Chapter 10

Gerald was an unexpected surprise.

Our meeting went on a few minutes longer as we finalized plans for the following day. He would meet me outside of the first location on my list at seven in the morning. It was going to be Sunday, which meant not an official workday, so I figured he could help me decide which place was best of the available rental properties.

I had an idea of my favorite, but it had been so very long since I’d seen any of them in person that I needed to be sure before committing to the move. From there, Gerald would take over hiring the movers to secure everything. I’d be around as a precaution and to ensure anything irreplaceable was properly packaged.

“An Americano.” Gerald’s familiar voice came from over my shoulder. When I turned, he extended a cup my way.

“Thank you. I must admit I’ve already had some caffeine this morning, though there is never such a thing as too much,” I confessed.

He turned away from me to look at the building instead of commenting. I almost wished he’d push back at me, maybe say he thought otherwise. I could tell there was a part of him that didn’t agree.

“This the place?”

“The first one. We have three to look at. I want your honest opinion on which is best for us both. You have to be as comfortable as I am for this to work. And to be fair, I did purchase all of these because I liked them in some way or another. That leaves the final decision with you.”

I could feel him squaring his shoulders like he was heading into war. “Lead the way,” he commanded.

It wasn’t like he was trying to boss me around. It was more that he wanted my guidance since he wasn’t familiar with what needed to be done. I had zero doubt that he’d lead if he were already sure of himself.

Yesterday he’d been clear about going to retrieve our drinks himself. That was something about how he wanted — no, needed — that bit of control that reached me on a deeper level. I recognized that part of him as if it spoke directly to the part of me that needed organization. It’s how I knew he’d be the perfect fit.

I greeted the doorman with a smile, then led us to the elevators. The ride up was strange. A tension built in the air, so strong and swirling I felt ready to burst and demand if he felt it too. But the minute he looked my way I saw nothing. It was as if I’d imagined it all.

And maybe I had.

Something about Gerald Grimes didn’t make sense. I just couldn’t figure out what.

Maybe it was something in his past. Parts of his story made sense. I believed every word he said. It was more the words he wasn’t saying that had me questioning things.

“This is us,” I said once we reached my floor. There were four units on this level. Less than those below us, but more than the ones above.

I opened the door, then led him into the spacious area. It was unfurnished, the walls a bright white and a small section of windows on the far side. Gerald stared at them as if they might burn him alive once the blinds opened.

“There’s a protective film on the windows. It helps with the cooling bill while also preventing anyone from seeing inside the room.”

He hummed before looking over his shoulder. “May I?”

“You’re free to roam as you wish. Please let me know if you have questions.” I felt like a realtor as he stalked away from me to move to the next room.

While he walked around, I leaned against the wall near the entryway. I’d originally intended to tour the space with him, but I could tell he was working to formulate his own thoughts. I didn’t want to influence him with my mindless chatter.

It took him twenty minutes or so to cover the full space. He returned with a neutral expression.

“All done. Are you ready to move to the next location?”

We left the apartment without saying anything else to one another. This pattern continued for both the second and third viewing. It wasn’t until we walked out of the building at the last location that his expression shifted.

“Do you truly not have a preference on the location you will live in?” He asked cautiously.

I bounced my shoulders softly. “Not truly. I really loved my last place, and it didn’t work out. I’m working to not get so attached to things. Though, the situation there will never happen again anyway. I won’t be fooled twice.”

He tilted his head to the side. “I feel like there’s a lot more to the story.”

“There is,” I said as I checked my watch. “What do you say we get some lunch and then I can drive you back to your place? I’ll explain everything and answer any questions you may have.”

It was a gamble to see if he’d accept. Not only did I have the need to ensure he ate, but I also actually wanted to share this story with him. I was curious about his opinion on the whole situation with Danielle.

She had done as I asked, both with leaving and telling her father. I’d received a text the day after our confrontation in which her father apologized to me for whatever indiscretions his daughter had caused. Apparently, he knew some of the issues she had, and he had hoped our relationship was enough to fix them.

Gerald bit his lip instead of answering my question. I watched as he pulled his phone out, then texted someone. He waited a moment for their reply, then he answered with, “Lunch sounds good.”

Since I knew the area better than him, I called for a cab to take us to an easy sandwich and soup shop close to my old place. Not only was it one of the best in the city, but I knew the owner well enough to always be able to get a spot to eat. Lunch on Sunday could be hit or miss as far as how busy a restaurant was.

