Coming Home- Rock Bay 1 by M. J. O’Shea Read Free Book Online Page B

baseboards.
“I’m not an invalid.”
He’d been ready for it. “I know, and you’d probably make a straighter paint line than me, too, but I’m here now, so what’s the point of you doing it? Plus, isn’t there a Mariners game on? You know I think baseball is boring.”
“It’s just the beginning of the season. I don’t have to watch.”
“Dad….”
“Okay, but let me know if you get to the crown molding. Your cut lines are wavy.”
Lex chuckled. His dad always had to have the last word. But it didn’t bother Lex. His dad was opinionated and stubborn, but he was loving, and he’d accepted Lex when most other men in the area would’ve been disgusted. It couldn’t have been easy getting older for him, either. He’d always been the competent type. But he’d been forty when Lex was born, and as much as he didn’t want to admit it, his body didn’t work quite like it had when he was younger. Lex didn’t want to be annoying about it, but he wanted to help.
He made quick work of the baseboards in the dining room. It wasn’t a very big room, and he hadn’t had to move any furniture. The living room was going to be a different case. His parents had long since moved the TV and big, comfy, overstuffed chairs into the family room off the kitchen, but the living room had his mother’s old, out-of-tune upright piano and the furniture set she’d inherited from her parents, which in Lex’s opinion was ugly and overly formal for their little craftsman house. He did his best to keep his mouth shut about it, though. His mother loved the old junk.
He was in the middle of moving the ugly, and heavy, furniture away from the walls when his mother stopped in. Her hair was curling wildly away from a pink-cheeked face, a sign that she’d been standing over the steamy sink finishing the dishes.
“You’re moving fast, darling. Do you need help with the furniture?”
“It’s okay, Mom. I brought some furniture movers.” He held up one of the smooth plastic discs. “They make everything really easy to move.”
“Interesting. Hey, listen, what ever panned out with that pharmacist gentleman that Amy told me about at Easter dinner?”
Oh, Jesus. Did that woman ever keep her mouth shut?
“What pharmacist?” He decided to play dumb until his mother lost interest… hopefully. He’d already ignored Amy’s not-so-subtle hints that he should give the guy a call—if you could even call a sticky note with a phone number slapped to his chest a hint at all.
“Lex, why won’t you give him a try? You’ve been single for so long.”
Because it’s easier than getting hurt. “I’m too busy. Don’t really have time for a relationship right now, and it wouldn’t be fair to the other person.”
His mother shrugged. “You’re such a handsome man, honey. I hate to see you alone.”
Lex didn’t want to be alone. Not really. But it seemed like what he did want was impossible. Respect, love, companionship… nobody cheating on him with his supposedly straight college roommate. The best part about that last one was they thought it was harmless since they asked him to join in when he walked in on them. I knew there was a reason I didn’t date.
    “I’m fine, Ma. I promise. Let me just get this baseboard done so I can go home and hit the sack. If I leave the furniture movers on, can you guys push this stuff back when it’s dry?”
“Of course.” She smiled and ruffled his hair.
    Lex finished the baseboard, cleaned his supplies up, and gave both of his parents a hug before bundling everything into his trunk to head home. He was tired, but it felt nice to have taken care of at least one thing so his dad wouldn’t have to deal with it. It was hard to keep his eyes open on the way home, but it wasn’t hard to worry. He knew his mother wasn’t going to love the idea of Tally working for him, and she was going to love the fact that Lex had kept it from her even less.
    He supposed that keeping it hidden from his family meant it