Free Waiting for Ty by Samantha Ann King Page A

persisted. “You need to start dating again.”
    “I am not sulking over Mollie.” She’d broken up with him in December. He’d never felt for her what he did for Ty. He hadn’t loved her. She’d been good company, but that hadn’t been enough for her. Hence the breakup. However, he was sulking over Ty. He hadn’t heard from him in over a month, and he’d finally stopped looking for an email, a text, Ty’s name on caller ID.
    Fuck, who was he kidding? The only thing that stopped when the phone rang was his heart. He hadn’t given up hope. Not yet. Although it wasn’t quite as strong.
    “Great,” Nikki said enthusiastically. “Come to Austin next weekend. I’m having a little get-together for Jake’s employees. You can meet JJ.”
    The waiter dropped off their drinks, a bowl of salsa and a basket of tortilla chips, then returned to the kitchen. Landon scooped the salsa with a chip and slowly chewed the spicy blend of tomatoes, onions and jalapeños, trying to buy himself some time. When he’d washed it down with some sweet tea, she was still looking at him expectantly.
    “Look, Nikki. I appreciate your concern, but I’m in love with someone and until I can get past that, you’re wasting your time and mine trying to fix me up.”
    “Mollie wasn’t good enough for you, and I hate that you’re still hung up on her.”
    “It’s not Mollie,” Landon snapped.
    Nikki narrowed her eyes. “Then who is she?”
    She didn’t believe him. Well, he couldn’t blame her. He hadn’t dated anyone since Mollie had broken it off with him. “It’s not a she. It’s a he,” he said irritably and then immediately regretted the admission. Fuck, fuck, fuck. He’d just come out to his sisters. No gentle ramp-up. No preparation. Just the facts , ma’am .
    Nikki blinked. Meredith gaped. Wonder of wonders. He’d finally discovered the secret to rendering his sisters speechless.
    Of course, it didn’t last.
    “You’re gay?” Meredith asked, surprise and disbelief mingling in her voice.
    How to answer that question? If he said yes, they’d stop trying to fix him up. He mentally snorted. Yeah , right . They’d just direct their matchmaking talents to men. And if he ever did manage to get over Ty and fall in love with a woman, he’d have to explain the about-face. Although, the way he felt now, he didn’t think that was a likely scenario. Shit. He was so not ready for this conversation. “Uh...”
    “It’s okay if you are,” Nikki assured him.
    But he wasn’t. Would they get the whole “bi” thing? They had friends who were gay, but bi? He didn’t know of any. “No, I’m not gay.” He paused, then lowered his voice, even though there wasn’t anyone in the restaurant but their waiter, who was still in the kitchen. “I’m bi.” He held his breath as they absorbed what felt like a confession. But it wasn’t. He was just sharing something about himself with them. It was the way he was, nothing shameful or dirty. He straightened and pulled his shoulders back.
    Nikki and Meredith stared at him a moment, blue eyes wide and almost identical except for a few lines radiating from the corners of Nikki’s. Then in unison they turned to each other before focusing on him again.
    Nikki recovered first. “You know I’m okay with that. Right? Gay, straight, bi. I just want you to be happy.”
    Landon hadn’t been aware of the tension tightening his muscles until relief chased it away and left him a little light-headed. “Thanks, sis. I appreciate that. I really do.”
    “I only wish you’d told me earlier,” she said, a twinge of hurt in her voice.
    He shrugged uncomfortably. “There didn’t seem to be any reason to bring it up.”
    Finally Meredith spoke. “Who is he?” Direct as always. No beating around that bush.
    He couldn’t tell them. They knew Ty, were friends with him. He hated to think what would happen to that friendship if they found out Landon was in love with him. “Nobody you know,” he