Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Jesus.” August spun in a slow circle with a look on his face Clint would describe as awe. “I can’t believe I’m here. It looks just like it did when I left. How has it not changed in twenty-eight years?”
Clint watched him, couldn’t pull his eyes away. “We got lucky.”
August walked over to the rock seat, bent and dipped his hands in the creek, stared at the spot where they would sit and let their feet hang over the waterfall that was a whole lot smaller now, if only because they were bigger. It was right there, the spot where they’d kissed, where Clint realized he was bisexual and had a crush on his best friend, right before August left him.
“I missed you.” August had his back to Clint while he spoke. “I don’t know if that’s weird to say or feel after all this time. I don’t even remember how we fell out of touch—life, I guess. But I never forgot about you. I still think you were the best friend I’ve ever had.”
Clint wasn’t sure how to respond to that. The truth was, he didn’t know if it was weird or normal, but he knew he felt the same. They had just…clicked, and one look at him in Mama Adaline’s yesterday and that same flame had flickered to life again.
“That’s probably pretty sad,” August continued. “That my best friend was in middle school, despite the fact that I spent eighteen years with the same man and I’ve been close to other people over the years. I wasn’t that lonely boy you met when I was twelve.”
Well, that answered his question about August having been married to a man or a woman. Clint walked over and stood beside him. He set his hand on August’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze, felt the muscle beneath his skin. “Nah, it’s not sad. I feel the same. I missed you and never forgot you. And hell, I’m friends with just about everyone, but if someone asked me who the best friend I’d ever had was, I reckon I’d say Little August Reynolds.” The last part he meant as a joke.
“Not so little anymore.”
“Nope. I noticed that yesterday.”
August turned slightly, the sun peeking through the trees and glinting off his hair. He gave Clint a small smile, before Clint removed his hand. Then…he bent down and started taking his shoes and socks off. Clint did the same.
“Have you been married?”
“Nah.”
“Not your thing?”
“I don’t know if it is or not. I just haven’t found someone I’ve wanted to marry. I’ve had relationships off and on, some longer than others, but I’ve never felt that desire to make it forever.”
August stood barefoot beside him. “You’ve never been in love?”
“No. I’m beginning to think there’s something wrong with me,” he teased, making August chuckle. “Really, though, I’ve cared about the people I’ve been with. They were great, some more than others.” He winked. “But it just never worked out.”
August nodded before walking into the shin-deep water. “Are you…”
“Bisexual is how I’d identify, I guess. There have been more women than men.” Clint walked over and joined him.
“But there have been men? After…”
“After you sucked my face off? Yes.”
“Fucker.” August playfully pushed him. “I’m a lot better kisser now than I was back then. I sure hope so, at least.”
Clint grinned. “I’m sure you are, and it was a great first kiss. I’m glad it was with you.”
“I’m glad it was with you too.”
They stared at each other for a moment, their gazes holding on, before Clint cleared his throat and got back to the previous conversation. “It’s harder around here when it comes to guys. When I was younger, I would go find somewhere out of town to hook up with a man. There’s not as many options here, and back then, I didn’t want people to know. Eventually I didn’t care to keep it private, but it’s still not something many people know about me. I’ve never dated a guy who lives in Harmony. And women…well, I’m equally attracted to both, and there are more available women in Harmony than queer men, so it was just the way of it.”
“It’s only ever been men for me. I’ve never even kissed a girl. It’s something I worried about coming back home, though. I don’t want Reese to ever feel discrimination because of who his father loves.”
“I think you’ll be okay.” Clint kicked around in the water. “There are assholes here like there are everywhere, but Harmony’s more open-minded than any other small town I know. I don’t know if you remember or even knew Monroe Covington. He came out when he was a teenager.”
“Covington Acres Farm?”
“Yep.”
“I remember that, but not Monroe.” That wasn’t surprising since Roe was a few years older and August had moved at fourteen.