The dread that had begun settling over me began to lift ever so slightly. “I’m sure Maplewood would be happy to accommodate you should you find something worth staying for.”
“Maplewood would, huh? That’s very kind ofMaplewood.” We shared a lingering smile. “Up for more secret dates?”
The hope in his voice made a lump form in my throat. “Absolutely. I’ve got a rain check on a silent book club date to cash in. Take it day-by-day, right?” Even as hope swelled in my chest, a tiny, annoying voice asked how long it would take before the charm of sneaking around wore off and left trouble in its wake. We couldn’t build something lasting off a secret.
“Ready for some cocoa?” Sam lifted their eyebrows questioningly as they approached.
I nodded and smiled. “Born ready. Show us what you’ve got.”
Amos rubbed his hands together. “Let’s drink some warm sugar before I gorge on ice cream.”
TWENTY-SIX
MICKEY
I pushed the lettuce on my plate around. Normally, a taco salad always hit the spot, but the seasoned carnitas I’d had in the slow cooker all day tasted as enticing as cardboard.
After letting out the most pitiful sigh of my life, I gave up on dinner and set it on my coffee table. I missed Amos. Dinner tasted better with his company. It had been just over six weeks since Halloween, and I was already craving dining with someone else instead of enjoying my own company. It was getting hard to remember what I thought about and how I spent my time before Amos had blown into my life. Being with Amos didn’t tax me like being around others. Amos left me feeling recharged—even when we spent hours talking.
I glanced at the time on my phone and saw I still had half an hour before I needed to leave and meet my friends for ice skating. It would be even more fun with Amos there, but how would I explain inviting him? Not so much to my friends—they’d been making enough little comments that it was obvious they suspected something—but to the other Maplewoodians there.Maplewood Mattershad commented enough on spotting us around town doing festival work that I didn’t need them speculating about anything more.
“What the hell am I going to do?”
My mind had been spinning since Amos had told me about his job offer and had indicated he might want to stay. What would it look like if he stayed? We would need to come clean not only to our families but to the town. Were we ready for that?
What I needed was to talk to someone. I didn’t want to confide in Bo because I wanted someone to listen, and I knew he wouldn’t be able to help himself from sharing his opinions. And given what he’d said to Amos and me, I already knew what those opinions were.
My D&D group wasn’t an option either. They were all too invested in me joining the happy-in-love club, and I knew none of them would be chill around Amos and me if they knew how deep my feelings were for him. That wouldn’t be a big deal if there weren’t the whole keeping it a secret thing.
I needed to talk to someone who wouldn’t make things awkward in person, but knew enough about our history to understand my dilemma.
“Ethan or Andre. That’s who I need to talk to.” Since they were living out in Seattle for the time being, they had enough distance from it all to be the sounding board I needed.
I picked up my phone and texted our group chat.
Mickey: Are either of you free to chat for a few? I could use some advice.
A minute later, I had a video call from Ethan. I answered and was surprised to see both of them on the call, though from separate devices.
“Hey! I wasn’t expecting a tag team. This is a nice surprise.”
Andre laughed. “Your timing is perfect. We were already chatting.”
“I’m in Pittsburgh for a game tomorrow night,” Ethan said.
They both had a happy, relaxed energy about them.
“What’s up?” Concern laced Andre’s voice.
I stretched out along my couch and tucked my free hand behind my head. “I’m having an issue and my brain keeps going in circles, so I’m phoning a friend. Well, friends.You two have enough context to either be helpful or dangerous.”
Ethan waggled his eyebrows and grinned. “Guy issues?”
“How’d you know that?”
Both Ethan and Andre looked shifty.
“There’s been some…speculation going on,” Andre hedged.
