Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
He looked amazing.
“You look amazing,” Bram said.
Zachary was blinking up at him appreciatively and it kindled an answering fire in Bram’s stomach.
“Oh, um. Thanks. You always look...yeah.”
Zachary shoved a hand through his hair, then rolled his eyes at himself for messing it up.
“Do you want to take my bike?” Bram asked, then, at Zachary’s confusion, clarified, “My motorcycle? I have an extra helmet.”
Zachary looked suspicious. “I’ve never ridden a motorcycle.”
“You don’t have to do anything but hold on.”
With a ginger pat to his hair, Zachary shrugged. “Okay. Just please don’t kill me.”
“I will do my best.”
“Or, like, scrape me across the pavement until half my body is sanded off.”
“Gah, Jesus, ugh.” Bram shuddered at the image.
“Oops, sorry.”
“I really hope that comment isn’t indicative of your estimation of how scary this movie is.”
“It’s really not, I swear. There will be children there.”
That didn’t do much to comfort Bram. Moon and Thistle had loved gory, terrifying comics as kids and Bram had hidden them under the bed because the covers gave him nightmares.
He handed Zachary his spare helmet and straddled the bike, holding out a hand to Zachary for balance.
Zachary settled lightly on the bike and Bram showed him where to put his feet. He smiled at Zachary’s bright red dress socks.
“Put your arms around my waist and let your center of gravity shift along with mine. Don’t worry if it feels like the bike leans a bit going around curves. That’s normal and it doesn’t mean we’re falling over. Okay?”
Zachary muttered something but muffled it in Bram’s shoulder. He slid his arms around Bram’s waist and blew out a hair-ruffling breath.
“Okay,” he said.
A string of curses trailed behind them as the bike revved and began to move, then all Bram could attend to besides the road was the warm press of Zachary Glass against his back.
Zachary’s arms were tight around his waist, but after a few blocks, he relaxed and flattened his palms against Bram’s stomach. Bram was sure he could feel every finger where it pressed against him.
As they hit the long stretch of straight road between their neighborhood and Main Street, and the bike picked up speed, Zachary let out a whoop of joy that made Bram light with happiness. He loved the feel of wind against his face, rushing through a landscape unmediated by glass or metal. He could feel Zachary looking around, could feel the intimate press of his chin against his shoulder.
They arrived at the Odeon far too soon for Bram.
“What’s the verdict?” he asked Zachary, dismounting and turning to help him off the bike.
Zachary’s hand was warm from Bram’s stomach and when he took off his helmet, his hair was back to its usual riot of glorious curls.
“That,” Zachary said, eyes wild and tearing from the ride, “was absolutely stupendous.”
Joy rushed through Bram as he imagined all the rides he’d love to take Zachary on now that he liked the bike.
They grinned at each other like excited kids as they walked into the theater.
The Odeon was stunning. Inside, it looked like an old-fashioned theater out of a glamorous Hollywood movie. The ticket booth and refreshments areas were elaborate and gilt, the ceiling housed an enormous crystal chandelier that spangled moviegoers with light, and the geometric patterned carpet was luxe.
“Wow.”
Zachary agreed. “This style of glam deco design is rarely restored well, so it’s a treat to see it respected.”
He went on to point out the hallmarks of the design style, but Bram found himself distracted by the man himself. Zachary’s face transformed when he spoke about architecture and design. His usually stern brows raised and softened, and he gestured fluidly.
As he was in the middle of saying something about geometry and light, a little girl ran up and threw her arms around him.
“Oof. Oh, hey, Gus.”
“Mr. Glass,” she said. “I know your secret.”
“Uh. You do?”
Two men caught up to the little girl. One was tall and broad and had shaved brown hair and a watchful expression. The other was small and blond, and it took Bram a moment to place him as the man he’d met in Matheson’s hardware store and the daughter he absolutely, positively could not inform about chainsaw sculpture.
“Hey!” the blond man—Adam, right—said. “You guys know each other?”
“You guys know each other?” Bram asked, as Zachary said, “We’re neighbors.”
The tall brunet said nothing, but Bram got the sense he was paying close attention.
“Wes, this is Bram, short for Bramble,” Zachary said with uncharacteristic casualness and a pointed look that was probably intended to be subtle but made Bram almost certain that Zachary had already told this man about him.
“Hi, I’m Wes,” he said and held out a hand.
They shook, and Bram nodded.
“Daddy, can I please have fancy popcorn?” Gus asked.
“Yes, you can have fancy popcorn,” Adam said, and then immediately ran after his daughter, who sprinted to the concession stand.