Page 2 of Just A Little Love

Gabriel:Yeah, I’m excited for you guys to meet him.

Fuck.

“Hey, Rory.” Margaret’s gentle voice addressed the man. “It’s so hard to see you in here without Tobias. I keep expecting to see him walk in the door to meet you. I found the Pride ornaments you two made last year, and it hit me he wouldn’t make one this year. How’s moving into the house going?”

When she spoke, he turned to face her, and I could see his complete profile. Holy hell, he was beautiful. His features were delicate but masculine. The winged ends of his eyebrows and enormous eyes gave him a curious look. I shouldn’t stare, but those lips, plump and pink, were works of art. And, fuck me, the smattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose was sexy ashell. I’d guess he was ten or so years younger than my thirty-eight.

“Yeah, sometimes I forget he’s gone too. I want to call him, and he won’t answer.” The man’s voice was soft when he said it, but his grief was unmistakable. “…if I don’t hire an architect to develop a rehab plan… Uncle Tobias didn’t want to worry me about the house mess left behind.” I didn’t need to be privy to every word of their conversation to understand the gist of it. This beautiful man, who sounded sad and heartbroken, needed an architect. Ignoring his pitiful tone when I had the potential to help was out of the question.

“Excuse me. I’m sorry to eavesdrop, but maybe I can help.”

Chapter 2

Rory

Ilove my job. I love my job. I love my job.

If the mantra was repeated enough, I might manifest it into existence. On typical days, nothing was better than teaching students and seeing how their minds expanded when presented with new information. My current assignment, anIntro to Collegecourse, was challenging under usual time constraints. When taught over winter break to prepare non-traditional students for their first “real” class in January, an arduous exercise of endurance and stamina was a better description.

My mind and body were both exhausted. After my office hours marathon ended, I wasn’t quite ready to face an empty house. I decided I’d grab a bite instead of heading straight home. Some days, I swore Uncle Tobias’s ghost rattled around in the house with me, but lately, loneliness threatened to overwhelm me.

Getting dumped right before the holiday season because I didn’t “project the right image” was surreal and not at all helpful for this isolated feeling. Charles hadn’t been the love of my life or anything, but damn. I couldn’t help him move into our school's upper tier of academia like he expected, so I was discarded. The mystery was why he thought I, a lecturer, had any clout on campus. I was a tadpole, not a fish, in the university pond. Hell, I should suck up to him since he was the one on the tenure track.

Dumping me hadn’t been enough for him, though. The urge to pour a little more salt on the wound was evident when he said I dressed like a child and had the interests of one, too. Of course, the comments stung. Chucks are cute and comfortable, and who doesn't want that? Cartoons were good, mindless fun, and who cared if mine were usually the type the kindergarten set loved? The stores were good. Charles, never Charlie, needed to learn something about being kind from them. Fucking men.

After my day, I’d earned my treat tonight and would enjoy every drop and bite of it. The Diner had been Uncle Tobias’s favorite late-night haunt, and going helped me manage the grief of his passing. It was close to campus, but my shoes were soaked by the time I pushed the heavy wooden door at the entrance open. Sigh. Rain boots were more practical, but I hearted my Chucks, and they made me happy. People should do what made them happy.

Uncle Tobias lived his life with that in mind.Do what makes you happy.My folks loved me, but they didn’t share in the things that made me happy. Growing up, I was happy to hide in a library reading about history or magical quests, and Uncle Tobias got that. Well, never enough to join me, but enough to tell my parents to back off and let me like what I liked. Being my dad’s uncle gave him room to flex his old-man privilege.

Uncle Tobias left me his historic Victorian when he passed two months ago. I knew he wanted me to sell it because he’d mentioned it a million times. He anticipated that a developer would swoop in and pay an astronomical price for its prime location on the bluffs overlooking the ocean. The property's value was in the land, but I’d loved the falling down place since forever. Even as a kid, I recognized his house was exceptional. It was Uncle Tobias’s pride and joy. He scrimped and saved to buy it decades ago. In a developer's hands, demolition would begin before the ink on the contract was dry.

Thankfully, The Diner was mostly empty tonight, and I snagged my usual spot at the front counter. I grabbed my papers out of my bag, messy as they were, and spread them out. I needed to figure out the bureaucratic mess before it was too late. My phone buzzed the moment I sat down. I clicked on the message from my best friend. A photo of his exaggerated sad face in a club popped up.

BFF: Why aren't you here? I need you.

Rory: You don’t need me. I hate clubs, and it’s a school night.

BFF: Just say you don’t love me.

Rory: OK. I don’t love you.

BFF: TAKE BACK YOUR LIES.

Rory: Shouldn’t you be living your best life? Wash that man right out of your hair. Take another one for the team.

BFF: Take your own advice. We didn’t break up. He’s the one who wanted to go out tonight, but I need to finish my receivables by tomorrow.

Rory: I don’t have time or the money to take my advice. And that’s unfortunate news about not breaking up. I'm surprised your BF/boss doesn’t want you to finish since it’s probably his job anyway.

BFF: If I had it, I’d give it to you. Uncle Tobias was a little shit with this house. And UGH to the rest of it.

Rory: Yeah, he was. I’m at The Diner with all his files. I’m trying to figure them out.

BFF:I can tell the BF it’s an emergency if you need me…

Rory:No, don’t do that.

Rory:It’s okay. Have fun. Be safe. Dump him.

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