Page 19 of Harmless Scandals

She nodded. “I’m working on a proposal for a picture book of Hawaii, but something different than what you find in other books. More of what is everyday life in Hawaii.”

“Including big ass storms.”

She smiled. “Yeah. I took some shots up at the North Shore also.”

“Adam was working over there and is stuck taking the long way home more than likely. He said he was going to try and wait it out.”

She nodded. “How long have you been together?”

“As in friends or lovers?”

“You were friends first?”

“Yes, we served together. We’ve been together as a couple for eight total.”

She nodded. “Your folks don’t have a problem with your homosexuality?”

He shook his head. “First, we aren’t homosexual. We’re both bisexual.”

Oh, not good to hear. The fact that they liked each other and only other men worked for her. Granted, her dreams had moved from watching to being involved with them both. At the same time. But now she knew they liked women too, it was going to get worse.

“Ah.”

“That doesn’t bother you, does it?”

She shook her head. “I had a pretty liberal upbringing in LA. But your dad is retired military.”

“My folks have never had a problem with it. Adam doesn’t have a family to worry about.”

She opened her mouth to ask why but the lights flickered then went out.

“Damn. Hold on.”

He rose from the couch and started back into the kitchen. She heard a clunk, then, “Fuck, that’s going to leave a mark. Gotta get used to the new house.”

When he returned, he had a flashlight and a couple of candles.

He handed her the flashlight. Then he turned on the candles and set them on the table.

“Not very romantic, I know, but Adam has this thing about fires. Outside they don’t bother him, but inside, he doesn’t like them at all.”

She nodded and turned off the flashlight.

“So, you are a photographer. Any family?”

She shook her head. “I have a mother I don’t talk to.”

“That’s too bad.”

She sipped at her coffee. “No. It’s good. I emancipated myself at the age of sixteen. I haven’t seen her since.”

His eyes widened. “You could just do that? Walk away?”

“No, I was running. My mother was...is...a horrible person.”

“Ah, okay. Adam had the same kind of thing. Foster kid.”

She nodded. Some things were falling into place about the men. Mick came from a nurtured background. He was open and quick with a smile. Adam was guarded. Not rude, but he seemed to protect himself a little bit more.

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