Page 55 of Starting Over in Cedarwood

“Your mom’s dress is so retro. I love it. She looked wonderful,” Jonah said, ignoring Shaun’s questions.

“She did.” He hated when Jonah declined to answer.

“I always thought you looked like our father.”

“Good, since I’m his kid.” He didn’t like the strange feeling between him and Jonah. They were being nice and pleasant to each other and it was good to have conversation without arguing. Jonah sort of reminded him of an old sweater—comfortable and stable. But this was strange, too. Jonah, as a sweater, didn’t fit quite right.

Jonah reached across the table and grasped Shaun’s fingers. “I wanted you to remember the good times. We had ten years together and did so much. You can’t ignore it.”

The warning bells went off in Shaun’s mind. He recoiled and kept the photos under his palm. “No. I’m with someone.” The good-ish feelings melted in an instant.

“So am I.”

“What?” He tucked the envelope into the breast pocket of his shirt. “Why would you do that to him?”

“Because you’re my soulmate.” Jonah reached across the table again. “We should be together.”

“No, we shouldn’t.” He pushed away from the table and stood. His stomach soured. He wasn’t in the mood for truck stop coffee or Jonah’s bullshit.

“You’re my number one,” Jonah said.

“You’re just trying to use me, and you’re lying, like you always do. This is your fucked-up way of convincing me to come back, and it’s not working.” Shaun shook his head. “I can’t be with you because it’s not right and I’m not interested. We split and I’m with someone.” He pushed his chair in. “Were there any other pictures?”

“I’ll keep looking,” Jonah said. “Don’t go. Don’t leave this way.”

Shaun withdrew his business card from his wallet. “If you find any other photos, send them here.”

“TheTribune?Thisis your big time?” Jonah said and snorted. “What kind of backwoods paper is this? Is it even real?”

“I’m just a guy and this is the town paper. I do my job and I’m paid well for it.” He wasn’t in the mood for games. He had what he needed and it was time to go. Kevin had been brave about the situation, but Shaun had hurt his boyfriend and he refused to waste any more time.

“So that’s it?” Jonah followed him out of the building. “Ten years and this is all we are?”

“Yes.” He hated public arguments.

“I thought you loved me.”

Shaun paused and lowered his voice. “I did. I gave you my heart and you crushed it when you cheated on me with Nick, Steven, Drake, the other Jean, Geno…the list is too long to remember them all. You wanted freedom and I had the misguided idea you’d change. Nope. I grew up and you can’t. Accept it and that I’m not yours. Thanks for the photographs.”

“You’re leaving? Like that? I cleared my evening for you,” Jonah said. “You owe me.”

“I’m sure you’ll find someone to fill the time. You always do.” He headed over to his car. “Goodbye, Jonah.” He slid behind the wheel of his vehicle and locked the doors. His love for Jonah had died, never to be rekindled, now that he had closure.

Shaun drove home. The tension in his shoulders remained, but he could handle it because he was going to Kevin’s apartment, to his man.

* * * *

Kevin finished his paperwork for the night and headed to Mr. Vale’s office. He wanted a jump on his day off and the only way that would happen was if he hand-delivered the figures. He’d never been to the main offices before and knocked on Mr. Vale’s door. He expected a secretary outside, but the desk was empty.

“Come. The door’s open,” Mr. Vale called.

Kevin ventured into the office. Mr. Vale sat behind his desk and looked up. “Ah, Mr. Keiser. Well? How are our numbers? The lines looked good.”

“Even with the win, we did very well. People tend to buy more food when we’re losing—to drown out their sorrows, I’m told.” He offered up the piece of paper. “I’ve emailed the figures to you as well, but here are the totals. I’ve got more breakdowns in the email.”

“Good.” Mr. Vale nodded. “I knew you’d be an asset.” He trailed his finger over the lines on the paper and didn’t look up. “Got any plans for your day off?”

“I do, but it depends on what you say,” Kevin said.

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