Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
A couple of them were actually related, but mostly they were a family by choice. In all, seven people lived in the Victorian. Another couple and their young son were part of the family, too. They lived in the house directly behind this one, shared the big back yard, and joined the Crew for dinner several nights a week. It was sweet, the way they all cared about and supported one another.
At the same time though, it made me feel like maybe my life was a little empty, especially since the two people I cared about most were back home in Kansas.
I’d told Hal, the newest member of this household, that it was going to feel strange going back to my empty apartment after being around so many people. “I know what you mean,” he said. “I’ve only been here a couple of months, but I can’t imagine ever going back to living alone after this. You’re going to stay in touch though, right? We’re friends now, and the door’s always open.”
I really liked Hal, even though he was obscenely young at twenty-three and far too pretty, with his perfect dark hair and flawless skin. I’d assured him I planned to stay in touch, but it didn’t seem all that likely. I had little in common with Hal, or with any of them, really. They were all normal people leading normal lives. Meanwhile, I’d lived on the fringes of society for so long that I barely knew how to behave in polite company.
I had some truly atrocious habits, like the fact that I automatically cased every room I entered. Even though I had absolutely no intention of robbing these people, I had a running inventory in the back of my mind of every valuable thing they owned—which wasn’t much.
Aside from a minor antique here and a so-so collectible there, the only things of real value could be found in JoJo’s little studio at the back of the house. She was a jewelry designer and kept a small selection of precious and semi-precious gems and metals on her workbench. In all, it was probably worth fifteen-hundred dollars. I hated myself for mentally totaling it up while I’d sat in her studio and chatted with her one sunny afternoon.
It made me feel like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and like I wasn’t worthy of their friendship. Especially not JoJo’s, even though I adored her. She was lovely and stylish and smart, and she’d treated me with so much kindness from the moment we’d met.
Case in point, here she came with two cups of tea and a plate of cookies. It was around four p.m. on Friday, and she was taking her usual mid-afternoon break. Everybody else was either at work or out living their lives, so she was left with me for company.
I set aside the ebook I’d been reading on my phone and shifted around so my wrapped foot was on the coffee table instead of on a stack of pillows. After I thanked JoJo for the refreshments, I told her, “I’ve decided to head home this afternoon. You and your family have been wonderful, but I can’t keep taking advantage of your hospitality.”
It had felt good to be here and to pretend I was part of a family. But my ankle had ended up being more of a twist than a sprain and was feeling a lot better, so I didn’t really have an excuse to keep hanging around.
“Are you sure? You’re still limping, and I don’t know about attempting the three flights of stairs in your apartment building.”
“I can take it slowly,” I said, “and once I get to my apartment I’ll plan on staying put for a while.”
“It’s up to you, but just know you’re welcome to stay here as long as you’d like.”
“I appreciate that.” After a pause, I met her gaze and added, “I want to say something, just because I really like you, JoJo. Please don’t take this as an insult, but I think you’re too trusting. You allowed me into your home even though I was a complete stranger, but not everyone is kind and well-intentioned, the way you are.”
She grinned and asked, “Do you think I don’t know that? I’m trans, Jack. Can you even begin to imagine the cruelty I’ve endured over the last two decades, ever since I started to transition in my late teens?”
“I hadn’t thought about that.”
“Don’t look so sad,” she said. “I didn’t tell you that because I wanted pity. I was just trying to make the point that I’m not naïve, and I don’t automatically see the best in everyone. If anything, I’m actually pretty jaded. I also think I’m an excellent judge of character.” I must have looked skeptical, because she asked, “Do you disagree?”
“I do, because you trusted me, and you really shouldn’t have.” Hell, I was leaving soon anyway. Might as well put my cards on the table, in case it kept her from trusting the wrong person in the future. “I’m not a good man, JoJo. Not by a long shot. I lie and steal and screw people over, and I don’t even feel bad about it…usually.”