Page 95 of Daily Grind
“I wish more people erred on that side.”
A huff from Brian. “Trouble is, loving your neighbor ishard.”
So very true. Rob had seen that play out in his hometown.
Silence reigned until Zoe started the next round of conversation. She threw a question to Rob and it hit him right in the head. “What about you, Rob? How’s your life?”
His life? “It’s grand.” He not so secretively grabbed Brian’s hand under the table and grinned at him. Even playing second fiddle to the coffee shop, being with Brian was a wonderful thing. But he had the sense that they wanted more about him and what he did.
Rob set down his fork. “We’ve been developing some new robotic medical devices at work. They’re still in prototype, but everything looks promising.” He stopped and huffed a laugh. “I could go on at length, but I might begin to sound like a salesman if I do.”
“What about your photography?” That was from Tony.
Brian squeezed his hand. Hell, he wasn’t going to win this one. Might as well be honest. “I never considered it more than a hobby, but I love it. Capturing slices of the world other people miss. Looking at things from a different perspective.” He paused. “My parents were never keen on the arts—not for me anyway. So it’s also a rebellion, I suppose.”
“He’s really good. I should have brought the prints.” Brian patted his hand, then resumed eating his meal.
“Oh God, no. You would have embarrassed me more than I already am.” He reached for his wine.
“Welcome to the family,” Len said. He raised his wineglass.
A wave of wonderment spun through Rob and he was left frozen for a moment. Carefully, he grabbed the glass and matched Lenny’s toast.
No words, though. Couldn’t push them out of his throat. He took a sip of wine, and the conversation moved on to Tony’s gardening exploits and the sheer number of tomato seedlings he had under grow-lights in the basement.
Len’s words echoed in his head.Family?Maybe. Hewantedthat, dearly. Wanted a life with Brian—but one that didn’t involve Brian exhausted every waking hour of the day, or on pins and needles that something would go wrong with the shop.
He enjoyed this, though. Sitting at the table withafamily, one that accepted him for who he was. That had been a far cry from his own parents, even after he’d become successful. Didn’t help that he’d been fucking some random bloke while his mother was swallowing pills.
Rob set down his wine. Shit. Why did he have to think about thatnow? The ravioli felt like lead in his stomach.
Brian rubbed his shoulder. “Hey…”
The past was over and done. He tried a smile. “No worries.”
That didn’t wipe away the concern written all over Brian.
“Honey?”
He knew instinctively that Alice addressed him. He met her gaze and felt his muscles unknot. “I didn’t have the best relationship with my parents.” He looked around the table. “This is so very nice and I don’t want to spoil it with my past.”
Tony nodded, as if he understood. “You’re welcome anytime. Brian says you live in the neighborhood?”
“In Mrs. Kaminski’s house,” Brian said.
Zoe clanked her fork against her plate. “No shit! I hope you at least changed the carpeting.”
He couldn’t help the laugh. They all knew that house. “I more or less gutted it.”
“It looks fantastic,” Brian said.
That was a safe topic to dwell on—the here and now. Rob detailed the renovations, the oddities he’d found, and a few of the items left behind—a lamp, a vase, and a painting—with notes from Mrs. Kaminski’s children. They wanted something of their mother to remain in the house. “I haven’t figured out where I’ll put them, but I will.” He’d work them into his life, in honor of the former owner.
“You didn’t tell me that,” Brian murmured.
“Well, there’s still more of me to discover.”
“Thatsounds like a challenge.” Len said.
