Concealed Hearts (Hometown Jasper #4) - Nicky James Page 0,76
if you use it for coffee.”
I grabbed the small carton. “My schedule is out of whack. Been staying up far too late at night. Not getting enough sleep.”
“Interesting. Why is that?”
I shrugged. “No reason.”
I found a seat at Shay’s kitchen table while he leaned against the counter, studying me over his own mug of half coffee half flavored creamer concoction that made me gag.
“Have you mingled with people in town yet?”
“You know that’s not something I want to do.”
“True. But Dad tells me you’ve been to the shop, and Mom said you helped her with groceries. That’s more than you did last time you were here. I was shocked.”
“I’m not hiding, I’m just not looking for issues.”
Shay narrowed his eyes like he was considering his next words. “You should call Windsor.”
I choked on my next sip of coffee, sending a spray across the table. I shoved from the table and found a cloth as I continued to hack and choke.
“Went down the wrong way,” I wheezed when Shay looked at me funny.
Shay didn’t move, and I knew I’d already failed at acting nonchalant at hearing Windsor’s name.
Nevertheless, I sat down again after mopping up my mess and controlled my cough before sipping my coffee again. “Why would I call Windsor?”
“Well, you two seemed to get along last time you were here.”
“He was working on your case. We talked once or twice. It was nothing. Why are you making it something?”
Shay cocked a brow. “I’m not. I thought you two got along.”
I stared at my coffee, dialing back my reflexive response.
“Something wrong, Tomi? Did I hit the nail on the head or something? Damn, I knew it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Shay groaned and dropped into a chair across from me. “Why are you in town?”
“I told you—”
“No, you didn’t. You avoided and lied. What is the real reason? You aren’t here because you suddenly want to visit your family. We didn’t even part on good terms, yet you came rushing back to Jasper in the blink of an eye. There’s a reason.”
I faltered. Sipped my coffee.
“I think it’s Windsor.”
Feeling cornered, wishing I could escape, I glanced around the room as my pulse hammered. It was like a furnace in Shay’s house, and I was burning up.
“I saw the way you looked at him, and ever since you showed up, I’ve been trying to figure out why you came back.”
“Don’t you think you’re expelling far too much energy on this? Maybe it’s as simple as me wanting to take time off and visit my family.”
I chanced a glance in Shay’s direction. My brother was bold and unapologetic most days. His attitude made up for his small size. When our eyes locked, a look of sympathy crossed his face.
“God, I knew it. He’s straight, Tomi. You can call me an idiot and tell me I’m wrong all you want. I knew you had a thing for him. I could see it. Anyone with eyes could see it. It’s probably a good thing straight guys tend to be oblivious to us gay boys crushing on them, but I think he’s why you came back. I’m right, aren’t I?”
I stayed quiet, my throat closing off.
“Plus,” Shay continued. “You should know, rumor has it he’s dating some woman in town. I don’t know who. Nobody does. I ran into him at the town meeting. He was glowing and texting somebody with this huge grin on his face. It’s true. He’s hush-hush about it, but Josiah said people have been talking lately. It won’t be a secret for long. Someone will catch him.”
I didn’t know how to react to Shay’s statement. Part of me wanted to laugh and tell him he was wrong. Another part of me was angry about his presumptions. A much larger part of me was afraid that the truth was right there and about to be unveiled to the whole town at any second.
“The fact that you aren’t arguing with me means I’m right, aren’t I?”
“I think you should mind your own business.”
Shay blew his long bangs from his eyes and shook his head with a smile. “Trust me. A piece of advice. Save yourself the heartache. If Windsor was gay, every single gay man in Jasper would have been all up in his business a long time ago. I’m looking out for you. If he’s why you came back to Jasper, I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
I traced a finger around the lip of my cup, anxious to