Page 125 of Billion Dollar Love: Manlove Edition

Luke rolled away from his desk and stared at the stacks of books on his office shelves. He loved his books. Loved the library. He could get lost in the volumes and never come out. Sometimes the simplicity of the library was easier to handle than the messiness of life. People joked he should live at the library. What was wrong with that?

Maybe he could shift his schedule around and be too busy working to attend the reunion. Sounded like a great idea to him.

What was he afraid of? He worked with many of the kids he graduated with and saw their children at the school. He knew who would be attending and didn’t care if he made them happy. According to his friend Cathy, Carson had returned his card. He’d be attending.

Luke scrubbed his hand across his mouth. If Carson showed up, he’d want to chat. If nothing else, Carson would want to catch up and move on.

Did Luke want to move on, too?

Carson had money. He had fame, too. If he did show up, he might be too important to notice Luke. Nothing exciting ever happened in Litchfield. Carson loved action. So he’d returned the card. He might stay home. Might have sent the RSVP back to play with his classmates and build buzz.

Luke turned his back on his desk. What would Carson be like now? He and Carson had parted at a good time and on positive terms, but he’d avoided his ex-boyfriend the few times Carson had returned to Litchfield. He couldn’t handle seeing Carson, especially if his ex had a current beau. He’d want to throw himself into Carson’s embrace. No one made him happy in the same way.

“Luke?” Anna, one of his full-time circulation specialists, knocked on the doorframe. “Your suit arrived. The dry cleaners brought it here.”

He swiveled to face her. “Thanks. Sorry. I knew I’d be crunched for time and figured it’d make more sense to have it brought here.” He should’ve planned his time better, but oh well.

“Then here you go.” She draped the plastic-covered suit over the plastic armchair. “Are you excited for the reunion tonight?”

“No.” He remained in his seat. “I should stay here. Don’t we have a program tonight?”

“You know we don’t.” She folded her arms and tipped her head. “Why don’t you want to attend? It could be a nice evening.”

“It’s just a reunion. I saw many of those people ten years ago. I see some of them every day. Hell, going to the store is like a mini-reunion. Why do I need to attend a formal one?” He was griping and had no business being angry. He should’ve moved on.

“You’ll regret it if you don’t go.” Anna stood tall. “I missed mine, and I’m kicking myself for it. Two of my close friends were in Atlanta and killed in an accident. If I’d have gone, I would’ve gotten to see them one more time. Instead, I stayed home. Don’t make my mistake.”

“I doubt this will be that dramatic.” But she had a point.

“You like the kids you went to school with. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be so popular here at the library,” she said. She stepped into his office and closed the door. “Okay. Tell me what you’re afraid of. You’re freaked out.”

“I’m not scared.” He sighed. “No, I’m worried I’ll run into Carson—he might not show up, but he might attend. I don’t know if I can handle seeing him.”

“He could be there,” she said. “You really should get closure. Have a fling with him. One last huzzah to prove you’re ready to move on.”

“He’s not the fling kind of guy.” For Luke, he’d always be a relationship man. A forever love he’d never forget.

“Think about what I said, but go to the reunion.” She paused. “Are you bringing Duncan?”

“I said I would, but that was months ago when I had to send in the card.” He massaged his temples. “We were still sort of speaking. Now all he cares about is Carson.”

“Like you.” She smiled. “If Carson is a good man, he’ll see through Duncan and know you need him.” She held up her hand. “Wait. He’s goofy over a man named Carson Garett, the guy who created a runner app and sold it. Is that your Carson? The guy who endorsed all of those energy shakes and protein bars?”

“That’s him.” Carson had millions, and his net worth increased every day.

“He’s gay?” she asked.

“Yes.” Who cared? She knew he was gay, and that hadn’t made a difference.

“And you dated him? In high school? He went to our school? Carson Garett?” She narrowed her eyes. “That’s him in the photo on your desk?”

“Yes to everything.” He folded his hands on his lap. “So?”

“Don’t let him get away. He’s cute, has manners, and probably still likes you.” She grinned. “If he has a brain in his head he does.”

He rolled his eyes. The odds were stacked against him. “Anna.”

“I’d rather you be with him than Duncan.” She winked. “Speaking of Duncan, he’s here. Go to the reunion and maybe leave Duncan at another banquet room. Go without him.”

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