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“Yoube optimistic—I’ll be however the hell I feel like being.”
Daniel laughed softly. “Fair enough.”
“You like soaps?” Bobby asked me, his gray eyes piercing.
“I can’t say I’ve ever watched one, sir.”
“But his mother writes romance novels,” Daniel said, grinning. “So he probably understands the appeal.”
“Does she now?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Is she any good at it?”
“I think so. I don’t read her books.”
“Why not?”
“He doesn’t need to,” Daniel said. “Peter lives in a soap opera.”
I flinched, sucker-punched, but Daniel put his hand on my knee and squeezed, taking away the sting.
“Does he now? Do tell.” Bobby took a small bite of his sandwich and chewed gingerly, like it hurt, keeping his eyes on my face.
Daniel lifted a brow at me.
“Uh, I don’t know.” I picked at the hem of my shirt. “My life’s not that exciting.”
Bobby’s eyes gleamed. “Son, I’m stuck in this house by myself, save for Kerri and Daniel, day in and day out. I promise I won’t be telling anyone your deep dark secrets. Have mercy and entertain a sick, dying man.”
“Bobby’s a great listener,” Daniel said.
I hesitated, glancing between them awkwardly. “It’s embarrassing. The whole situation makes me seem like an asshole.”
“Oh, now you’re just selling it,” Bobby said with a grin. It was that bright smile, the first I’d seen from him, that led me to dump my whole sordid story into Bobby’s lap—sans my excruciating and escalating crush on Daniel.
Bobby’s eyes glittered merrily the whole time I talked. He ate everything on his plate, and Daniel brought him some cantaloupe, which he also ate as he listened. This seemed to please Daniel, and I kept on talking until Bobby was through.
Daniel went in and out of the room, bringing Bobby his medication, going to clean the bathroom and change the sheets in the bedroom. After he started the laundry in the machines kept in a hall closet, he plopped on the sofa next to me just as I was explaining the upcoming situation this fall—how Adam was going to be at Oglethorpe with Leslie, and how I was going to be here.
“Well, hell if that ain’t some kinky shit right there,” Bobby said, grinning. “This boy’s a mess, Daniel. He’s great. Bring him around again because I want to know how this all comes out in the wash.”
Daniel chuckled. “I’m curious too.”
Bobby’s eyebrows shot up, his grin turning mischievous. “I bet you are.” Daniel shot him a warning look. Bobby laughed, winking at him.
“Well, it looks like Peter finished his story right on time,” Daniel said, slapping his hands against his thighs and standing. “Milky Way’s been out, and I fed her. There’re several meals in the fridge. Just take it really slow getting them out. You’re all set until Kerri gets here in the morning.”
“Efficient as ever, I see,” Bobby said.
I stood too and put my hand out. “It was good to meet you, sir.”
“Bobby’s fine. Just call me Bobby. And Peter, your life’s a wreck, kid. Fix it. Or don’t. But whatever you do, come back here and tell me about it. This is the best visit I’ve had in a while. Daniel’s never got any good gossip for me. He’s boring.”
I glanced at Daniel, who rolled his eyes but didn’t seem offended at all. “I don’t know about that,” I said. “Daniel’s cool.”
Bobby’s lips twisted into a gleeful smirk, and I knew what he was thinking. “Oh, yes, he’scool.” He waggled his brows at Daniel meaningfully. “Maybe he’s more exciting than I’ve given him credit for.”