As soon as we walked inside, there was a shout of joy before I was engulfed in a hug. Two heavy palms beat against my back almost violently as Lenny Shay shouted about how happy he was to have me come in.

“Been too long, Wes,” he said when we pulled apart.

I nodded solemnly. “Yes, it has, Lenny. I apologize for that. Things have changed a bit. I’m moving soon, but I’ll be around more. You know I can’t resist it here.”

He let out a gut busting laugh. “I do know. It’s why you had me worried.”

“While I have you, let me introduce an associate of mine. Gerald, this is Lenny, our sandwich and soup wizard. Nothing in this city tastes as good as what he makes. Lenny, this is Gerald.”

I didn’t miss the way the old man looked between me and Gerald. It had to be strange that I showed up after weeks away to not only tell him I’m moving, but to also bring someone in with me. There’s no way I’d tell him about the cancelled engagement unless he brought it up. Otherwise, he might think Gerald a homewrecker or something else out of pocket.

Lenny pulled Gerald into a hug. I watched as the other man awkwardly returned the embrace. When they came apart, Lenny was beaming, and Gerald looked closer to tears. Needing to remedy whatever the nosy restauranteur might have said, I grab his attention.

“Can you bring us The Works but double the sides? That should do it,” I directed to Lenny.

He ignored me to focus on Gerald. “You’re not vegan or allergy-ridden, are you? I have other options, but The Works is literally what it’s called. You get it all.”

Gerald shook his head slowly. “Nothing that I know of. And I’m very much a fan of meat.”

Lenny let out another roar of laughter as the man beside me blushed once he realized his wording. “I’ll be sure to remember that. You two get a seat and don’t leave without saying goodbye.”

I turned Gerald away from the counter where others were ordering to find a table. Thankfully, it was one of those slower days. We wouldn’t need to fight for a spot to perch.

“Table or booth?” I asked him.

“Either is fine.”

I motioned for the closest booth since he didn’t mind. We’d been in the same position not too long ago and done fine. Why would this meal be any different?

One of the teenagers Lenny hired to work the floor came out with some waters for us and a dessert menu. “Lenny said you have to pick something.”

She left after shrugging. I grinned down at the plastic covered options.

“He definitely won’t let us leave without trying something. Do you have a sweet tooth?”

Gerald shook his head as his gaze moved across the other patrons. I wasn’t sure if he was uncomfortable looking at me, or if he was just the type to enjoy people watching. My brother Robin was definitely the latter. I couldn’t begin to express the number of times I had to pull him back into a conversation because he got distracted by something around him instead of talking to me.

As if he knew I was thinking of him, a text came through from him. It was one of many I’d left unanswered all day. At first, it was because I didn’t want to tell him about Danielle. Then it became annoying because I was embarrassed by the whole ordeal and felt I couldn’t even tell the only family member I had left.

The day kept on moving and soon I found myself with a cell phone full of red notification dots. One might have said my brother was relentless. I agreed with the description.

“Is something wrong?” Gerald asked, distracting me from the phone in my hand.

I raised my brow. “What makes you think there”s anything wrong?”

“Your phone has gone off several times. You’ve ignored it entirely. And just now, when you did finally check it, you didn’t seem pleased by whatever you found.”

There went that focus of his again. This time, I was the center of attention, which honestly gave me mixed feelings. I liked that he was tuned into me and what I was doing. But I really didn’t like that he’d noticed my emotions so much that he figured out I was avoiding someone.

“Honest answer? My brother is texting me. He and I have always been somewhat close, though our lives are completely different. Where I prefer the city, he’s a country kind of guy. I hate being dirty, while he’s the first to jump in a mud pit to save an animal. Or sometimes just to have a laugh. Even so, we’ve managed to keep our relationship strong through the years.”

“Then why are you not happy to hear from him?” Gerald challenged.

I sighed as I accepted my fate. It was time to tell him about Danielle. There was no way around it.

“The last time I spoke with my brother, I told him a few things that weren’t all that true just yet. And well, to be fair, there’s a lot he doesn’t know.”

“Lay it out for me. Maybe together we can decipher a way that it all makes sense.”

