Love Him Free (On the Market #1) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,79
was surrounded by people he couldn’t really speak to, most of whom didn’t know who he was from Adam. And he felt something like home.
The Cibo Di Strada food truck rolled up to the Market around noon, so Rocco headed over to the window with Fitz and ordered a couple of Lampredotto to take back to the bakery. They got along okay with Fitz’s poor signing and the notepad, but Rocco was relieved to see that he was trying—that he was working on picking up more ASL.
His right hand was the only thing that gave him trouble, his thick fingers stiff, and he apologized for them repeatedly until Rocco touched his arm, then wrote a long paragraph in his best English to ease his worry.
‘I didn’t know a lot Deaf growing up, but in college there was club w/ a diverse group. There Deaf missing hands, Deaf w/ CP, Deafblind…not all equal, u know? ASL is hard language and I’m glad ur trying. I can’t read lips well and HAs only help me hear traffic or dog barking. I don’t want u to keep working with ur hand if uncomfortable. Notepad fine.’
Fitz’s smile was sheepish as he scribbled out his reply. ‘I was burned in a fire when I was twelve on a boy scout camping trip. I’m right handed, but had to re-learn everything with my left. Therapy helps. I do knitting and crochet to help flexibility. I just know how much it sucks to not have access. I’m not ashamed of my arm, but I’m sorry I’m not better for you.’
Rocco shook his head and pat his shoulder again. ‘U will b. Sign Language can adapt to way u need it.’ He liked the way Fitz went soft around the edges, the way his smile reached his eyes. These people were good people—genuinely good people. They cared in ways Rocco hadn’t seen in years. Hell, maybe ever. They weren’t looking for any and every opportunity to step on someone else to climb a rung higher on the ladder leading to absolutely nowhere.
They just wanted to exist, and that was enough for them.
And god—god—he wanted that to be enough for him too.
Fitz tapped him, then nodded to the food truck where a guy was leaning out the side offering out Rocco’s bag, so he got up and grabbed it, tucking it under his arm. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the paddock was up, and Spencer was sitting in the middle of it with two small goats and James who were all running after a ball.
“Do you think he’ll mind if I take these to Simon?” Rocco asked aloud.
Fitz shook his head and wrote a quick note. ‘No, but if he does, I’ll take over. I’m glad you like Simon. He’s been through a lot.’
Rocco stared at the note until the words blurred. Normally that kind of pressure would terrify him—send him running. He didn’t want to feel like he was responsible for someone’s happiness, but it was wholly different with Simon. He didn’t want to be all of Simon’s world, but he wanted to be part of it. And he wanted to be more than a man who worked him up and got him off. He wanted to be someone that made Simon smile the moment he walked into a room. He wanted to be one reason of many that made Simon’s life feel complete.
“He’s a good person.”
Fitz nodded, and there was a ferocity in his eyes Rocco didn’t quite understand. He was missing a lot, he knew. Simon had suffered as a kid—for his funny accent and bad English and strange customs. Too much like Rocco. Rocco’s Deaf identity came first above all things, so it wasn’t often he met someone who had assimilated less than he had—but Simon had all but cut himself off from everyone.
He was stepping out though—a bit more, and slowly. And Rocco felt a wave of gratitude that he could be there to see it.
He tipped a wave at Fitz, signed a promise to be back later even if Fitz didn’t catch all of it, then he hurried down the street. He was glad it wasn’t far, and he could smell bread baking as he turned the corner, a smile lighting up his face at the sight of the bakery window.
Pulling the door open, Rocco saw Simon’s employee standing behind the counter. Kyle. They hadn’t officially met yet, Kyle usually on his way out when Rocco arrived, so he offered a smile