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Not bragging, but being raised in a loving household with supportive parents and siblings, his indifference stunned me.

“There was no affection at all?”

A smile quirked the side of his mouth. “Until I was five, a nanny raised me, and then they hired Angel, who my parents referred to as ‘the housekeeper.’ The woman who loved me more than they ever could and was the one who looked after me when my school day was over. Angel introduced me to romance novels and when I was fifteen, she discovered gay romance. She smuggled me an e-reader and had books already downloaded on it. She’s the reason I’m a writer. When she gave me the books to read, she mentioned I read so many that I should be able to write my own. Having encouragement for once in my life, I did. Along with mailing her a check to help her transition into a new job and a note, she’ll find it when she arrives on Monday. I predict she’ll quit soon after she finds that I’m gone.”

There was a rebellious glint to his eyes, and I needed to understand his complete mindset. “Did your parents learn about your ambitions?”

Ollie shook his head, the smile turning up on his face. “They ignored me and left me to my own devices, unless there was some function or another where they needed their image maintained. But I started with short stories and writing prompts, but by the time I graduated high school, I’d written two novels. I attended college tuition free, so I took every literature, English, and creative writing class they offered while working on four other novels.”

Stunned, I stared at him. I started acting at eighteen after being discovered at a photoshoot, but at sixteen, Ollie had written an entire novel.

“Do you write under your own name?” I pulled out my phone and connected to Wi-Fi before I glanced at Ollie.

“Sort of. I use my first and middle names, Oliver Jackson.”

I nodded and although I wasn’t an avid reader, other than screenplays, I wanted to read his books. As they downloaded, I asked a question that wasn’t my business, but curiosity won out.

“How did your parents discover you were gay?”

Ollie laughed and said, “It would be a great story if it were something salacious. But they, or rather Cheryl, took it upon herself to open my mail from a publisher and researched the company. They only publish LGBT romances. The letter included a layout of my books for their website.”

I studied him and despite the nervousness that shone from him in the beginning; he grew into a confident and proud man when speaking about his career.

“You don’t look too bothered by it?”

The same blush I was getting addicted to stained his cheeks and his mouth tilted up in a smirk.

“I used my parent’s careers in order to get a free education with the understanding they could discover my secret and ask me to leave anytime. The prediction came close to how I believed the confrontation would go because of the underlying anger whenever we interacted. It played out as it had in my mind. Well, other than destroying property. But I’m free now, so I can’t complain.”

Ignoring the way his half smile made my heart lurch and then beat hard in my chest, I continued with my imposing questions.

“You chose Los Angeles for a fresh start?”

“No, I didn’t choose it. There wasn’t a true destination in mind, and California seemed as good a place as any. However, when they kicked me out, I texted my friend from high school who knew about my home situation.”

I froze and blurted, “Should you trust someone you haven’t seen in years?”

Rather than being offended, Ollie’s eyes sparkled when he glanced at me.

“We’ve stayed in touch after being friends since elementary school. So yes, I trust her.”

Southern California was where I lived my entire life. Before my career took off, we lived in a decent neighborhood since my father worked as a doctor with his own practice. For many years, there was an all-encompassing sense of protectiveness for my siblings, but it’s waned over the years because of Sam’s constant need to be in charge. Yet, I found myself protective of Ollie.

“How will you get in contact with her if you don’t have a phone?”

“I have her address and she’s expecting me today.” He searched my face before he asked, “Are you close with your family?”

A scoff escaped my throat. “You can say that.”

At his confused expression, I continued.

“My mama, Valentina, and my three younger brothers all live with me. My older brother, Sam, lives in a condo and my sister, Emilia, in an elaborate bungalow, both within a mile of my house. Naomi has one of the guest houses behind the main one.”

“You have six siblings?”

A smile quirked my lips as I thought about them. “Yeah, it’s a lot of noise and a constant stream of people in and out of the house, never any privacy or secrecy with nosy teenagers and an overprotective mother hovering around at all times, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

The smile on Ollie’s face held a sweetness that spoke of innocence and joy as I told him about my life.