Page 5

With a wave, she disappeared behind the curtain toward the back.

“Wow, that was the shortest five and a half hours I’ve ever spent, and now I have to worry about the landing.”

I chuckled. “You didn’t notice take off. I’m sure you won’t notice the landing.” Before he could protest, I asked, “What’s your friend’s name, the one who invited you out?”

“Gracie. She moved out here at the start of our senior year in high school, but we kept in touch over the years. She works for an agent, or producer, or something like that, but I couldn’t keep track of the hundreds of things she does throughout a day. Her dream is to become a producer, but she’s happy where she is now, learning the ropes.”

“Cool. Why don’t I wait and see if you get in touch with her and if you can’t, we’ll try again tomorrow, and you can come and meet my family?”

“Oh, that seems like I would be intruding. If I can’t get ahold of Gracie, I’ll get a hotel for the night.”

I shook my head. “Trust me on this. If my mama finds out I let you stay in a hotel after telling her your story, and I won’t hesitate to tell her everything because I’ve been gone for six weeks and there isn’t much I keep from her, she’ll drag me out tofind you, guilt you into coming home with us, and then feed you until you burst, all out of love.”

His response was unexpected. “She sounds wonderful.”

I raised an eyebrow and said, “You’d think so, but she has a way of getting you to spill all of your secrets from a simple look.”

They’d landed, but again, Ollie’s focus was on him and he’d missed it.

He leaned closer and whispered, “Like, what sort of secrets? Because I once lost the cat from my friend’s Monopoly board and had to sneak home, get the one from our game, and replace it. Luckily, he didn’t realize it was missing.”

It was a close thing not to lose it at his serious look. His heart was so pure. I wondered if he’d lose that innocence the longer he stayed in Los Angeles, and the thought alone made me sad.

Instead, I nodded my head and said, “Yes, things like that. When I was eleven and discovered the pleasures of masturbation, mama glanced at me during breakfast the next morning and I confessed all.”

His cute cheeks turned a shocking red before he choked out, “What did she say?”

“Both her and papa, right then and there, started a conversation about safe sex and consent. They stressed to each of us the need to respect our partners, recognizing that no means no, even in the middle of sex. Always ask, several times if needed, before you touch anyone, even as simple as a kiss on the cheek or a hand on their arm. Not everyone is okay with touching. Papa was adamant we learned to watch out for harassment and danger signs at a club or party, making sure we knew it was our responsibility to watch out for others. Mama made it known sex is natural and you and your partner need to be protected. All of it, with complete consent. There was never any shame about ‘the talk,’ especially after my friends complained about their experiences.”

Clearing his throat, he nodded. “I would have loved parents who cared enough to impart that information. Instead, I’m a twenty-two-year-old virgin who wouldn’t even know what to do if I found myself with a man, much less a man I’m attracted to, who wanted to touch me. But I know about consent.”

I swallowed and blinked when the plane stopped at the gate and the typical series of dings sounded throughout the cabin, letting us know we could remove our seatbelts.

“And to answer to your question, I would love to meet your family. If my plans with Gracie fall through.”

With what must have been a sappy smile on my face, I led the way off the plane and toward the baggage claim, happy with the thought of spending more time with the intriguing younger man.

But the moment the carousel buzzed into life, I heard a loud squeal. I turned in time to see a five-foot nothing woman launch herself at my new friend, wrapping her arms and legs around a happy, laughing Ollie.

Well… fuck!

2

OLLIE

I’d missed my friend in the years since she moved away, so I clutched her to me as much as she held on with all her strength. But I happened to glance over at Connor and felt my heart stutter in my chest. Regretful time with the fascinating man was now over.

Gracie sensed a change in my demeanor and slid down my body until her feet landed on the ground. She took a step back and studied my face. When my eyes traced back behind her, she turned, curious, to study the man I thought I’d never forget for however long I lived.

As I waited for Gracie to introduce herself or take charge of the lack of conversation around her, she gasped and stepped back against my chest. I teased her during the years we grew up together about her five-foot stature, although I’d grown several inches to my six foot three height after she’d moved away. But her reaction to Connor surprised me. My manners kicked in during the awkward silence.

“Gracie, this is Connor. He kept me sane on the flight. He even invited me over to meet his family. They sound outstandingand supportive. Connor, this is Gracie, the sweetest friend I’ve ever had.”

Somehow, my words snapped them out of their staring contest, and they shook hands, exchanging pleasantries. Gracie’s stunned expression disappeared as she turned back to me. She studied my face for a long moment before her growing smile turned into loud gales of laughter. I blinked at her as she bent forward, holding her stomach with one arm while she placed her left hand on her knee.

For a minute, I stood there, staring without an ounce of understanding why.

“Only you, Oliver, I swear, only you!”