Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Yeah, he texted to tell me you were on your way. How’s he doing? He seems a little down lately.”
Vince pushed to his feet. “He’s okay. Busy time, is all. Plus, he’s worried about his dad. We’ll get everything settled, though.” He said we because he felt like a we when it came to him and Colby. He would help the man in any way he could.
Clint nodded and led him into the shop. He leaned against the work counter, facing Vince. “You care about him a lot. That’s good. He deserves it.”
“I do,” he admitted. What was the point in denying it? He knew Colby had told Clint about them. “It’s not always that easy.”
“Yeah, and he’s still sorting through some things, but that’s not because he doesn’t care. It’s because he cares so fucking much that he wants to do the right thing by you. I don’t have a doubt in my mind that it’ll work out.”
Vince rubbed a hand over his face, needing to talk to someone. As close as he was to Holden, he didn’t feel like he could be completely honest because that would be sharing Colby’s truths without his permission. “I think about that. Of course I do, but it’s not just Colby who’s gun shy with this whole situation. After Greg, I can’t let myself feel it, or at least work through how to tell him. I know Colby. I trust him, but my heart keeps telling me that he won’t love me, just like Greg didn’t.” And maybe that meant something about Vince. Maybe he wasn’t lovable.
“He’s not Greg.”
“I know. It doesn’t always matter what your head knows, though. I just feel…” Vince wasn’t sure he had it in him to finish that sentence.
He looked at Clint, who cocked his head, studying him, searching for something that Vince couldn’t name. Finally, Clint said, “Just because Greg didn’t see how good a man he had doesn’t mean Colby won’t. And while I don’t know all the details, I can say you didn’t deserve the shit that happened to you. What happened with your ex was him being a shitty person. It had nothing to do with you.”
It wasn’t the first time Vince had heard something like that. Hell, he’d even said it to himself more times than he could count, but he was tired of not believing it. Tired of feeling weak and not doing anything about it. Because he wanted Colby. Maybe Colby would love him and maybe he wouldn’t, but Vince wasn’t the kind of man who shied away from his feelings. He’d forgotten that since Greg had fucked him over again. He’d lost who he was, and if he wanted to fully be able to give himself to Colby, he needed to change that.
“Thank you,” he said.
“Not sure I did much.”
“You did more than you realize,” Vince replied.
Clint nodded, then helped Vince load the truck. They said goodbye, Clint heading back into his shop, but Vince didn’t drive away yet.
He picked up his cell phone and called Gregory.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Colby
It was the last Covington family dinner before the wedding, and Colby was nervous.
It was just going to be his parents, his siblings, their spouses, and their kids. No one had said that others could go. That wasn’t how his family worked. They were the type who would take anyone in. All were welcome in the Covington home, but Colby knew that tonight was supposed to just be them all the same.
But he didn’t want to go without Vince…Vince who felt like a partner to Colby in all the ways that mattered. He was the first and only person Colby had ever been in love with. It didn’t matter how many times he doubted his own feelings—out of fear of hurting Vince and that something was wrong with him—but deep down, Colby knew he loved Vince. That he wanted to spend his life with the man, living and laughing and loving.
“I want you to go with me,” he told Vince as he pulled his pants on. Vince was naked in their bed, watching him. They’d showered together, but Vince hadn’t gotten dressed. The man liked being without his clothes as much as possible.
“Baby, you know I will, but I’m not sure this dinner is meant for me. I go with you, and it’s going to make people wonder.”
“I don’t care.” But the problem was, sometimes Colby cared too much, was too careful. He walked over and sat by Vince on the bed. “I realize I’ve been all over the fucking place lately. I feel like a damn mess, but let’s just get through this wedding, and then we can focus on us.”
“Okay,” Vince said easily.
He was too damn good for Colby.
I love you. He stared at Vince, wanting to say the words, having them fill him up until he was nearly bursting with them.