Page 19 of The Boyfriend Gamble

Plus, maybe they’d make a good match. God knew Izzie and I didn’t.

A nudge to my shoulder pulled me from my reverie.

“He’s pretty cute.”

I turned to find Julian, with his dark-auburn hair and soft-brown eyes. “Who?”

“The guy who just arrived. The one your ex is fawning over.”

“She’s not fawning.”

Except she kind of was.

“He’s a neighbor from down the road. Seth…something. An RCMP officer.”

Julian sighed. “Well, he can arrest me anytime.”

I bumped him. “I’m pretty sure he’s straight, and aren’t you in a committed relationship?”

“I’m allowed to look.” He pressed a hand to his chest. “August isn’t a jealous man.”

“And if he looked?”

Julian’s eyes narrowed.

I guffawed. “Oh God, you’re so transparent. When’s the wedding?”

“Early fall. August wanted to wait a year after his sister’s passing. I thought we might honor her final wishes that he be happy, but he wanted to be respectful. Whatever, we’re practically living together.”

“Practically?”

“Well, he’s got a nicer house, I think, but he loves spending time at my place. I’ve suggested he rent his place out and move in with me.” Julian glanced at the gorgeous Black man examining a tree near the house. “We’re fiancés, right? That would mean living together isn’t a sin.”

August had the cutest butt. But I was pretty sure pointing that out to Julian wouldn’t earn me brownie points, and since he was the guy who’d trim and fell any trees August deemed needing to come down, I’d keep my mouth shut.

Plus, I wasn’t really out to my family. Oh, Josette had inklings I was bi, but she kept that to herself. I wasn’t sure how my parents would react, anyway. My mother went on and on about how Josie and I needed to marry, buy homes, and settle down. Not necessarily in that order. Knowing Mom had grown up in poverty and using that knowledge to excuse her pushiness proved trying at times.

I didn’t have the inheritance that Wally and Felix received. And, given the choice between having the money or my dad, I’d pick my having Dad around every time.

Wally and Felix stood off to one side as Wally pointed at part of the porch.

Huh.

I hadn’t noticed the sagging. In my notes, I had it as sturdy. I added it to the monumental list of things that needed to be fixed.

My mother kept hinting she wanted everything finished so Felix and Josette could marry in late August.

Seriously? The height of summer in British Columbia? In the middle of wildfire season, when we might be blanketed by smoke? Better during autumn. Like around Thanksgiving. The second Monday in October. Cooler. Slight chance of rain. If they kept the wedding small enough, they could do it in the great room of the house.

But no. Mom and Christie wanted a huge wedding with all the frou-frou stuff.

Josie seemed to be on board.

Felix? I couldn’t get a read on him. I couldn’t ever get a read on him. He seemed excited enough about the house, trepidatious about the repairs and all the people traipsing through, and generally a cheerful guy. He loved his job—I knew that much. He loved his mother and brother—although he didn’t always seem to understand them.

Nor they him.

Felix was a gentle soul. Quiet and introspective. Loving and kind. No one ever got left behind when he was around. Even as children, he’d always ensure everyone got their fair share.

---