Chapter 7
Sean kept an eye on the clock above the cashier’s station. A bit before ten, he suggested they leave. He walked back to the bookstore with Rob and waited while he unlocked the bike. It was a nice ten-speed, and Sean could understand why Rob didn’t want to lose it. He reached to help heft it into the bed of his pickup. Their hands collided and they almost dropped it, both suddenly clumsy and unsure.
Sean set the bike down and reached, putting a hand on each of Rob’s shoulders.
“Calm down,” he said. “We’re going to be friends. I don’t care whether Daniel likes it or not. Don’t let him browbeat you. You’re too fine a person to endure that. It’s not like you have nowhere else to go. Not really. In fact, there’s space in my house if you ever need somewhere to crash.”