I hadn’t rebandaged the wound on my arm yet. It looked a bit rough at the moment, and it was definitely going to scar. He touched my arm gently and looked at me with so much emotion in his eyes, and I said, “Don’t even think about feeling guilty.”
“I can’t help it. You got that scar saving me, and—”
“And I’d do it all over again, a thousand times,” I said. “You’d do the same for me, too.”
He drew me into his arms and kissed my forehead before saying, “Of course I would. I’d do anything for you.”
I looked up at him and asked, “Even traveling to Kansas to meet my mom and my best friend?”
A smile spread across his face. “I’d be honored.”
“Good. I already called Ma a couple of days ago and told her all about you, and she’s dying to meet you.”
“You didn’t tell me that.”
“I’m telling you now. Wyatt’s dying to meet you, too.”
“I can’t wait. Let’s go next weekend.”
“This is exciting,” I said. “I’ve never brought anyone home to meet my family before.”
“Will you teach me some sign language between now and then? I know I won’t be able to manage much in such a short time, but I’d like to say some basic things, like hi, nice to meet you, and I adore Jack.”
I grinned at that and took a step back. Then I signed exactly what he’d just said and told him, “I’ll teach you more than that, obviously, but it’s a good starting point.”
Just then, we were interrupted by a knock at the door. “That’s weird,” I said. “We’re literally in the middle of nowhere out here. Who’d be knocking?”
As I followed him into the bedroom, he said, “It might be one of my three neighbors. They all pretty much keep to themselves, but maybe one of them needs something.” He picked up his phone and accessed the app that went with the camera on his doorbell, and his eyebrows shot toward his hairline. When he turned the screen to face me, there was Doctor Ford, his ex, pacing nervously.
“What do you suppose he wants?”
“No idea, but I guess I should answer it.”
He quickly traded the towel around his hips for gym shorts and a T-shirt before hurrying downstairs. Meanwhile, I took a seat on the top step, where I was out of sight but could hear everything. I was way too nosy not to listen in.
Adriano answered the door with, “Hey, Ford, what’s up?”
“We need to talk. Can I come in?”
“I don’t have much time. I’m about to head to the airport.”
“I know,” Ford said. “I ran into Romy at a coffee house a little while ago. He was on his way to work so he couldn’t talk long either, but he mentioned you were about to head back to San Francisco with some guy. He also said you’re moving in together.”
“You’re intentionally being rude by calling him ‘some guy.’ My boyfriend’s name is Jack, which you know because you met him.”
“Boyfriend,” Ford scoffed. “What are you, in high school?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be calling him my husband soon enough.” That made me grin.
“I don’t understand what’s gotten into you! We were together for four years, and everything happened at a glacier’s pace. Now all of a sudden you’re moving in with someone you’ve known for a few weeks? It’s not like you, Reno.”
“No, it’s not, and thank god for that. I was just coasting through life before, and I feel like I finally woke up when I met Jack.”
“It’s exciting because it’s new,” Ford said, “but once the novelty wears off, what are you left with?”
“My perfect match.” Adriano sounded like there wasn’t a doubt in his mind about that. “Jack is exactly what I need. In fact, he’s what I’ve always needed. He and I are the same, and we understand each other.”
“Meaning what, he’s a criminal like you?”