Page 31 of Waiting on Life
And I loved the sister I’d been fortunate enough to get.
“Night, Tobes.”
She hung up, and I slipped my phone into my pocket. I clutched Waldo to my chest and carried him into the bedroom. I sat Waldo down, plugged in my phone, and then pulled off my shirt.
“You think she’s right? Is it possible to fall in love with a guy?”
It was a stupid question, because in my heart, I knew the truth. I wanted to know more about Kyle in the worst way. I wanted him to be a part of mine and Waldo’s lives.
Chapter Nine
Kyle
“Something smells good.”
Pete came around the corner, his hair damp and spiky. He toweled off his chest, then wiped the stray drops from his face. Pete was a cute little twink, which was why we got along so well. We were about the same size, so we could share clothes. More than once I found him with my one gown on, staring at himself in the mirror and smiling.
“I’m trying to make him an omelet. I used some of your stuff.”
“It’s cool,” he said, sticking his head over my shoulder and inhaling. “I was teasing yesterday, you know. You are a really good cook.”
I grinned, because a compliment like that from Pete meant a lot. His family owned a popular restaurant, where they expected he would cook one day. Pete’s dreams took him off in a different direction, though, which angered his family.
“Do you think Jack was pissed because he already bucked your family to become a cop? Maybe he expected since you were there, you’d pick up the slack.”
Pete reached in and grabbed a chunk of the vegan sausage, which he popped in his mouth. “Oh, I know it is. He told the folks that I was the better cook, and they grudgingly gave him permission to become a cop because I was waiting in the wings. The problem was, no one ever asked me what I wanted. They all assumed, and when they found out that their plan wasn’t mine, they went apeshit.”
“And then I came along.”
Pete poured a cup of coffee, then took a seat at the table. “No. Don’t go there, please. You’re a victim of their arrogance and stupidity, nothing more. Jack feels bad that he did the same thing, especially considering he became their target after I refused. The thing was, they had Allen whowantedto be in the family business, but they wouldn’t take the time to train him because, they said, he didn’t have the skills. So the two of us who can cook don’t want to, and the one who wants to can’t because they think he’s a lost cause.”
“Your family is all kinds of fucked up.”
“Psh. You think that’s bad, try running a business with divorced parents, one of whom is sexing up his new husband. That makes conversations awful no matter how you slice it.”
I could only imagine. At least my parents stayed good friends for the most part.
“I made plenty if you want to come have breakfast with us.”
He snickered. “Nah, thank you, though. I think Toby only wants you there, sweetums.”
I cocked my head. “What?”
“You should have seen his face last night when you hugged him. I thought he wasn’t going to let you go.”
“You’re being silly.”
“No, I’m really not. He might not know it yet, but he’s gone on you big-time.”
It wouldn’t do me any good to comment, so I stirred the eggs instead.
“You didn’t know, did you?” Pete asked.
“There’s nothing to know. We’re friends, and I’m trying to keep that as my focus.” I put the spatula down and turned to face Pete. “I like him, and if all we can be is friends, then that’s what I’ll take.”
“Wow, I’m shocked. Usually you’re certain every man wants you.”
I stuck my hip out and put a hand on it. “C’mon, can you blame them? I am the whole fucking package, after all.”
