“Hmmph.” He regarded me steadily. “You know, I’ve known Silas Sloane since he was ababy.”
I nodded. He’d known practically everyone in town since they werebabies.
“He’s a good man,” Grandpa continued. “Reliable.Smart.”
“Okay.”
“Steady job. Kindheart.”
“Healthy teeth. Strong back. A fine specimen?” I pushed my luck a little, still pissed off at him basically telling me toget a lifeback at the diner. “If he proposes, I’ll accept. It’s legal now andeverything.”
Grandpa flushed a satisfying beet red. “I’m just saying that you could do worse than Silas Sloane, that’sall.”
I frowned down at him. “I don’t get it. Is this a change of heart? Have you decided to accept that I’m gaysuddenly?”
“Didn’t realize it was a thing that required my acceptance,” he shot back. He looked supremely uncomfortable. “But sinceyouare, andSilasis, then… He’s a good man to… date.” He cleared his throat. “That’s what I’msaying.”
I shook my head, still baffled, but before I could question him further, the doorbell rangdownstairs.
“You sure you’re going to be okay here by yourself?” I demanded. “Need anything before Igo?”
“Of course not! I’m capableof…”
“Yes, yes, I know,” I sighed. “You’re capable of taking care of yourself, capable of vaulting the building with the aid of your crutch, capable of taking down an armed intruder without leaving your recliner.” I rolled my eyes. “But when you’re out saving the world, avoid the shop, okay? Theo’s got everything under control and when you’re there, you flusterhim.”
Grandpa scowled. “Fluster him? Sort him out, more like. He doesn’t do thingsright!”
“He doesn’t do things the wayyoudo them,” I corrected. “They’re notwrong.”
“Hmph. Well, I’m watching college football today anyway,” he informed me, which was as close to capitulation as I was likely to get. “If you happen to see Diane on your way out, send herup?”
I blinked. “AmI likely to see Diane? She didn’t say anything about it earlier, and God knowsyoudidn’t say anything at all toher. And for that matter, why does she still come around three times a week when I’m here to take care of you? Doesn’t she have her own things todo?”
“Never you mind, Everett.” He waved a bony hand through the air. “Go on with you. Enjoy the sunshine. Live while you’re stillalive.”
I stared at him for a minute, but he was busy tracing the patterned fabric in the arm of the old recliner and wouldn’t lookback.
The bell downstairs rang again, and I hefted my backpack higher. “I’ll see you later,then?”
Grandpa nodded. “Off you go,” hecommanded.
So, off Iwent.
Si was standing by the door when I got downstairs, wearing the same outfit he’d been wearing earlier, except now the sleeves of his maroon Henley were pushed up to his elbows to reveal lean, muscled forearms lightly sprinkled with darkhair.
I stopped in mytracks.
Bizarre but true fact: I am aforearmguy. Don’t get me wrong, biceps are great. Thighs, asses, pecs, all wonderful also. But back when I was still drawing regularly, I had notebook after notebook filled with sketches of forearms in all different shapes and sizes. I’d sprung wood for my junior high track coach’s forearms — and lifted weightsreligiouslyduring that period, since it meant that he would stand behind my head and spot me with those arms on prominent display. I was a forearm connoisseur, and Adrian used to tease me mercilessly aboutit.
And soof courseSilas Sloane’s were the epitome of forearm perfection, and I could barely breathe in that first minute, with the way his pulled-up shirt sleeves highlighted his leanstrength.
I didn’t know what therightthing to do about Si was, but I knew what felt good and necessary. I was attracted and I didn’t want to fight that anymore. Maybe for today, that would beenough.
“Hey,” Si said, not realizing that in my mind we’d already dispensed with the greetings (along with the whole damn hike) and I was already feeling his arms around me. Considering we hadn’t exchanged more than two-dozen words in two weeks, I might have been moving a teensy bitfast.
“Hey. How, uh… have youbeen?”
He grinned, and his blue eyes were as warm as the summer sky when they landed on mine. “You mean, sincebreakfast?”
