Page 9 of The Lonely Hearts Guide

“Do you enjoy it?”

Alexander paused, looking lost in contemplation. “I enjoy being successful and keeping the family legacy alive. The work itself, not so much. It gets stressful sometimes, but I like to think it keeps me on my toes.”

Alexander admitted he knew he was gay all his life, which made sense, because during the half-year spent learning and training at Ms. Broussard’s Home for Bountiful Beaus, Elliot learned homosexuality was something a person was born with. There was even a song Mother would sing to her sons about God making no mistakes, usually performed at her piano, where Clarence would always sit behind the keys, twinkling out the stunning ballad. “Born this way.” Those were the words she sang, and Elliot realized he was born that way, too.

All too soon, the dock came into view, and Elliot felt as if his world were crumbling. He didn’t want to make the final few steps. He didn’t want to purchase a passage back to his horrible life. If he was being honest, Elliot thought he would quite like to stay right there on Sugarplum Island, just so he could get to know his new friend better. By the time they reached the dock, it felt as if Elliot’s feet were submerged in quicksand, and he found it hard to put one foot in front of the other.

Alexander paused beside him and smiled down at Elliot. “I’ll get your ticket.” He pointed at the small bench Elliot had rested on earlier. “You can wait there if you want.”

Elliot shook his head and held Professor Plum higher in his hand. “I have to let him go.” The words felt bitter on his tongue.

Alexander nodded toward the booth. “I’ll be right over here if you need me.”

When Alexander was gone, Elliot stared down at Professor Plum, knowing he needed to release the fieldmouse back into its natural habitat. Try as he might, Elliot couldn’t bring himself to let go as Professor Plum stared up at him with big, hopeful eyes.

“Please don’t look at me like that,” Elliot whispered, hoping Alexander wouldn’t overhear. “Your home is here. You belong here, Professor Plum of Sugarplum Island.” Despite the fact rodents are usually seen as filthy creatures, Elliot couldn’t bear to say goodbye to his new friend without a proper sendoff. He lifted his hand, bringing the fieldmouse to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on its head. “I will miss you very much.” The look the mouse gave Elliot was enough to crack his mechanical heart. “I would love to keep you, but my master would never allow it. He would make me leave you in the street, or worse. You’re the closest thing to a friend I’ve ever had, and I can’t stand the thought of him—” Elliot slammed his eyes shut. “No, I can’t let that happen. I wish I could keep you. You don’t know how much I wish I could. It simply isn’t an option.”

The mouse squeaked, its tone sounding like a plea.

“I’m sorry,” Elliot repeated, his voice cracking on the words. A tear fell down his cheek, because his brief moment of freedom was ending. Someone squeezed Elliot’s shoulder, their other hand softly rubbing up and down the length of Elliot’s back. He froze, embarrassed that someone heard everything he just said. Swallowing, he turned, mortified to see Alexander Davenport standing behind him with an overwhelming look of sympathy in his eyes. Elliot’s mouth opened and closed, but nothing came out.

“Would you like me to care for him, Elliot?”

More tears pooled in Elliot’s eyes, because, yes, he thought. Yes, he would like that very much. With Alexander Davenport, Professor Plum might live a happy life. He would continue to know the taste of freedom. A life uncaged. Elliot Price knew about cages. The way they twisted and curved around you, creeping closer and closer until you could no longer move. Elliot had never known the taste of freedom but for those hours on Sugarplum Island. How was he supposed to go back to his silver cage in Dallas?

“I would like that very much,” Elliot agreed. “If it pleases you, sir.”

Alexander squeezed Elliot’s arm. “I’d be honored.”

When Elliot inevitably returned to Dallas, Jared would be waiting for him. Having been gone all night without a word, Elliot would be in for the sternest lesson of his life. He wanted to ask his new friend to save him. To keep him safe from harm. Alexander possessed kind eyes and an honest heart. Elliot was sure he would help him. All he had to do was ask.

