Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Van stepped aside and Shane and his mom walked to the door. “You good?” he asked her.
“Yeah.” She smiled. “I feel very good. I think I’m okay.”
His grip on her hand tightened as they stepped outside. Her breathing picked up. She shook more but she didn’t falter. Didn’t stop.
“He’s a good man,” Shane said of Van. It would help to try and keep her mind off the panic that dug its claws into her mind.
“Yes, he is. I like him a lot. He’s good for you. You’re happy. I see it when I look at you. You’re happy in a way I’ve never seen.”
He thought about cracking a joke about getting laid on a regular basis, but knew it wasn’t the time. Knew it wasn’t the reason. “It’s not serious, Mom. It can’t be.”
“What if it is?” she asked, hopeful.
“It’s not.” How could it be?
They were quiet the rest of the way to her house. She gasped when they stepped inside, but she’d done it. She’d held her own. He took pride in moments like that. “You did real good.”
“I walked across the property.”
“You did good,” he said again. “Most of the day, it sounds like.” He cocked a brow at her.
“I want Van to take me tomorrow, Shane. You can’t do it all.”
What if she needed him? And even if she didn’t, it wasn’t Van’s responsibility. She wasn’t Van’s mom. “I’ll see what I can figure out,” he replied because he didn’t want to argue with her.
They said their goodbyes before Shane made his way through the night and back to his place. When he stepped inside, Van wasn’t in the living room.
Shane turned for the hallway, and stepped into his room. His chest squeezed tight when he saw the canvas in the corner. When he saw the men tangled together, arms locked, legs entwined, a knot of masculine bodies. It damn near stole his breath.
It was beautiful.
They were beautiful.
Shane pulled his shirt over his head as he moved toward the bathroom. The shower was running, the door wide open. He stepped out of his shoes, stepped into the room and saw Van’s naked body through the glass, standing under the spray.
He pulled his pants and underwear off. Opened the door and joined him. Van backed out of the spray and Shane wrapped his arms around Van from behind. He leaned his forehead against Van’s back. “You’ve taken care of my mom twice. You’ve been there for her and comforted her. I…I don’t know what to say to that.”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“Yes, I do.”
“No, you don’t, Shane.” Van turned then. Put his fingers under Shane’s chin and tilted his head up. Water ran down his body, droplets sliding from his body to Shane’s. “You don’t have to do it alone. Not while I’m here.”
“I’ve been doing it alone for so long, I don’t know any other way.”
“Don’t you think it’s time you learned? Maybe it’s time you both did.” Van ran his hand through Shane’s wet hair, then to his ass. “She loves you. God, she loves you. And she’s fun. I laughed my ass off most of the day.”
She was fun. She used to make Shane laugh all the time. “She gets it from me,” Shane teased.
“Let me take her for you tomorrow, Shane. I promise you, I’ll take good care of her.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about. I—” Shane started and then, forced himself to let it go. “Thank you.”
It was one of the first times in Shane’s life he didn’t truly feel alone.
“You’re welcome. Come on. Let’s wash up and cuddle, Shaney.” Van quirked a brow at him.
“Fucker,” he replied, but then they did just as Van had said.
It was the first time Van had spent the night in his bed and Shane didn’t spend any of it inside of him. But Van had already made his way inside Shane permanently; Van just didn’t know it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The day had been long but not quite as hectic as Van thought it would be. Shane had been nervous as hell, and Van had to keep in touch with him the entire time they were gone. Annie had taken medication before they left, and Van had a whole list of directions—if this happens, do this. If that happens, do that.
But none of it had. Her doctors were in the same building. She had one appointment after the other. She’d been flustered and on edge. Shaky as she played with that one spot of hair at the back of her head, but she’d worked herself through it, and Van was pretty sure Shane was just as flustered and on edge back in Last Chance.
“Your mom must be incredibly proud of you,” Annie said as they were on their way back home.
Van scoffed at that. “No, I can’t say that she is. I’m okay with it though.”