My heart leapt at the idea of him wanting to help me. Sure, it was technically his job, but he didn’t seem to care. I felt like someone was on my side for once, and without all the stories I’d spun.

“Well, it’s all a bit complicated. See, I was engaged for a long time to a woman named Danielle. She and I had been together for ages and as one did in a long-term relationship, I proposed to show her I cared.”

Something in Gerald’s expression shifted. Pain bloomed in his eyes. It only furthered my belief that he had secrets of his own. Maybe if I shared mine, then he’d want to trust me with his too.

“Danielle loved the idea of a long engagement. She swore it gave her time to plan properly. Only, I realized a few weeks ago that her idea of a long planning period really meant she wanted to fuck every man she could before settling down. Though, even then, I suspected she would have wanted to continue her deception.”

“She cheated on you?!”

“Yes, she did. Several times in fact. And with the people closest to me too, likely because they were convenient. My chef, personal assistant, and neighbors were just the ones I knew about. I’m sure there were more.”

Gerald’s hand covered his mouth as his eyes expressed a mix of shock and pity. Or maybe it was empathy. I couldn’t quite tell.

“I found out via a hidden camera in my living room. The day I saw the first incident, I called my brother to let him know the wedding was off. I didn’t give much explanation, only that we weren’t going to go through with it. Since then, I’ve been avoiding his calls. Mostly because there’s a leaning tower of secrets between us that I don’t want to have to dismantle.”

“How so? What else could there be?”

He doesn’t ask about Danielle any further, which I’m both relieved and bothered by. Relieved because I don’t want to bring her up any more than necessary. Bothered because if the roles were reversed, I’d want to know everything.

No one has entranced me quite like Gerald has. From the minute I walked into the coffee shop, I knew there was something more to him. His last bit of prodding only added to the novelty of his mysterious manner.

“A bit, actually. I’d told him that I lived with Danielle rather than that she lived with me. I’d encouraged her to keep up the lie over the years, so she’s likely told him I’ve grabbed my stuff and left rather than I’m making her hire movers to get all her stuff taken care of. He has no clue I have the rental properties or that I’m swimming in the funds I do have. I don’t like talking about my wealth, especially since we came from very humble beginnings. I worried he might think bad about me.”

I frowned at the admission. I hadn’t really given it that deep of thought before. Now that I’d said it aloud, the reasoning tracked as to why I’d never corrected him. Plus, it wasn’t like he made visits here all the time or vice versa. We kept up digitally for the most part. Our in-person connections were few and far between.

“And you feel he’d be upset that you’re wealthy now? That he might find you different in some way?” Gerald shook his head as he laughed softly. “I think you’re very wrong. He’ll probably be more bothered by the lies than anything else. He might even feel the need to get closer to you after the confession since there’s an obvious gap in communication between you two.”

“Maybe,” I hedged.

The waitress brought the sandwiches out, which made us pause our conversation for a while. We were both rather hungry, if the way we devoured the food was any indication. I was happy to see Gerald enjoying himself for once. The perpetual layer of sadness melted away as the meal ebbed on.

“That was delicious. Thank you.” He wiped his mouth with a cloth, then eased his hands on the tabletop. “I haven’t had anything like that in a while. The facility”s food was good, but nothing nearly as indulgent as this.”

I grinned. “Lenny does love to spoil me. We’ve known each other a long time.”

“Seemed like it. And while we’re on the subject of long-time things, I think you should tell your brother the truth. Maybe not today, but soon. He’s likely worried about your safety if everything you said is true. The least you could do is send a text to say you’re doing fine as you cope with the change in your life. Though it doesn’t appear that much coping is needed.”

He tilted his head to the side as he observed me. I could tell he was looking for the sadness, for the distraught man I should have been. Anyone else in my position would have been devastated. Being a victim of infidelity wasn’t something people took in stride like I had.

“You’re wondering why I’m not more upset, aren’t you?”

Gerald straightened. “Well… yes. I am curious. But only if you’re comfortable with sharing your story.”

“I’m comfortable with sharing. You need to pick a dessert first though. This conversation deserves something sweet.” I pointed to the menu he’d set aside.

As if my word was law, he did as I asked. I watched him go over the items with intense focus. Not once did he hesitate or stop to argue. It was as if he was submitting to my word and trusting me to lead the conversation.

Why did that induce a flurry of excitement through me? And what the hell did it even mean?