“You’re a wonderful man, Mr. Davenport. I hope we meet again.”

When Alexander lifted his hand and wiped away a tear from Elliot’s cheek, Elliot’s skin tingled. Needing one more moment of freedom—of this newfound connection—Elliot placed his hand on top of Alexander’s, holding it there, leaning into the touch like a purring kitten to its master. A kind master. A master unlike Jared Price.

“Sweet boy,” Alexander whispered, and then, as if Alexander knew how much Elliot would need something to cling to in the future, he gave him a gentle kiss. It wasn’t much, but it was one that rattled Elliot to his core. The silk-smooth texture of lips against lips, and the way Alexander placed his hand right over Elliot’s heart, like he was trying to pour himself into the wayward automaton. Most of all, the way Alexander allowed his lips to part, though only for a moment, fitting them together like a well-clinging sweater.

The kiss ended faster than Elliot would have liked, but he wasn’t a greedy man. He didn’t seek more than Alexander was offering, because what Alexander had just provided was the single most wonderful moment of his life. And all the while Professor Plumsqueak-squeak-squeakedhis approval.

“You don’t have to go, Elliot,” Alexander whispered, his nose brushing back and forth against Elliot’s. “You can stay.”

Elliot’s jaw trembled and he shook his head. He couldn’t stay. The tracker in his arm would lead Jared right to him. For all Elliot knew, Jared could have been on his way already, probably chartering a yacht to find his missing ‘appliance.’

Elliot could love Alexander, he thought. He was able to picture their future so clearly, but the longer he pictured it, the more his heart ached for what he could never have. He allowed himself a moment before the image slipped away, imagining the way Alexander would return every night to their small bungalow on Sugarplum Island. The way Elliot would greet him at the door with a kiss. Professor Plum would peek his precious head out of Elliot’s shirt pocket andsqueak-squeak-squeakto his heart’s content. Alexander’s slippers would be in Elliot’s hand every single night, the soles warmed by Elliot’s feet, wanting them to be cozy for his love. They would share a lovely meal in their kitchen nook, and Elliot would cling to Alexander’s every word as he told him about his day. Maybe if Elliot was lucky, Alexander might even care enough to ask about his day. At night they would cuddle on the sofa watchingI Love Lucy, Alexander with a glass of wine, Elliot with a cup of cocoa, and Professor Plum with a thimble of carrot juice. Upstairs in their bedroom, Elliot would finally know a gentle touch, because Alexander Davenport seemed like a very gentle man. Before bed, Elliot would look into Alexander’s eyes, and he would say . . .

“Thank you,” Elliot said, drying his eyes. “Thank you so much for this, Mr. Davenport. You don’t know how much it’s meant to me.”

Alexander swallowed and squeezed Elliot’s hand one final time. “I think I do, actually.” Reaching into his pocket, Alexander removed his wallet, fished out a business card, and offered it to Elliot.

Davenport Developments, the card said, and then Alexander’s name and phone number. He memorized them quickly, because he knew he couldn’t keep the card. If Jared were to find it, his punishment would be severe. That’s not to say he didn’t wish to keep the card, because Elliot wished for it very much. A physical touchstone to cling to, reminding him he wasn’t alone. A secret souvenir from the single moment of his life that belonged only to Elliot. He put the card in his pocket, knowing he’d need to throw it from the ferry on the ride back to the mainland.

“Can I wait with you for the ferry?”

Elliot closed his eyes and shook his head. “Please give Professor Plum a good life. He’s—” my only friend, Elliot wanted to say, but how could he when the lump in his throat was aching so badly?

“I swear it,” Alexander insisted. “You’ll see him again, though.” He squeezed Elliot’s shoulder. “We’ll meet again, Elliot Price. I promise.”

Elliot watched as Alexander walked away. There was an old saying he’d heard before, about hating to see someone leave but loving to watch them walk away. It couldn’t be further from the truth. Elliot would give up the chance of any future stolen glances at Alexander’s backside if he would just come back. If he would stay.

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