Leaning Into Forever by Hayes Lane

Author:Hayes, Lane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lane Hayes
Published: 2018-06-26T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

The ribbon of highway leading from Napa to the city was quiet and picturesque. Blue skies and rolling green hillsides were interrupted occasionally by a copse of California oak trees and farms with grazing cows and sheep. I loved living in wine country, but I was a city boy at heart. The prospect of a day trip with a hunky man to my old stomping grounds was oddly thrilling. Even if he was a tad cranky.

“You gotta give me a break with the show tunes, Geord. Just turn it down a bit. Please.”

I tsked ruefully but leaned over to adjust the volume. “Lucky for you, this isn’t my favorite song. You never know what you’re going to get on satellite radio. Let me sync my phone with your sound system. I’m in the mood for Cabaret.”

Levi groaned when I sang the first few lines of the musical. “I’m begging you, baby. Just…shh.”

I rolled my eyes at his pathetic tone and twisted in the passenger seat to face him. “You aren’t allowed to call me that, you know.”

“Why not? You just asked to sync your phone in my truck. That’s a pretty forward request. Kinda like Bluetooth sex,” he quipped as he switched lanes.

I threw my head back and laughed. “Too forward? Fine. If we must have silence, talk to me.”

“That doesn’t make sense. If I start talking, it wouldn’t be silent.”

“Someone isn’t a morning person,” I singsonged. “What happened to your zeppelins and donuts and road trip rah-rah?”

“It’s early. I need some time for the coffee to absorb, that’s all. I’ll be fine by the time I finish this.” He raised the to-go cup in his right hand and took a sip before placing it in the cup holder.

“Eight o’clock is not early unless—are you hung over? You seemed fine last night. Did you go out after you left the winery? Oh.” I frowned as I turned to study his profile. “Were you upset I didn’t invite you over afterward? Did you go out or worse…did you go home and drink alone? Are you a closet drinker?”

“You seem to be talking more, not less,” he commented.

“And you’ve just avoided five or more terribly important questions.”

“I’m not avoiding anything. I just can’t think as fast you can talk. Slow down.”

“Hmph. I didn’t think to ask, but I can’t do what we’re doing if you have substance issues. My father was mean-ass drunk, and I made a serious vow to myself to never get involved with anyone who—”

“Jesus, Geordie. No. I’m not hungover. I went home and watched Lost in Space and then went to bed. I didn’t sleep well. That’s all.”

“Oh.”

“And my ex called.”

“That’s a bother. Or were you happy to hear from him? I can’t recall your feelings in regard to the ex. Are you privately pining?”

Levi snorted. “No. Definitely not pining. I like Kevin. I wish the best for him, and I’d like to think it’s mutual.”

“What did he want?” I asked nonchalantly.

“He knows a chef in the Bay Area who might be interested in the job.

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