered Owen was gay and that his twin, Stephen, had been keeping his relationship with Tasha a secret since college. He’d almost lost his youngest son when that ass Burke brought Little Sean’s mother back to sue for a custody she didn’t want. As if that weren’t enough, a few months ago they’d all found out their baby sister was sleeping with her college professor. The confrontation that followed not only showed them they were misinformed—she wasn’t sleeping with one older man, but two—but the hits just kept on coming. Most of them having to do with their mother and her handling of Jen’s romantic tangle.
It made Owen uncomfortable, knowing that the same woman who embraced his new status without hesitation and spent months obsessing over his wedding had given his sister such a hard time. It was so out of character. Their mother was the epitome of unconditional love for all of them. Until this happened. He didn’t like to think of Jen having sex—ever—but Ellen Finn had been taking out her own issues, reliving her own mistakes through her only daughter. Ellen had slept with two brothers who were both in love with her and, in choosing one to marry, believed she’d created the rift between them. She’d been too ashamed of what people would say back then to keep them both, and she’d tried to put that shame on Jennifer, not understanding how different the situation was.
Shawn told Owen it was Sol’s choices and selfishness that were to blame, and his choice to stay away. He’d convinced his wife to make things right with Jen after their confrontation nearly cost them their relationship. Owen was relieved as hell that they seemed to be good again. Better. Because he’d sure as hell had no idea how to fix it.
Seamus, however, had taken it harder than he had. He’d been absent more often than not at Finn Agains and family gatherings lately. Nearly as often as their cousin James. It had really screwed with the family dynamic. The kids still got to come, but everyone missed Seamus.
The wedding was helping. Seamus was throwing the small bachelor party tonight at the pub, and he’d promised he and the kids wouldn’t miss the wedding or Christmas morning. Which was good. It really wasn’t the same without him around.
“We’ve lost him.” Wyatt was snapping his fingers in front of Owen’s face. “Worried about your brother, or mooning over Jeremy again? Because that would just be sad and I’d feel more like taking you to rehab than this party.”
Owen narrowed his eyes. “Just wait, Wyatt. When it’s your turn? Just wait.”
“Man, you’ll be eighty and looking for your teeth before that day comes. Noah might be the next one to drop, but not me. I’m single for life.”
“I know that’s what the women you sleep with keep telling you, Wyatt. But never give up.” Rory sent him an innocent expression and Noah barked out a laugh.
“We’re getting off topic.”
“Did we have a topic?”
He took another drink of his beer and focused on Owen. “You are the topic. The groom and his wedding jitters.”
He didn’t have jitters. “Fuck off. Go bother Jeremy. He’s a groom too.”
“Jeremy is jitter free. I think you two would’ve gotten together a lot sooner if I was wrong about you avoiding change.”
“Good point,” Wyatt tacked on, tapping his full lower lip thoughtfully. “But I totally get why Owen held off. I mean, this isn’t like a move to a new apartment is it? It’s a big step from ladies’ man to LGBT poster boy.”
“I guess. If you really believed you weren’t gay,” Rory said with a devilish smirk. “As for me I always knew Owen had it in him. I also know from experience that the straighter they think they are the harder they fall. But they have a hell of a lot of fun on the way down.”
Wyatt punched his brother’s arm. “We get it, okay? You’re the all-seeing king of Gay Land and straight guys fall at your feet. Get another hobby already.”
“But I’m so good at this one.”
Noah met Wyatt’s gaze and they spoke in unison. “We know, Rory.”
It was hard not to laugh as Owen walked around them and headed to the kitchen for something to drink that wasn’t beer.
Noah had a point. Owen liked things the way they were, so much that it took him forever to admit to himself that he wanted Jeremy. That his curiosity and jealousy and constant need to be near his best friend were all red flags that he might want more from their relationship.