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)
Jack sighed, but he sounded amused instead of annoyed. Then he kissed my cheek and said, “It’s actually sweet that you’re such a protective big brother. And speaking of sweet, I also love the fact that you hired Pete to work in your mom’s bar.” He’d quit his job earlier in the evening, and his former employer had come by to collect the limo. It actually wasn’t any worse for wear, aside from an empty hot tub.
“He’s a nice guy, and he has bartending experience, so it was a no-brainer. My mom can’t keep working fourteen-hour days forever, it’s just too much. And with me paying Pete’s salary, there’s no reason not to accept some help.”
I’d called her earlier to ask about hiring Pete, and to let her know what had happened with Greco. She’d sounded relieved. She also surprised me by saying she and Chet were having such a good time in L.A. that they’d decided to stay through the weekend. I couldn’t actually remember her taking a vacation—ever—so it made me happy that she was prioritizing something other than work for a change.
Jack asked, “So, now that Greco’s out of the picture, what are you going to do? I know you’d mentioned retiring, but is that still the plan?”
“It is. I have enough money to take care of you and me, and your mom and my mom, and Romy if he ever needs help, very comfortably for the rest of our lives. So, why risk getting arrested, and why keep dealing with men like Greco? It’s just not worth it.”
He sounded emotional when he said, “You included my mom on your list.”
“Of course I did.”
He straddled my lap and grabbed me in a hug as he whispered, “That means so much to me. I can’t even tell you.” I held him securely, and after a moment he said, “I decided to retire too, by the way. Sooner or later, I would have wound up in jail, and I can’t stand the thought of getting taken away from you.”
I kissed the side of his head and told him, “That’s a good call.”
He sat up and smiled at me as he asked, “So, what do a former thief and an ex-gangster do, exactly? Do we take up golf, like the pair of retirees that we are?”
“Do you want to take up golf?”
“Not even a little.”
“Okay, so not that, then. And I guess the answer to your question is that we do whatever the hell we want. Logistically speaking, you’ll move in with me, obviously, and I’d love it if we split our time between Vegas and San Francisco. I want to keep getting to know my dad’s side of the family, but I also want us to be here for Mom and Romy.”
He looked amused. “So, it’s obvious that we’re moving in together?”
“Of course. I need you with me every minute of every day, and not to be presumptuous, but I think you might want that, too.”
“Oh, I do, and that reminds me. Earlier, I told you there was something you needed to know.”
“Yes, you did.”
“So, here it is.” He took my face between his palms and told me, “I love you, Adriano.” He was so serious about it, like this was the most important thing he’d ever said.
I grinned and ran my hands down his back. “Yeah?”
He nodded. “With all my heart. And if you want to live in Vegas and San Francisco, awesome. Let’s do it. The only thing I care about is that we’re together.”
My grin turned into a smile. “You’re amazing. You know that?”
“Right back at you.”
He kissed me deeply before curling up with his head on my chest. When he dozed off a few minutes later, I pulled the blanket up to his shoulders and held him securely, as I marveled at where we found ourselves.
Jack was amazing. He had a hard time trusting, and yet he somehow managed to make himself completely vulnerable—to put himself in my hands and know I’d never hurt him. His faith in me was humbling.
At the same time, I knew I could trust him, too. He truly loved and cared about me, and he’d never hurt me, either. I felt it deep down.
The effortlessness of it all was surprising. We just fit somehow. I could easily imagine us like this a year from now, and ten, and twenty. It was that right, that beautifully inevitable.
24
Jack
When I woke up the next morning, I had a slight hangover and was someplace unfamiliar—outside, on a balcony. It was disorienting, but then I rolled over and saw Adriano beside me, and I knew everything was okay.
As soon as he felt me shift, he reached for me. I loved that. I burrowed into his arms, and he said, in a raspy whisper, “Waking up with you feels so damn good.”