Read Online Eight Nights by Keira Andrews - Free Book Online
Authors: Keira Andrews
Tags: Festival of Lights
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water.
“You don’t have to be. Neither of us is happy. We need to make a change. We could do it together.”
Nate looked directly at him. “Together?”
“Oh, I mean…not…I don’t…” Lucas didn’t say what he desperately wanted to.
“We could see how it goes. You know, if things work out with us.”
His heart rate increased, and Lucas felt slightly lightheaded. “Us?”
Eight Nights
55
“You’re only a couple of hours away. Sam goes on the road for basketball, and he’s going to Daytona for spring break. I could visit.”
Lucas tamped down his rush of excitement. “What about when we’re not together?
You’ll still be seeing other guys?”
Reaching up, Nate brushed the hair off Lucas’s forehead. “I don’t want to see anyone but you.”
Lucas’s feeling of warm happiness exploded in his chest. “I thought you weren’t looking for a boyfriend.”
“I wasn’t.” Nate smiled crookedly. “I guess one found me.” His smile faded. “If you want me.”
Not caring who was watching, Lucas threw his arms around him. “I want.”
Nate held him close, their warm cheeks pressed together. Lucas watched the sun sink over the horizon in a blaze of red and orange before closing his eyes as the ferry sailed on.
* * * * *
In the cab, Nate checked his watch. “We missed lighting the menorah on the last night of Hanukkah. If we miss synagogue, I’m dead meat.” When they’d gotten home to a darkened house, they’d quickly changed into suits, Lucas borrowing a tie and jacket.
“But I thought you weren’t that observant.”
“We’re not, but we always have to go to synagogue at least once every holiday, or we’ll never hear the end from Papa. I kind of like it, actually.”
Hopping out of the cab in front of the temple, Nate gave the driver a twenty and told him to keep the change. On the empty steps, Nate skidded to a halt on the stair above Lucas and pulled a rounded, dark gray suede piece of material from his pocket. He placed it on the back of his head.
“Okay, this is going to sound like a stupid question, but --”
56 Keira Andrews
“How does it stay on?” Nate laughed. “Years of experience.” He pulled another piece of material out of this pocket, this one black. “You, however, get a bobby pin for your yarmulke.”
Lucas stood still while Nate gently pinned it in place. Their heads were close together, and Lucas could feel Nate’s warm breath. Nate stood back. “There you go. Looks good. What about me?” He laughed suddenly, rolling his eyes. “I know, I look like a complete dork.”
Fat snowflakes had begun to fall, nestling in Nate’s hair, and Lucas told him the truth.
“You look beautiful.”
Nate leaned closer, their lips inches apart. Just then, a van pulled up, unloading a chattering family who rushed by them up the steps. Lucas and Nate followed, finding a seat near the back. Lucas gazed in wonder at the blue and gold ceiling soaring high above. A center aisle separated rows of pews, and ornate chandeliers hung in pillared archways along each side of the room, with a gallery of extra seating on the left and right through the arches on the second level.
The rabbi spoke of freedom, and conquering fear and despair. As the service went on, Lucas found himself filled with a sense of peace and contentment he couldn’t remember ever experiencing.
For the first time since September, he thought of his father and smiled.
Glancing down to his left, he saw Nate’s hand on the bench beside him. Sliding his palm over the polished wood, he touched Nate’s pinky finger with his own. He would have been satisfied with just that small contact, but a few moments later, Nate flipped his hand over. As the congregation began singing, Lucas covered Nate’s palm with his own, threading their fingers together.
Lucas didn’t understand the words, but he tried to sing along anyway.
* * * * *
Eight Nights
57
After the service and socializing, Lucas and the
“You don’t have to be. Neither of us is happy. We need to make a change. We could do it together.”
Nate looked directly at him. “Together?”
“Oh, I mean…not…I don’t…” Lucas didn’t say what he desperately wanted to.
“We could see how it goes. You know, if things work out with us.”
His heart rate increased, and Lucas felt slightly lightheaded. “Us?”
Eight Nights
55
“You’re only a couple of hours away. Sam goes on the road for basketball, and he’s going to Daytona for spring break. I could visit.”
Lucas tamped down his rush of excitement. “What about when we’re not together?
You’ll still be seeing other guys?”
Reaching up, Nate brushed the hair off Lucas’s forehead. “I don’t want to see anyone but you.”
Lucas’s feeling of warm happiness exploded in his chest. “I thought you weren’t looking for a boyfriend.”
“I wasn’t.” Nate smiled crookedly. “I guess one found me.” His smile faded. “If you want me.”
Not caring who was watching, Lucas threw his arms around him. “I want.”
Nate held him close, their warm cheeks pressed together. Lucas watched the sun sink over the horizon in a blaze of red and orange before closing his eyes as the ferry sailed on.
* * * * *
In the cab, Nate checked his watch. “We missed lighting the menorah on the last night of Hanukkah. If we miss synagogue, I’m dead meat.” When they’d gotten home to a darkened house, they’d quickly changed into suits, Lucas borrowing a tie and jacket.
“But I thought you weren’t that observant.”
“We’re not, but we always have to go to synagogue at least once every holiday, or we’ll never hear the end from Papa. I kind of like it, actually.”
Hopping out of the cab in front of the temple, Nate gave the driver a twenty and told him to keep the change. On the empty steps, Nate skidded to a halt on the stair above Lucas and pulled a rounded, dark gray suede piece of material from his pocket. He placed it on the back of his head.
“Okay, this is going to sound like a stupid question, but --”
56 Keira Andrews
“How does it stay on?” Nate laughed. “Years of experience.” He pulled another piece of material out of this pocket, this one black. “You, however, get a bobby pin for your yarmulke.”
Lucas stood still while Nate gently pinned it in place. Their heads were close together, and Lucas could feel Nate’s warm breath. Nate stood back. “There you go. Looks good. What about me?” He laughed suddenly, rolling his eyes. “I know, I look like a complete dork.”
Fat snowflakes had begun to fall, nestling in Nate’s hair, and Lucas told him the truth.
“You look beautiful.”
Nate leaned closer, their lips inches apart. Just then, a van pulled up, unloading a chattering family who rushed by them up the steps. Lucas and Nate followed, finding a seat near the back. Lucas gazed in wonder at the blue and gold ceiling soaring high above. A center aisle separated rows of pews, and ornate chandeliers hung in pillared archways along each side of the room, with a gallery of extra seating on the left and right through the arches on the second level.
The rabbi spoke of freedom, and conquering fear and despair. As the service went on, Lucas found himself filled with a sense of peace and contentment he couldn’t remember ever experiencing.
For the first time since September, he thought of his father and smiled.
Glancing down to his left, he saw Nate’s hand on the bench beside him. Sliding his palm over the polished wood, he touched Nate’s pinky finger with his own. He would have been satisfied with just that small contact, but a few moments later, Nate flipped his hand over. As the congregation began singing, Lucas covered Nate’s palm with his own, threading their fingers together.
Lucas didn’t understand the words, but he tried to sing along anyway.
* * * * *
Eight Nights
57
After the service and socializing, Lucas and the
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