Chapter 19
Ryan
I really needed to learn not to judge abook by its cover.
We must have all looked entirely toostartled because the grumpy country guy gave all of us a dark look. “I don’trent to anyone who’s going to give my boy a problem. He helps me out with therentals, and if you don’t like that, then—”
Scott and I were struck dumb, but luckilyDare was faster on his feet. He interrupted the rant that kept growing angrierby the second. “No, that will not be a problem. It was just unexpected.”
Bart gave us all a long, stern glare beforehe nodded. “All right, then.”
I had a moment where I pictured my fatherstanding beside Bart, and I couldn’t imagine my dad getting ready to go aftersome guys who might not approve of my life. He’d quietly agreed with me thatstaying in the closet while I was still in high school was a safer idea thancoming out.
“No issues.” I glanced between Dare andScott, who both gave me careful shrugs. “We’re gay.”
Well, Dare was bi, but that wasn’t thepoint.
“Good.” Bart nodded and gave the impressionwe’d moved up on his list of prospective tenants. “The young straight guys I’verented to tear shit up when they party, but you guys are neater. More likely tomake me come bail you out of jail for doing something stupid and shocking theneighbors but not bust holes in my drywall.”
I had a feeling we were missing out on someinteresting stories.
“Um, no wild parties.” Scott was soundingmore confident as he started walking around the house again. “We’re kind ofboring.”
“That ain’t a bad thing. Might keep the hottub in one piece this time.” He huffed and glanced toward the backyard. “Damnthing is more trouble than it’s worth sometimes, but the boys talked me intokeeping it.”
I was assuming the boys meant his son andthe husband, but I wasn’t going to ask. “It was something that caught our eyein the ad, so I’m glad you didn’t take it out.”
Very glad.
Looking out the window that faced the backyard,I realized the house had even more privacy than I’d initially thought. The waythe lot was situated had the trees wrapping around two sides. “Who owns thewoods back there?”
Bart sighed and glanced over at the woods.“State land. Can’t get the bastards to sell it to me.”
“But there are no plans to turn it into aWalmart or something?” I wasn’t sure how long we’d stay if it worked out, but Ididn’t want to end up in a year-long lease with a major shopping center goingin behind us.
“No, no plans, they’re just hoarding it.”He sounded a bit bitter, so I let the subject drop.
As we made our way past the kitchen, wefound the bedrooms. The notes about the bedrooms had been a bit vague, but Iwas starting to see why the house hadn’t been rented yet. One was huge andcould have fit a king bed easily, but the other seemed more like a walk-in closetwith its own closet rather than a bedroom.
We must have looked odd as we studied thebedrooms because Bart finally spoke up. “Ain’t my business, but you boys aretogether, right?”
That was a loaded question. He’d beenlooking at Scott and me, but we both looked at Dare and shrugged. Dare chuckledand finally answered. “Yes, we are.”
That got another odd look from Bart, butagain, he surprised me. “Gert is going to have a field day telling this to theladies at church. Those old biddies look so sweet, but they’re some dirtybirds.”
That had all three of us coughing andtrying not to laugh.
Bart just ignored it and focused on Dare. “Justthem living here? If it’s all three of you, then I’ll need applications fromall of you.”
Dare handled the question like it wasnothing. “I’m not living here, just them.”
Bart shrugged and gave us awhateverfloats your boatlook. “Alright, I’ll let you guys look around, but let meknow if you have any questions. It’s available right away and I’ve got the applicationsin the truck if you want one.”
As he headed out of the room, I looked overto see Dare and Scott giving me the same odd look I was probably wearing. Ithadn’t been what I expected in the slightest, but I was starting to thinkmoving wouldn’t be so difficult after all.
****
We’d talked about everything but theobvious on the way back.
