9 1/2 Days by Mia Zachary Read Free Book Online

living room, she hid behind a screen of thick hedges and crouched down to wait. And wait.
    Beads of sweat trickled between her breasts, making her very aware of the satin fabric plastered against her skin. Her thighs were cramping and no amount of position shifting eased the aching stiffness. The humid autumn breeze tickled her bare bottom where the short raincoat rode up in the back.
    Several people arrived and left through the front door, but David wasn’t one of them. Jordan spared another glance at her watch. He always left for the gym at precisely six thirty. What was keeping him tonight?

    “I’ M GAY .”
    Danny half-swallowed, half-choked on his mouthful of beer. He set down the pale ale David kept in the fridge for him and even managed to get the icy bottle on the coaster this time. He stared at his brother, momentarily at a loss for words.
    David stared right back from a face that was a duplicate of the one he saw in the mirror each morning. He’d sometimes wondered about his twin’s love of gourmet cooking and artsy foreign films. But now, hearing David state his sexual preference out loud, he wasn’t sure how he felt.
    Surprise over his brother’s homosexuality warred with anxiety that it could be genetic. Being identical twins meant they had more things in common than most siblings. But, thinking of the many women he’d dated in the past year, Danny felt pretty sure sexual preference wasn’t one of them.
    His brother stood waiting for his reaction, defensiveness in his posture and apprehension in his dark brown gaze. Not knowing how to handle the seriousness of the discussion, Danny resorted to humor. “You can’t do it like that.”
    “It’s not just like that. I’ve always felt that maybe I was different—”
    “No, I mean, you can’t just blurt it out. How about giving a brother some warning, a little lead up. You know, ‘Hi, Dan. How’s it going? Great weather we’re having, huh? By the way, I’m gay. Don’t tell Mom and Dad’.”
    David smiled wryly and the strain eased from his features. They shared a look of understanding as he took a seat in the armchair opposite the sofa. “I’m guessing Dad will disinherit me and see that the club revokes my membership.”
    “And what will Mother say to her friends in church and at the Valley Golf Association?”
    David still looked uneasy. “What about you? Is this okay with you?”
    He propped one fist under his chin and narrowed his eyes, pretending to consider it. “Well, other than the purple spots and horns, you seem the same to me.”
    “I mean it, Dan. This isn’t easy for me.” David hunched his broad shoulders and looked away.
    No, it probably wasn’t. And it would be harder still to tell their parents. He was proud to know David trusted him and quickly offered reassurance. “Believe me, this doesn’t change anything. You’re still my brother and I love you.”
    “I wanted to tell you before now, but I wasn’t sure how you’d react.”
    “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” He picked up his beer. “What I’m wondering is how Jordan is going to react. Do you think she’ll be upset?”
    David dropped his eyes and shifted in his seat. “I, um, broke it off with Jordan over a month ago.”
    “Are you crazy? Why would—never mind, never mind.” He waved his hand as if he could erase the question.
    “She’s a terrific woman and I love her as a friend.” David delivered his words with an attorney’s caution.
    “A friend?” Danny’s brows furrowed in surprise. “You’ve been dating for what, eight or nine months?”
    David brushed at the fabric on the chair arm. “We never connected beyond friendship, if you know what I mean.”
    “Do we have to talk about sex?” Danny winced, not really wanting to picture his twin in the bed he hoped to occupy.
    “Don’t worry. We were safe the only time we were together. The point is, I couldn’t keep faking my relationship with Jordan.” The phone rang and David got up