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)
Meanwhile, the conversation turned to Halloween, which was in three weeks, and everyone started brainstorming costume ideas. Lark was extremely excited about getting to dress up, and each idea he came up with was more elaborate than the next. His brother Logan kept trying to talk him down, but then he said, “Sure. If you want to dress like a merman in a giant aquarium, I’ll help you build it. You’re not going to be able to dance in a tail, though.” That was what finally made Lark reconsider that idea.
I was surprised when someone asked, “What about you, Jack? What will you dress as?”
I looked up from my spot on the living room floor, where I was helping Owen put together a wooden puzzle, and said, “I don’t know. I haven’t dressed up for Halloween since I was ten or so.” All the attention was on me, so I deflected it by asking, “The real question is, what’s this little cutie dressing as?” I nodded toward the toddler, who flashed me a big smile.
Logan shrugged. “Who knows? Lucky’s bought him five costumes so far. We’ll theme ours around Owen’s, but I don’t know how we’re going to narrow it down, especially if Lucky keeps shopping.”
“He can always play dress-up with the extras, and you know I can’t help myself, not when each costume makes him so happy,” Lucky said, and Logan snuggled closer and pecked his cheek. That immediately evolved into a passionate kiss.
I was usually fine with being perpetually single, but those two were so in love that watching them together was almost painful. It didn’t help that Lucky was tall, muscular, and dark-haired, which brought Reno to mind.
How far was his townhouse from here, maybe six blocks? I hadn’t been running very long when I decided to hop that fence. I wondered what he was doing. It was Friday night, so was he out at the bars, finding someone to bring home with him?
And why did I care?
A few hours later, the dinner party started to break up, so I called a cab, changed back into my clothes, and draped my torn suit jacket over my arm. After I said goodbye to everyone else, JoJo walked me out.
“Text me soon,” she said, “and you should plan to join us for Halloween. After we take Owen trick-or-treating, we’re going to head to the Castro. The whole neighborhood turns into one huge party.”
I murmured, “Sounds good,” and shifted the crutches, which I was borrowing until my ankle fully healed.
My new friend pushed a platinum blonde curl out of her eyes as she asked, “Are you going to be okay, Jack?”
“Definitely.” The cab pulled up just then, so I gave her a hug and said, “Talk to you soon,” before making my way down the stairs and into the street.
Once I was situated in the back of the cab, I told the driver, “I’d like to make a slight detour on the way home.” Then I directed him to Reno’s townhouse.
As we pulled away from the curb, I turned to take one last look at the pink Victorian. JoJo was still standing on the porch, watching me go. She looked like she was worried about me.
Not sixty seconds later, the cab pulled up across the street from Reno’s townhouse. I’d told myself I was only doing this to verify the address for when I sent back the watch, but I knew I’d had it right.
And there he was, talking on the phone and pacing in his living room. He seemed angry about something, judging by his emphatic hand gestures. It also looked like he was yelling. Even if I’d wanted to walk up to the door right now and return his watch in person, this clearly wasn’t the time.
His pacing brought him to the bay window at the front of the townhouse, and he glanced outside. Then he looked again when he spotted the taxi idling in the street. I quickly leaned back—not that Reno could see me through the cab’s tinted windows—and told the driver, “Let’s get out of here.”
The guy muttered, “Not a problem,” as we started rolling down the street. “In fact, if you got any more boyfriends you want to stalk, just say the word. The meter’s running, and I got nothin’ but time.” I just sighed.
We drove across town, and when the cab driver pulled up in front of my rundown building, he muttered, “Jesus,” and locked the doors.
“This is a really fucking expensive city, so it’s the best I can do right now,” I said, as I handed him a few bills and unlocked my door so I could get out.
“Yeah, no shit. That’s why I live in the East Bay and commute in, but whatever. You do you.” I fought an eye roll as I untangled myself and the crutches from the back seat.