AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I unlocked the door, a big smile on my face. “I’m home, baby boy,” I yelled, setting my briefcase on the hall table and coming around the corner, hoping my boy was naked and in the mood.
Chad stood smiling at the kitchen island. “We have company,” he said, turning toward our guest.
“Hi, Cole,” Alan said.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN: Chad
The Day Before
Bing Crosby and David Bowie were singing my favorite version of ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ while I pulled another tray of Christmas cookies from the double oven.
Bowie was my father’s favorite artist and as a child, I’d become a fan of most of his songs thanks to Dad’s enthusiasm. Dad constantly played his music around the house and also when we drove somewhere without Mom, who lacked our love of Bowie.
As a five-year-old, I used to place a bucket over my head that I’d cut eyeholes into, pretending to be a spaced-out astronaut. I’d walk around the house singing one of his earliest hits that I knew nothing about, like I was Bowie himself. Of course, my father loved that I had the same passion that he held for the famous rock star.
“Parum-pa-pum-pum,” I sang, glancing out of the kitchen window and seeing a Prius pull into the driveway.
I waited for the passenger to step out of the car that had an Uber sticker on the windshield. After a moment, a handsome man, perhaps a little older than me, stepped from the back seat. The rear hatch popped open, and he went around to retrieve what appeared to be a small carry-on luggage.
I watched as the Uber pulled away and the man turned and surveyed Cole’s house. Remembering my manners, and assuming he must be a friend or client of Cole’s, I hurried to the front door just as he rang the bell.
I glanced in the hall mirror before opening the door. I wore an old pair of Cole’s sweatpants he’d made into shorts, and one of his fraternity T-shirts I’d stolen weeks ago for my own. I liked to believe that I could smell Cole on the clothes, even if I couldn’t. I wiped a smudge of flour from my nose and tried to tame my mop of messy hair.
“Hi, can I help you?” I asked, opening the door to a man who looked even more handsome up close.
“Is Cole home?” he asked, looking past me as if he needed to verify for himself.
“No. I’m sorry, but he’s in New York City until tomorrow evening,” I said. “Was Cole expecting you?”
The man looked behind him at the quickly disappearing Uber. “Darn it. And no, I doubt he’d expect to see me,” he admitted. “I sent the Uber away figuring Cole would be here since he usually works from home and it’s the holidays.
“Normally you’d be correct,” I replied, checking my manners as well as the dreary and cool ocean weather we were letting in the cozy house. “Would you like to come in? I could call you another Uber since you missed Cole.”
After checking for the Uber one more time, he smiled nervously. “Are you sure that’d be okay? Maybe just until I warmed up before they get here?” he asked. “I’m sorry I arrived unannounced. I was planning on being right about Cole being home.”
I wanted to ask him why he hadn’t called to confirm, but that seemed rude considering the poor man seemed so disappointed. “Of course,” I said, opening the door and stepping aside.
The stranger walked down the hall and then turned and waited for me as I closed the door and headed toward him. I came to his side and gestured toward the kitchen island. He made his way there as he looked around the open-concept rooms.
“Cole’s style has changed,” he noted, sliding his jacket off and hanging it on the back of a barstool. “Everything is brighter, more airy than usual.”
“You knew Cole at his other home in New York?” I asked.
He quickly turned to me and away from his appraisal of the home décor. “You don’t know who I am, do you?”
“I don’t,” I confirmed. “Are you a friend of Cole’s, or a client?”
“Actually, I’m Alan Collins,” he stated. I must have looked like I still had no clue. Maybe it was the addition of his last name that threw me. “I’m Alan, Alan. The ex,” he added.
I physically felt my face fall. I must’ve looked gobsmacked. I wasn’t expecting that introduction. “Oh,” I mumbled. “I’m… well… I wasn’t expecting that.” I was flustered for a moment before regaining my footing. I didn’t know this man. In fact, in typical fashion for Cole, he’d said little about Alan. Certainly nothing that would’ve caused me to have a poor opinion of the man in our kitchen.
“Surprise!” he uttered, appearing uncomfortable as well. “And I’m going to guess that you are Chad?”
“Yes. Uhm, yes, I am,” I answered, suddenly messing with my hair and regretting my clothing choices.
Alan was stylish and quite attractive. He had a sense for fine fashion and it definitely showed. And of course, I felt inadequate, not a feeling I often let overcome me.
“You are as adorable as you were described,” he stated. “The moment you answered the door, I knew it had to be the famous Chad I’d heard so much about these past few months.”
