Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
I thought about the life I’d had in the city. The hustle and bustle, stopping for coffee and a Danish on the way to work. Never sitting and talking with Daniel like this. We had at some points, of course, how could we not, but the longer we were together, the fewer those things happened. Life always felt too busy, there was too much to accomplish, too many mountains to climb. I couldn’t imagine it being that way with Sam. I didn’t feel like the same man with him, likely because I wasn’t. He made me want this, to talk to him, to hear him speak, and that made me feel even more like shit because I hadn’t given that to Daniel.
But when I sat down and he said, “What’s the scariest tree? BamBOO,” I forgot about everything else. Even forgot about Bentley Fox. He was dead, had died that night with Daniel. For years, I’d been nothing, and somehow, now, Emerson had been born getting to know Sam.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Sam
“Let’s go somewhere,” I told Emerson after breakfast. I felt like someone was going to pinch me and I’d wake up, like this was all a dream. His eyes were still sad. I wondered if maybe they had been his whole life, and if anyone but me had noticed. Still, something had changed. Like unloading on me had lightened the heavy burden Emerson carried on his shoulders. I’d gladly bear the weight for him. Emerson didn’t know it, but he was something special. I felt it deep in my bones. Maybe that was foolish of me. He’d surely break my heart, but I couldn’t find it in me to stop. Couldn’t let myself put a hold on trying to make him smile.
“I’m not so good around people anymore. Plus, do you think it’s a good idea if people see us together?”
“You think they’re gonna take one look at us and assume I had my dick in your butt last night?” I winked.
“No, smartass.” He grinned, and it made my stupid heart skip a beat. Embarrassing but true.
“I been in Ryland my whole life. You don’t think I have places for us to go where no one will bother us?” He still didn’t look convinced. I was pretty sure Em would never leave this house if he didn’t have to. Like he was afraid if people saw him, they’d figure out his past. Maybe he was afraid of getting close enough to someone to let them down too, the way he thought he’d let Daniel down. “I won’t take no for an answer. You know me better than that. I’ll just bother you all day, and eventually you’ll give in anyway.”
“You’re a brat.”
“We been over this before. I know it, and I keep things interesting for you. Let’s go.”
Emerson reluctantly stood. We got ready, then decided to take his car since everyone knew my truck. There were times I got stopped by people to ask me about something or to do them a favor. We weren’t heading into town, but better safe than sorry. I wanted him all to myself.
“Can I drive?” I asked, and Emerson frowned. “I’ll be careful. Your car is likely worth more than my life.”
“I don’t care about the car.”
“I do. The last thing I’m gonna do is wreck the damn thing, but since I know where we’re going and you don’t, it makes more sense for me to drive.”
He handed the keys over without hesitation. He drove a BMW, and as soon as we got going, I felt cold air on my ass. “You have AC in your seats?”
“It’s hot here.”
“Well, no shit, but damned if you’re not spoiled rotten. You know as long as you drive this car, you’re going to stand out here.”
“I’m always going to stand out here regardless.”
Yeah, I guessed he would.
He didn’t ask where we were going as I drove, but I knew him well enough to know he wanted to. I was careful as hell with his car. I was almost afraid to touch anything, like I would automatically break it.
About forty-five minutes later, I pulled off the main road. “We gotta walk from here.”
Emerson cocked a brow. “Are we supposed to be out here?”
“It’ll be fine, city boy.” We were in the middle of nowhere, off one of the quiet highways that didn’t get as much attention as it used to ever since they built a freeway not too far away. From where I pulled off at the side of the road, it looked like there was nothing but us and trees, but I knew better. “Trust me.”
Emerson nodded. “Let’s go.”
I led him through a path in the woods. I took his hand, entwined our fingers. “I grew up holding Molly’s hand like this. We were just best friends, but we still always held hands. I was that kid who used to dream about doing it with a man. And when I finally started being with men, it was just fuckin’, of course. Guys I wouldn’t ever be more with, most I wouldn’t ever see again. So now I’m gonna make you hold my hand, Emerson Fox.” I was getting brave since his admission and the way he’d slept with me last night. It would likely backfire, but I wasn’t gonna hold back. This was nice, felt like something real, even if I was still just the guy he paid to fuck all weekend long.