Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
The penthouse was in the old Shilito building, which had been one of the first department stores in the country more than a century ago. The building had been completely gutted and remodeled into luxury apartments. When the owner of the building was searching for investors, Rome jumped on it and bought the entire top floor. His place was remodeled in the art deco style that was so prevalent in the old buildings around Cincinnati. Everywhere the eye traveled, there was brushed nickel in smooth, clean lines and geometric shapes, gleaming black marble and dark wood. Even the artwork embraced the art deco and modernist tones.
“Out of our friends, I feel you’ve spent a lot of time apologizing to people you’re dating,” I said to Rome’s back as I followed him along the foyer to the living room filled with elegant, pale-gray furniture.
Rome threw himself into a chair and narrowed his eyes at me. “You know, you’re not really doing much to ingratiate yourself to me. Kind of something you want to do if I’m going to help you.”
I gave my slacks a little tug at the thighs, I sat opposite him, and placed my left ankle on my right knee. “And I thought we were friends. Aren’t friends supposed to help each other?” I arched an eyebrow at him, and Rome met me glare for glare. But I relented first. He was right. I needed his help. “Please. I need your advice.”
His narrow face split into an affable grin immediately, and his eyes twinkled with laughter. Sebastian and I had met Rome while we were in college. I’d actually ended up getting along better with Rome’s best friends, Pierce and Sawyer, than him, while we’d temporarily lost Sebastian to that asshole boyfriend of his, Thomas Cross.
Yet while I tended to not say much to Rome, I did like the guy. He was silly and ridiculous, but he was also relentlessly fearless. The man dove into everything he did without a moment of hesitation. When something new interested him, he embraced it like he wanted to become the world’s foremost expert on that topic. He usually didn’t because something else shiny would catch his attention. I admired his endless enthusiasm for life and his ability to let go of mistakes. Two things I was not very good at.
Rome bounced to the edge of his seat and rubbed his hands together as though he were about to dive straight into my life and fix it with a monkey wrench and elbow grease. “Okay. What’s the problem? That Parker leave you?”
“Yes.”
Rome flinched, pulling his hands up to his face like he thought I was going to hit him. “Shit. Fuck. Sorry! How? Really…just how? At Sebastian’s, he seemed like he was totally into you. I thought the man was going to fucking throw down over some teasing.”
I couldn’t argue with him. While I knew Parker had been more stressed and distracted since Joy’s bout with the virus, I hadn’t thought we were having troubles. But I’d been wrong.
“Okay. Okay.” Rome waved his hands at me as he leaned forward. His expression grew serious, like he was ready to give me his full attention. “Talk to me. What happened?”
So I told him about the nanny suggestion, but also about Parker’s growing insecurity about himself regarding his reticence to leave my home. I’d thought he hadn’t wanted to leave simply because I’d created a comfortable and welcoming environment in which to stay. If he was happy in my home, why would he want to leave? That made little sense to me.
Part of me wanted to blame Parker’s mother. If she hadn’t sprinkled these doubts in Parker’s mind, Parker and Joy would still be in my home, and we’d be happy together. Why did she have to go meddling in things?
I already knew the answer to that question—because she only wanted what was best for her son. She was worried about Parker’s long-term happiness. I wished Parker could pursue his long-term happiness while living with me.
After I spilled my guts, I looked expectantly at Rome. “How do I fix this? Where did I go wrong? I apologized for trying to find a nanny for Joy, but I don’t feel like that was enough.”
Rome’s face wrinkled up as if he were cringing. “You aren’t going to like what I have to say.”
“If you’re going to tell me I’m better off without Parker, you can save your breath.”
“What?” Rome gasped. “No! Fuck, no!” He launched to his feet and waved for me to follow him. “Parker is one of the best things that has ever happened to you. Did you know you talk more now?”
We cut down another long hallway filled with more vintage art deco paintings until we reached the kitchen. He grabbed a couple of glasses from the cabinet and filled them with ice and water.