By Chance (Courtland Chronicles) by Grant Cat

Author:Grant, Cat [Grant, Cat]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Cat Grant Books
Published: 2012-11-26T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Eric’s breath caught as he swung his rental car into the driveway next to the Thompson house. A classic white picket fence surrounded it, with a narrow path leading up through a row of rose bushes to a two-story yellow frame farmhouse. It looked almost too perfect to be real.

“You didn’t tell me you grew up in a fairy tale,” he teased as they climbed out of the car and grabbed their bags from the trunk.

“As long as you don’t mean The Nightmare Before Christmas, I’ll take it as a compliment.” Nick grinned. “C’mon, I can’t wait to show you the place.”

The kitchen was every bit as impressive as the outside, with shiny hardwood floors and glassed-in cabinets that reminded Eric of photos he’d seen of Depression-era houses. The kitchen table appeared to be a real antique, all heavy oak, with pretty hand-embroidered place mats.

Family photos lined the hallway; judging from the clothing, hairstyles and yellowing paper, most of them went back several generations. One relatively recent photo of a dark-haired young boy in a football jersey standing between his proud parents made Eric bite his lip and blink hard.

The living room was right off the hall, with a comfortable-looking couch and recliner, issues of Sporting News and various women’s magazines stacked neatly on the coffee table. A tall cabinet with a stereo system and twenty-inch TV stood a few feet in front of the couch. There was a huge fireplace too, a stack of cut wood beside it. The sharp pine scent stung Eric’s nostrils.

“It’s probably not as fancy as what you’re used to,” Nick said with a shrug.

Eric cleared his throat. “It’s fine.”

“You don’t have to say that just to be polite.”

“No, I mean it. You know what’s hanging in the foyer of the house I grew up in? Impressionist art. I don’t think we even own a photo of me and my parents together.” He sighed. “Where are your folks? I was looking forward to meeting them.”

“They left first thing this morning. It’s a long drive to Ohio.”

“Oh.” He could’ve kicked himself the moment the syllable escaped his lips. What was wrong with him? He’d never used to display his disappointment so openly. “I thought they were going to be here.”

“Sorry. If I’d known it was that important to you, we could’ve come up last night. Guess I’m still a little…”

Afraid. Not terribly surprising, considering how he’d behaved with Ally. Still, Eric had to swallow his rising frustration. “It’s okay, I get it,” he replied. “Besides, you’re not out to them yet, are you?”

Nick wagged his head. “And after all these years, I should be.”

“‘All these years’? I thought you only figured it out for yourself a few weeks ago.”

“That was the denial talking.” He leaned against the wall, chuckling ruefully. “Truth is, I’ve kind of suspected I had a thing for guys ever since senior year of high school. There was this one kid the whole football team picked on—a real brain, geeky and artistic, so naturally everyone thought he was gay.

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