Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 22971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Keegan stared at me for a long moment before closing his lips and studying his own cards. “I…I have two,” he answered quietly, and passed them over. I put them with the two I already held, and laid all four onto the table top. He seemed to switch back into a playful mood as a smile crossed his lips. “You’re very good at this game.”
It was all a matter of luck, but I would still take the compliment. “I have played this game a lot with my boy.” I looked up at Keegan, waiting for him to ask for a number, and found that his smile had vanished. His lips were stretched into a tight line and his eyes were no longer dark and hungry; they were practically burning from under his brows.
“You have a boy?” He sounded so angry, and my heart broke. I was enjoying our game and conversation, but he obviously wasn’t any longer. Did he have something against men with children? Maybe he thought I had a young child at home, and didn’t want the responsibility. Hopefully his mind would change once he heard that my son was fully grown and out of the house. Hell, maybe that would make it worse; Henley’s age probably wasn’t too far from Keegan’s. Maybe he was realizing how much older I was.
I didn’t get to ask any questions or give any explanations before Keegan ripped the cards from my hands. He shoved them into their box and began gathering up the rest of the deck from the table.
“Then why are you here?” he asked in a gruff voice, nearly ripping the cardboard box with how hard he was forcing cards into it. “Does your boy even know?”
“Well, no, I didn’t mention anything to him but-”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he yelled, slamming the box onto the tabletop. “I thought maybe you were here scouting for a third, which isn’t for me at all; I’m too needy and jealous and clingy for a relationship like that. But maybe others would be interested. But you’re just here without his knowledge? Cheating on him?”
“What?” My body actually recoiled in shock. It took a moment for his words to link together in my mind, and for me to realize what he thought was going on. I’d certainly dug a hole for myself, and only hoped I could climb out. “I don’t have a boy; I have a son.”
His eyes slowly widened from the little beads of hatred they’d narrowed into. “A son?”
I exhaled, grateful that he was sticking around for my clumsy explanation. “Yes. He’s a grown adult and has a Daddy of his own.”
“Oh.” Keegan slowly nodded a few times before picking up his box of cards. “I’m sorry. I can try to find the ones you had…”
I stopped his search with my hand on his. As pleased as I was that he wanted to stay and play with me, I thought it was time for a conversation instead. I bumbled through my life story; how I had met Henley’s mom when I was young, that she dipped out after he was born and left me to raise him on my own, that I was bisexual but hadn’t had many relationships, and how I’d come around to my Daddy awakening through Amir. I spoke quickly and barely took a breath between words, but Keegan listened to every one of them.
“I’m sorry I freaked out,” he finally replied with a tight, guilty smile.
“You don’t need to apologize. I made a terrible word choice. But please know; I would never cheat on my partner. I’m loyal and looking for one special person to spend my time with. And though I don’t judge anyone who is polyamorous, I’m too territorial and protective for a relationship like that.”
“That’s good,” Keegan whispered breathily. He couldn’t hide his intrigue, and I didn’t try to hide the smile it brought to my lips.
He wasn’t shy with his emotions; he’d chew my ass out just as quickly as he’d give me ‘fuck me’ eyes, and admittedly, I enjoyed them both. I told Amir that I envisioned my perfect boy with a little sass, and it seemed Keegan had plenty to offer. Would telling him that be weird? Eh, I haven’t scared him off so far.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re sexy when you get all riled up?”
“Definitely not. Most people tell me I’m too much.” A saucy expression took over his face. “So I tell them to feel free to go find less.” I chuckled at his confidence and the perfect line, but the humor quickly left his face. “This probably isn’t what you were expecting tonight, was it?”
“What do you mean?”