Accidentally in Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

guilty that most of the green was weeds. He kept meaning to get out there and do something with it but rarely got around to more than cutting the grass. “This is a big place. How did you end up living here, if you don’t mind me asking?”

    “I grew up here.” Tom dragged his gaze away from Cal's ass without remembering just when he’d started to stare at it. “It was my parents’ house. They’d always wanted to retire early and move to California. My dad was in this high-level management job, and his company got bought out. His severance package was huge, more than enough for them to live on if they invested it right, and he’s good at that. I didn’t want to move out, so they set up this deal where I bought it off them really cheaply. Kind of their way of sharing the good fortune, I guess.”

    It was amazing how positive the story sounded when he chose his words carefully. Much better than: My parents are disappointed in me for being gay and shy and awkward and couldn’t wait to move thousands of miles away and forget they have a son, and the house was their way of dealing with the guilt . It wasn’t that they didn’t love him in a dutiful way; they just didn’t feel comfortable around him.

    Issues. He had them, and he knew it. He just preferred to keep them to himself.

    “That’s great. Still, a place this size…and the neighborhood is nice too.” Cal sounded like he was thinking about something else in his head, figuring something out. “The taxes must be killer.”

    “Kind of,” Tom admitted. “Which is one of the reasons having a roommate comes in handy.”

    Cal nodded and moved to check out the closet. “So what were you thinking for rent?”

    “Well…” Tom didn’t want to come right out and say that something was better than nothing, because if Cal knew that was the way he felt about it, he’d be likely to try to haggle. “Hm.”

    “You can just tell me,” Cal said, as if he’d read Tom’s mind. “I don’t do all that bargaining stuff. Life’s too short, you know? Either I can pay it or I can’t.”

    “My last roommate was paying a thousand a month. That included all the utilities, like electric, gas, and cable. We both bought our own food, but we ended up sharing meals some of the time.”

    “Personal trainer, right?” Cal gave him a shrewd look and caught what must have been an expression of surprise on Tom’s face. “What? I was listening.”

    “Right,” Tom said. “Okay. Sorry. Um, yeah, pretty much.”

    “Didn’t you say she was a vegetarian? Oh shit, please tell me you’re not a vegetarian, because I don’t think I can give up meat.” In fact, Cal looked downright horrified at the idea.

    Tom laughed. “No, not a vegetarian. I told you that. She isn’t, either. Really, really into salads, though.”

    “I’m not antivegetable ,” Cal explained, shifting his weight to one side. “I just like meat.”

    “So I noticed at the party,” Tom said, surprising himself. He had a sense of humor that worked for him. It was more of an internal commentary on the world around him. Actual jokes weren’t something he told well. He either forgot the punch line or missed out an important element. He hadn’t meant it as a dig, though, so he cringed, waiting for Cal to take offense, even walk out.
     
    Tom didn’t want that to happen. He’d been ambivalent about asking Cal to live with him initially. Cal had walked through the front door, though, and brought with him a stir and a bustle that made Tom feel exhilarated. He didn’t want to lose that. Cal’s approach to life was utterly alien to him, and Cal’s presence might make him retreat further into his shell in self-defense. Despite that risk, Tom was willing to give it a try.

    Cal eyed him suspiciously like he wasn’t sure if Tom was being serious. His face broke into a smile. “I like you,” he announced. “When can I move in? Assuming you don’t think I’m an asshole.”

    “I think…”