Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Brady came to stand next to me, gazing out over the valley. “Nice. But you don’t own it, right?”

“Nah, I wish. I can’t afford a place like this. Honestly, it’s a struggle for Rick and me to pay the rent. Probably have to move out in the fall when our lease is up.”

“Rick. Is he your boyfriend?”

I glanced at him in surprise. Not because he knew I was gay—I’d always been pretty open about that—but that he hadn’t figured out that Rick was not. Rick had been pretty flirtatious with our female guests.

“No. We’re friends only. Met at the hospital a few years back where we both work. Rick’s straight.”

Brady nodded. “That’s good for me then.”

“Is it?”

He moved fractionally closer, and his smile widened. “It was good to see you again after all this time, Jerry.”

I was too stunned to correct him over my preferred name now. Brady was interested in me? I was no slouch or anything, but a guy like Brady could have anyone he wanted. That was plain enough.