More by Sloan Parker

Author:Sloan Parker [Parker, Sloan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Loose Id, LLC
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-one

“Damn, is that all you do is work?” Matthew asked.

I saved the opened file and closed my laptop lid. “Actually, I haven't been working as much as I used to.”

“Really?” He flopped onto the couch beside me. “I've never been that focused about anything. Not anything I should've been focused on. Probably why I had such problems in college.”

“You seem focused when you're cooking. You seem to like it.”

“I have been enjoying it. I never knew it'd be something I'd like to do. Never had a reason to before. My mom always cooked, and when she wasn't home, it seemed like a lot of work for just me.”

“I usually made a frozen pizza or brought home takeout.” I set the laptop on the coffee table and faced him. “Did you have a nice time at your mom's?”

“I did. She liked the necklace I got her. I wish you had come with me. You shouldn't work on Christmas.”

“I had lunch with Walter earlier. I thought you hadn't told your mom about us yet— that there's three of us.”

“I haven't. I don't mean to keep things from her. It's different. Not sure what she'll think.”

“But she knows you're living with Richard?”

“Yeah. She wants to meet him and see where I'm staying. I told her he's a friend helping me out, that his place is closer to work. I don't think she bought it.”

“They say moms know the truth even when their kids try to hide it.” My own mother had been clueless about so many things. Maybe she had never been a mother at all.

“It's weird staying here without him. It's not... ” Matthew took a deep breath. “I miss him.” His eyes scanned the room. They settled on the lighthouse painting over the fireplace. He bit his lower lip. “I'm glad he got to go see his folks, but I can't believe he spent all that money to fly to New York for one day.”

“There aren't many people I'd do that for.” I couldn't think of one, except maybe—"Can I ask you a personal question?”

“Sure.”

“What happened in college?”

“Oh... hey, it's cold in here.” He jumped off the couch and fiddled with the thermostat in the hall. He crossed the room without looking at me and sat again.

I shouldn't have asked. I had no experience broaching personal subjects. Apparently, I sucked at it. “You don't have to talk about it. I didn't mean to push.”

“No, I want to. I don't have anything to hide from you. Or Richard.” Matthew lifted his legs. He settled his feet on the couch, his knees to his chest. He folded his arms around his legs and rested his chin on his kneecaps. “I was never the greatest student in high school. I didn't pay attention to my grades. It was tough being the out gay kid.”

“I get that. Figuring out I was gay consumed a lot of my focus in high school.”

Matthew nodded. “But when I got to college, I studied. I was doing well. Then I met someone.

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