Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Josh said I should be more selfish, and maybe he was right. I didn’t know how good I’d be at it or how long it would last, but in that moment, I wanted to be selfish, needed to think about what I wanted. And that was spending time with Josh.
So once I was dressed, I made my way back downstairs, where Josh was sitting on the couch, looking at his phone. He turned, glancing at me over his shoulder with this half smile that strangely made my pulse stutter. “Wanna take my car?” he asked.
“Sure. That works.” I pocketed my cell, and we were out the door. I locked up, then climbed into the passenger seat of Josh’s Mustang. “You like cars?” I asked as he began driving.
“I do. You’re currently sitting in what has always been my dream car. It’s a little cliché, I know, but I can’t help it.”
“Nah, you like what you like. Nothing wrong with that.”
Josh looked at me, his brows raised. “I like you.” A laugh tumbled from my mouth, and he flipped me off. “Hey, fucker. That was good. Smooth delivery and all.”
His reply only made me laugh harder. “Does that shit usually work for you?”
“That shit always works for me, thank you very much. You’re lucky I do like you, because you’re always bustin’ my balls. Another man might get his feelings hurt.”
“Aw, don’t be like that. You know I like you too.” I reached over and poked his side.
It took me a second to realize how effortlessly I was playfully flirting with him, this automatic state I wasn’t real familiar with. I felt comfortable with Josh. Enjoyed myself with Josh. I had this chemistry with him that came out of nowhere, but one I’d likely been feeling for a long time. Only before, it came out as frustration that he was sleeping with other people instead of me. What had he done to me?
“I don’t believe you. I think you should say it again. In fact, I think you should probably say it at least every hour while we’re out today, just so I know how much you like me.”
“Pfft.” I rolled my eyes jokingly. “You wish, Westbrook.”
“Eh, can’t blame a guy for trying.”
We chatted as we made our way to the fair. It was late afternoon, and the lines were long. When we got to the cashier, I told Josh, “I got it.”
Josh frowned, and for a moment I thought he was going to argue with me about it, but he just nodded. I got us each a wristband so we could ride whatever we wanted, and then we were swept into the crowd.
“What do you want to ride first?” Josh asked.
“I don’t know. It’s up to you.”
“No, it’s not. I’m following your lead. I want you to have a good time today.”
Christ, he was going to kill me. Josh was…fuck, he was sweet and caring in this way I’d never let myself acknowledge. Sure, I knew he cared about my brother and would do anything for him, but he was directing it at me, and that made it feel like it was more. “I want the same for you.”
He shrugged, his eyes darting away. “I already am, Griffy.”
I stopped walking, looked at him, before reaching out and brushing my thumb over his cheek. This was already getting…complicated. Still, I just dropped my hand and said, “Yeah, yeah, me too.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Josh
I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen so much raw joy on Griffin Caine’s face. It was surprising he got it from a county fair of all places, but he did, and I was glad I got to be there to see it.
We went from ride to ride. Who the fuck knew he was such a ride junkie, but he really was.
After a few hours, I asked, “You hungry? You want some greasy fair food?”
“Is that really a question? Greasy fair food is the best.”
He was like a big kid, something about this atmosphere enabling him to break free. I could have sat there all day and night and just watched him.
We headed over to where the food was and got po’boys. We were lucky enough to find a table. The sun was already going down, evening coming quicker this time of year.
“Did you guys go to the fair a lot when you were kids?” I asked him, and he nodded.
“Every single year. Sometimes we’d even travel to them. It was always something we did as a family. When Chase started coming around, he became part of the tradition too.” He chuckled. “Kellan used to follow him around with big, moony eyes. I always knew he had a little crush on him, but I didn’t know the extent of it. I probably should have.”
“Does it bother you?”
He took a moment to reply, finished chewing his bite and swallowed. “I was pissed at first, but that was my protective instinct. Now it just…fits, ya know? Feels like it was always supposed to be that way. I think maybe, if I’m being honest, part of me worried I’d lose my best friend or my best friend and my brother. I know it sounds silly, but…”