Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 133886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“I’ve had a small dose of…” Dallas lowered his voice to barely more than a whisper. “Conversion therapy through my father’s physical abuse and a significant time spent in church. Enough that I’ve had a hard time learning who I really am. Being with Greer is very new for me. I came with lots of problems. He really had to push for this relationship.”
Ryan’s serious expression turned amused as he settled back in his seat. “I heard him tell someone that he bought you at an auction, so you were obligated to be here with him.”
Dallas chuckled, nodding his agreement. “There’s truth in his words.”
Ryan kept his smile as he studied Dallas. “I won’t pry. My door’s always open to you. I counsel conversion therapy patients. From a healing from harm approach.”
Dallas nodded, having no real idea what that meant.
“My only piece of advice to you is to give yourself a break. What’s been done to you will take time to overcome. You’ll have lots of ups and downs. Stay patient with yourself. If you and Greer are in fact a couple, lean on him. He’s flashy and showy, but underneath, there’s no better man. He says he loves you.”
“That’s what he says,” Dallas said, a small amount of anxiety wiggled around his heart. Could he truly get past himself to be enough to keep a man like Greer?
“I promise, living a truthful life will be a better life for you and Greer.”
Dallas nodded again and took a deep breath. He prayed that was true. He appreciated Ryan’s willingness to help, but avoidance seemed the best option to handle his life right now.
His goals were set. He’d given his commitment to Greer. He never wanted that to change.
The anxiety within him built. Avoidance. That dark side of his life would be handled when the time came.
Dallas turned his head, staring out the small window, watching the clouds fill the sky.
=♥=
Greer sat on his bed, back against the headboard, legs underneath the blankets. The mounted television was on, the volume lowered to almost silent. They had agreed on some Netflix show, and the credits just began to roll. Dallas had lasted for about ten minutes before he fell sound asleep. His loud snores had made Greer chuckle. He then promptly coerced his love onto his stomach where Dallas had slowly gravitated to Greer’s side, curled up there against him.
His laptop sat open on his thighs. Greer spent the last hour and a half adding notes and directions to several of his EnviroCapital accounts. The weekend had been such a success on so many different levels.
The alarm on his laptop dinged. A notification appeared on the screen. Dallas’s pre-designated time to go home. Not Greer’s though. He looked down at the chestnut-colored head tucked in against his hip. Greer let his finger rifle through the thick strands. Dallas didn’t move a muscle, so he whispered very low.
“Babe, the alarm went off.”
Greer only got a grunt with Dallas shifting to turn on his side. His back angled against Greer’s legs with a pillow tucking to his chest. The snores were a little louder this way.
Oh lord, Greer had it bad. Like so in over his head in love.
Greer reached to close the lid of the laptop and pulled a pillow from behind his back, pushing it between him and Dallas. As he stood, he got lost in the beauty in his bed. His heart filled with the romance of their great love. The overwhelming need to take care of Dallas had him pulling the blankets snugly around his guy. It was unreasonable how much he liked Dallas in his bed, in his room, in his house.
Laptop and cell phone in hand, he left the room, quietly closing the door behind him. One of his most favorite memories of the weekend, one that would stay with him for the rest of his life was Dallas’s sleepy whisper confessing how Greer made his life full of color. He’d never heard love described quite that way. After reflection, he agreed Dallas was his life’s color, vivid and vibrant.
Greer discarded the laptop and cell on the island and closed the retractable doors, wondering if Dallas would require them open during the heat of the summer. Maybe in those future summer months, they might spend that time in the Seattle area.
He’d secured the funding for the Washington State project this weekend. It was a huge accomplishment. Perhaps the biggest of his life. It proved his investors believed in him. He couldn’t be happier.
He’d have to travel back and forth. Soon, he planned to show Dallas the architectural plans. He wanted someone to share the excitement with. He was so in love. Dallas had been remarkable by his side today. The children volunteering for the cleanup were drawn to him. Dallas had gravitated to them too. He guided them, taking a genuine interest in their part of the cleanup.