Page 123 of Adored
“You’ll figure it out,” he said. “Until you do, we need to have a little talk. So, husband, huh?”
Gamble just stood there.
“That’s the plan,” he admitted.
This whole thing was insane. Here he was, talking marriage with a dead man—a dead man who looked like his living man.
Yeah, he had to be asleep.
There was no way he was awake.
Hemmingway laughed.
“You can relax. I approve. I’ve always known my brother was gay, Gamble. I’ve seen him checking out men plenty of times before, and he was never interested in the ladies I brought around for us. I’ve really never seen him this happy with anyone but you.”
What did he say to that?
“Thank you, I guess.”
Hemmingway was curious.
“Are you going to be with him forever?” he asked. “Or is this some sleazy, one-night kind of a deal? I know you said husband, but my brother is very rich now.”
Oh, brother.
“I don’t want his money. I have my own money. I want him. I want his heart because he is the gentlest of souls. He makes me feel like I matter, and that I’m worth that love.”
Hemmingway listened.
“I wish he knew he was worthy of love too,” Hemmingway admitted. “For eons, he’s always felt that he was flawed because he liked men. He judged himself by me, and that was painful for both of us. My brother is bright, funny, and the kindest person I know. His only flaw is that he was saddled with a twin.”
Gamble heard the remorse.
“I’ll love him forever,” he admitted.
Hemmingway grinned.
“Yes, I saw you two going at it in the tub. Kudos to both of you for not slipping with that oil and breaking a bone as you thoroughly loved him, and him you.”
Okay, Gamble knew this had to be a dream. Why he was having it was a whole other story, and now, he needed to figure this out.
Was his brain trying to tell him something?
“Like I said, I’m going to marry him. I’m proposing tomorrow before he has the wake for your parents. Are they floating around too?” he asked curiously as he looked around the cemetery.
It was creepy at night.
“Yeah, mostly. They are newly dead, so they struggle to appear. You get me for now. My bond to Poe is stronger than theirs. We shared a heartbeat, and we shared our lives. I miss him terribly.”
Gamble didn’t have siblings.
Not that he knew of, anyway.
Who knew what his egg and sperm donor did in their downtime?
“He misses you too.”
Hemmingway stayed seated as they spoke.
