Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 68293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
“Hey, what’s up?” Adam asked.
“Huh? Nothing. Just thinking.”
“Anything good?” Adam said lightly, with a soft smile that said they could talk about it later if he wanted.
“You’re an exceptional parent,” Wes said. “That’s all.”
Adam’s eyes went wide, then filled with tears.
Gus patted Adam’s hand, then shoved another bite of waffle in her mouth.
“Thank you,” Adam said thickly. “I...wow, thank you.”
“What are we doing today?” Gus asked.
“Well, I thought we could hang some more lights. Wes said he could help.”
“Can I climb the ladder?” Gus hedged.
“A little bit,” Adam said. “And I get to stand right underneath you in case you fall.”
Gus rolled her eyes but agreed, and it gave Wes an idea.
“Do you like the woods?” he asked Gus.
She nodded excitedly.
“Maybe after we hang lights we could go on a little adventure.”
Gus immediately turned to Adam. “Can we?”
“What does little mean in this instance? Also adventure?”
Wes laughed.
“Just a little hike. In the woods. To a clearing that I want to check out.”
“That doesn’t sound at all like you’re going to murder us,” Adam mumbled. “Okay, sure. Lights, then being led to a mysterious spot in the woods.”
“Yay!” Gus said, then ran to get dressed.
“I’m gonna run home and change,” Wes said. “Feed the animals. Meet you back here in an hour or so?”
“Okay.” Adam was gazing at him. “Can I have a kiss before you go?” he asked tentatively.
Wes didn’t want him to ever feel tentative about asking for that. He stood and drew Adam into his arms. When their lips met, everything else melted away, and it was just them and this moment. Wes cupped Adam’s cheek and kissed him again, light and sweet. Adam’s eyelashes fluttered.
“Okay, bye,” Wes said.
Adam smiled and gave a little wave.
When Wes closed the front door behind him, he felt a little tug in the region of his heart, as if with each step he took away from Adam he was leaving behind something essential.
It had only been twelve hours, but his own house felt dark and oppressive after being in Adam’s cozy, airy home.
He made the rounds, feeding everyone, cleaning up, kissing lizard heads, scratching raccoon backs, and letting snakes slither their way around his neck.
After a shower and a change of clothes, Wes texted Zachary.
I really like him. Then, as he pulled on his shoes, I don’t want to screw it up.
Good plan, Zachary texted back. I wish I had some advice, but I’ve been told I screw up every relationship I have. So maybe just do the opposite of what I’d do?
Well what would you do?
If I knew what I did wrong I’d stop! Zachary wrote. Then, after a minute, Probably. Another minute. I mean I’d try.
Wes snorted.
Kay going over there now. Later.
During the day?! It must be true love! Zachary wrote, then flooded Wes’ screen with pink hearts.
* * *
Wes had hiked out to this spot once a week for the last six months, but he’d always gone at night. After all, you could only tell if lights were bright enough in the dark. And it had the added bonus of never bringing him in contact with people.
But seeing it in the daylight was a treat. They’d hung the fairy lights on Adam and Gus’ house, and all agreed that it was almost to the point where they looked like they had the most lights in the whole world.
(Wes was glad he’d decided not to tell Gus about the Gay family of Lagrangeville, New York.)
In fact, Mr. Martinelli from next door commented on how glaringly bright the lights were as he stepped out to get his mail.
“Thank you!” Gus had called back.
Adam and Wes had snickered behind her back. Mr. Martinelli had narrowed his eyes at Wes and a flicker of unease had licked at Wes’ stomach. It felt the same now as it had then, being observed. Anxious, vulnerable, squirmy.
“So, where’s this clearing, then?” Adam asked after they’d walked for twenty minutes.
Gus had turned out to be an enthusiastic hiker after Wes’ own heart, delighted by the footprints of animals and the bits of nature she kicked up as she walked, and prone to touching and smelling everything.
“About five more minutes,” Wes told him.
“And how do you know this place?”
“I found it last year. I was looking for a spot where I could test out various bioluminescent apparatuses. But I needed somewhere far enough off the path that things wouldn’t get disturbed, and someplace dark enough that there would be no light pollution. I checked out a lot of spots and this one was the best.”
“What’s light pollution?” Gus asked.
“It’s when ambient light—light from the environment—reaches a spot. Like, light from people’s houses or streetlights or buildings.”
“You’re trying to see if your bioluminescence will work to light this clearing?” Adam asked.
“Yes, basically. I’m trying to see how far each different illumination casts to understand how much of the biome would be required per square foot to light it.”