Chapter 96
* * * *
“Here are some sheets for the bed,” Leo said, walking into the spare room with his arms full of pale green sheets for the double bed.
Nolan turned from the dresser where he’d been filling it with his clothes. He smiled. “Thanks, Leo.”
“Want me to make it up for you? I can do it if you want.”
“Either way.”
Leo grabbed the two pillows on the bed and slipped them inside pillowcases. “Listen, I know that had to be rough earlier with your dad. Are you all right?”
“It was pretty much what I expected if he was home,” Nolan said with a little shrug. “I just hope he doesn’t cause you and Galaxy too much trouble. He can be a real dick.”
“We’ve handled some pretty bad stuff before. We can handle him.” Leo pulled the fitted sheet over the mattress. He hadn’t pressured Nolan for more sex. The last thing he wanted to do was to give the impression he was forcing him into anything he was not comfortable with. But he would definitely have liked Nolan staying in his room with him.
Nolan helped him smooth out the top sheet on the bed. “Tomorrow I’ll start looking for work.”
“There’s no rush. Galaxy said not to worry about it until you were all settled.”
Nolan nodded. “Still, I want to start looking. Not sure how long it will take me, especially since some of the people around Sutter’s Bay might be friends of my dad.”
“That’s true.” Leo’s stomach growled. “I’m starved. Should I call out for a pizza?”
Nolan grinned. “That sounds great.”
* * * *
Nolan stood outside St. Jude’s Florist shop staring at the help wanted sign. He’d been trying to make himself open the door, walk inside, and ask about the job for several minutes.
He’d been walking around Sutter’s Bay for hours looking for a place that might want to hire him. He hadn’t had the best luck. Every place he’d gone said they weren’t currently hiring. Finally he saw the help wanted sign in the window here.
The door swung open and the owner, Jude, stood in the doorway gazing at him. The man wore a long-sleeved rainbow tie-dyed T-shirt that had been cutoff at the middle to reveal his stomach and jeans slung low on his hips. He was pretty cute in a very flamboyant way.
“What do you think?” Jude asked him.
“About what?”
“You’ve been out here for ten minutes. Are you going to ask me about the position or not?”
Nolan licked his lips. “Position?”
Jude smirked. “The job. Come inside the shop.”
He disappeared back inside, expecting him to follow, Nolan guessed, so he did. Jude had headed behind a counter where every space had been filled with a plant or a vase of flowers. Plants hung from the ceiling and flower bouquets and single flowers were displayed everywhere. Nolan’s nose twitched at all the strong flowery scents.
“The job is only part-time at first,” Jude explained as Nolan walked up to the other side of Jude. “Twenty hours. Noon to four o’clock, five days a week. If things work out we could talk about more hours and more responsibility. I’m closed on Sundays and I’d want you to work Tuesdays through Saturdays. You go to college, right?”
Nolan blinked. “Yes.”
“If you’ve got any afternoon classes, we can work around that. I’m offering nine dollars an hour.”
Since that was more than he was making now, Nolan didn’t think he could be too picky. But he had to tell Jude the truth.
“Full disclosure. And chances are you won’t want to hire me once I tell you.” He couldn’t meet Jude’s eyes. He was sure he would see disgust. “I’m—I’m the one who spray painted that stuff on your building.”
Jude was silent for a long time. “Do you hate homosexuals, Nolan?”
“No, I…how’d you know my name?” He did look at Jude then and oddly enough he didn’t look hostile.
Jude shrugged. “Sutter’s Bay isn’t that big. I know a lot of people and I know people who know people. Answer the question.”
He swallowed. “No. I’m gay myself.” There he’d said it and he hadn’t self-destructed or anything. “My dad—”
Jude waved his hand. “I don’t care about the reason. Do you plan on spraying the building again?”
“No. I won’t,” he vowed.
“Brilliant. You want the job then or what?”
“Yes. Please. Yes.”
“Great. Come on to the back and fill out some paperwork and you can start today.” 7
As first days went, Nolan decided his wasn’t so bad. He’d sold a few fresh spring flower bouquets, after Jude showed him how to work the register, had watered plants, and even practiced some flower arrangements. His four hours went by fast and then Jude gave him a ride home, since he was going past the Winthrop house anyway.