Page 10 of Seeking Two Lovers

“The thought of religion makes you want to vomit too, huh?” she asked.

“Every bit of bile churns in my guts whenever I think too much about where I came from,” I agreed.

“Same. Once I learned it was wrong—” she used air quotes “—to love another woman, I decided religion wasn’t for me.”

“Girlfriend?” I asked.

“Soon-to-be wife.” She grinned.

“Congrats,” I stated my honest-to-God opinion. Love, in my eyes, was love.

Period.

A minute later, I stepped outside into the sunshine, needing some fresh air. I didn’t have enough time to trek across the road and down a block to hit the beach, so I snagged one of the empty chairs out front and rested my aching feet.

I saw first that my mom had texted, same as she always did on Mondays over her tea to wish me a blessed morning.

She must have forgotten that mine had started hours earlier and was almost over.

Dad’s weekly texted Bible verse of the day dinged through as I typed out a greeting in reply to Mom’s.

I didn’t bother reading the verse he’d sent, just hit reply with a kissy emoji.

Levi had texted, and I half-squealed while bringing it up onscreen.

Boo: We’re adopting.

My eyes popped wide before narrowing. “The. Fuck.”

Levi didn’t want kids…

I hit dial, my forehead dented with a deep frown that would leave a wrinkle behind.

“A dog!” he answered.

“You asshole!” I laughed, letting out a whoosh of air. “Seriously. What the hell kind of text is that?”

“One that would make you call me. I miss hearing your voice.”

“Aw, I miss you too, boo.”

“It’s been awhile, so I figured I’d give you a buzz since school is out and you must be bored as hell.”

“I was the past week, but I started working at a cafe just down the street from our apartment.”

“Perfect job for you.”

“Why? Because I smile all the time like I’m filled with the joy of the Lord?”

He burst out with laughter, and my grin stayed in place. Levi had never been as free with me as he’d become after finding love with Zeke. Shy and a numbers nerd, he’d been the silent eye candy on my arm for all our social activities surrounding the church.

“You sound happy,” I said, a sweet ache blooming in my chest at the memory of his gorgeous green eyes that had always been shut off to me in a lot of ways. If only I’d truly taken note of that fact before the shit hit the fan between us.

“I am. I never knew…never expected to have this kind of love.”

“Yeah.” My smile faded, and I wrapped my free arm around myself.

“Any luck in finding your two lovers?”

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