Some Like It Hopeless (A Temporary Engagement) by Megan Bryce Read Free Book Online Page A

smiled slightly. “My dear, it happens so infrequently one would think you could just muddle through until I was wrong again.”
    Kenny raised an eyebrow at Shane and Christian. “One would think.” He waved his hand in the air in front of him. “But enough of that. We are in California, where the birds are chirping, the smog is choking, and young lovebirds can sit stiffly next to each other. Just where did the two of you meet?”
    Shane nearly groaned as the strawberry-covered waffles were placed in front of him. The whipped cream leaned precariously, the nuts covered it liberally. He said, “At a wedding reception,” and then filled his mouth with a large bite.
    Kenny grimaced at him, then said, “Not Cassandra’s wedding reception, I hope.”
    Shane closed his eyes, partly to enjoy the waffle, partly in shame.
    He swallowed and hung his head. “Yes. I left her there, with her family. In purple!”
    Kenny shook his head. “Gasp! She will never forgive you.”
    Tom said, “Of course she’ll forgive him. Despite her mouth, she has a heart that is big and resilient. And all she has to do is look at these two to know her sacrifice was worth it.”
    Kenny and Shane exchanged a look, and Kenny stage-whispered behind his hand, “Alas. He is wrong again and all is right with the world.” Kenny turned to Christian, trying to include him in the conversation. “And what did you think of our dear Cassandra? I see you survived the experience.”
    Christian shook his head and Shane said, “He hasn’t met her. Yet.”
    Kenny said, “Wise.”
    Tom agreed. “Wise.” He said to Christian, “Just know that she loves Shane. And she will love you, eventually, when she sees that you love him as well.”
    Christian’s cheeks turned red, and Shane thought there were quite a few mights missing from that sentence.
    Kenny looked between the two younger men, at Christian’s stiffness and Shane’s drooping shoulders. “Well, there is always hope.”
    Tom said, “There is, sometimes, only hope.” He squeezed Kenny’s hand. “Until, one day, suddenly, it is no longer needed.”
    They spent the rest of the meal talking about work, and why some foods qualified for brunch and others didn’t, until Christian had relaxed enough to give Shane a tiny smile when he quoted from Star Wars again.
    And to share a laugh when Kenny and Tom didn’t recognize it. To them, Shane normally quoted old black and whites, and he wondered if Christian would recognize any of those.
    But then Christian said, making the older men laugh, “‘Real diamonds! They must be worth their weight in gold!’”
    Shane smiled at him and Christian realized what he’d done. He said, “My mom loves Marilyn Monroe, loves old black and white movies. She used to watch them all the time.”
    Tom sat back in his seat. “There is no need to make excuses, Christian. Not here, not with us.”
    That shut Christian up. And he said no more than two words for the rest of the meal.
    Shane wanted to hug him, wanted to grab his hand and just tell him it was okay.
    But he wasn’t sure it ever would be.
    Hugs and kisses were shared as they rose to leave. Tom shook Christian’s hand instead of kissing his cheek and said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Eleanor Roosevelt. Fascinating woman; she was outspoken and controversial at a time when women weren’t. And she is considered today to be one of the most widely admired of her century.”
    Kenny hooked his arm through Tom’s. “Give our love to Cassandra. And tell her to be nice.”
    Shane smiled. “I will. And I won’t.”
    Kenny chuckled. “Wise.” And then he squeezed Tom’s arm and pulled him away, saying, “I’m in the mood for a black and white. Let’s swing by the Silent Movie Theatre for a show tonight.”
    Shane watched them leave, feeling like he always did when he saw them together. He basked in their love, he pushed down his jealousy.
    They’d been together nearly forty years