Page 46 of Unscripted Love
I couldn’t say that we were back to the way things were before I found out that Chaz and Drew were the same guy, but most of the tension had faded. I was still disappointed that Chaz didn’t trust me with the truth sooner, but I had to admit that I probably contributed to the idea that I wasn’t approachable. I had an aloofness about me at times, a stoicism that could’ve led him to believe that I was arrogant. It wouldn’t be the first time I gave someone that impression about me. I wasn’t arrogant; I had just never overcome my habit of trying to be invisible in a room to avoid being teased.
I knew two things about the situation with Chaz: he didn’t have a mean bone in his delectable body, and I recognized honest regret when I saw it. He had the same expression the morning after in my hotel room as he had the previous night in my living room. He might’ve done a stupid thing, but not because he wanted to hurt me. I understood that fear caused people to make stupid choices sometimes, just as I knew that people made rash decisions when someone they care about disappoints or hurts them.
I was prepared to let Chaz go home the night before to give myself space to think until he stood up to leave. The disillusionment I felt didn’t just suddenly disappear, but other more pressing feelings overrode it. First, there was an understanding that I needed to prove trustworthy if I expected Chaz to trust me. I told him at the hotel that we could work through any obstacle other than him being in a relationship with someone else, and I had to keep my word. It took a lot of courage for him to admit the truth and I had to prove that I could take it and not overreact. Then there was a brief moment of panic that pushing him away would be the biggest mistake of my life. I knew that we’d botched things too badly to continue down the same road, so I proposed that we start over from scratch.
I couldn’t say that it was behind us, but I definitely felt lighter that morning sitting across from him at the diner. Neither of us seemed in a hurry to leave the coziness we found in the booth, so we lingered over another cup of coffee after Daniella collected our dirty plates. I liked Chaz’s quick smiles and even quicker sense of humor. It was obvious that he flourished once the burden of truth was lifted from his shoulders. He was less guarded and more carefree; it was impossible for me to sit there and not be charmed by him.
I noticed that he got quieter once we left the diner and headed to his house. I glanced over and saw that some of his tension had returned. I didn’t know the source of his unease, but he was obviously wound up about something.
“Are you worried that your house is messy?” I asked. “You’ve seen mine and know I’m not a meticulous housekeeper.”
“Nah,” Chaz said casually. “I’ve had too much time on my hands the past few weeks and kept busy by cleaning the house.”
“Same for me,” I admitted, “except I spent my energy getting things ready for my new house.”
“New house?” Chaz asked. “The one with the pond?”
“Yeah,” I said with a smile. “I fell in love with it and made an offer. I close in ten days, and I’m trying to make sure I have everything organized for the move.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” Chaz said. I couldn’t wait for him to see it. I had plans to give him a very private tour of every room in the house.
“The sudden, unplanned visit to your house isn’t bothering you, but something clearly is,” I told Chaz.
“It’s the Matrons of Maple Lane,” he said sullenly.
“Who?” I asked.
Chaz explained the dynamics of his living situation with me, and I couldn’t hold back a laugh. I knew his mom, grandmother, and aunt fairly well and they all had very strong personalities. I thought it was cute how they fussed and tried to take care of him, although he obviously didn’t.
“Oh, you won’t be laughing when they pop over unannounced at the most inconvenient time,” Chaz said. I detected more than a little hint of whining in his tone, but I was stuck on potential meaning of inconvenient times. Were we naked? I told my dick to stand down because it wasn’t the time to get all rowdy.
More comical than Chaz’s whining tone was the way he scoped out the neighborhood when I turned down his lane. There weren’t many houses and his family lived in the three homes that made up the cul-de-sac. There was no way for me to pull into his driveway without his family knowing unless they weren’t home.
“Let’s get this over with,” Chaz said then opened the door to my truck. He kept looking over his shoulder as he unlocked his door. “I give them ten minutes. It depends if they’ve changed out of their nightgowns yet.”
He started making a pot of coffee while I glanced around the small, but tidy house. Chaz had explained that he rented the house from his aunt after his uncle passed away. He must’ve thought the arrangement was temporary because there wasn’t a single piece of Chaz Hamilton’s personality anywhere to be found in the overly feminine furniture and décor.
As I sat waiting for Chaz, I heard a buzzing noise of some kind. Chaz looked up at the clock and snorted. The noise got louder and sounded like it was getting closer. Then I realized it wasn’t buzzing at all, but three overzealous women talking over the top of one another.
“Eight minutes,” Chaz said on his way to the door. He had opened it before the ladies had a chance to knock. “I think this is your personal best time.”
“Dear God in heaven,” his grandmother said, making the sign of the cross over her chest. “What the hell are you wearing?”
Chaz looked down at the leather pants he still wore. “Damn it!” He pivoted and glared at me. “You took me out to eat at the diner looking like this?” he asked.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?”
“I look like a trick you’ve picked up someplace,” Chaz replied.
“Oh no, baby,” his mother cooed, “you’re definitely a treat.”
“Clara, he means he looks like a male prostitute,” his aunt said. She plastered a smile on her face and looked at me. “How are you this morning, Kyle?”
“I’m fine, Mrs. Talbot. Thank you for asking.”
“Oh, none of this Mrs. Talbot stuff,” she said waving her hand. “I haven’t been your teacher for a very long time. You can call me Sandra or Sandy.”
“Okay. Thank you, ma’am.”