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)
“Perfect.”
They made their way to the trail and then to their vehicles, the walk back quieter than the walk in had been. Clint’s shorts had started to dry, but they were still wet and sticking to his ass uncomfortably.
They stood there, both of them just staring at each other, only a foot or two apart. One beat, then two and three went by before they both started laughing like a couple of kids. He almost felt that way again, which was strange. That just being around August could make him feel young again.
“Why are we laughing?” August asked.
“No idea, but I guess it’s better than staring at each other.” Clint took a step back. “It’s like when no one wants to be the one to end the call first. I’ll go to make it easier.”
He made it all the way to his truck door when August’s voice stopped him. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Befriending me all those years ago and so easily doing it again now.”
They did that weird thing again where their gazes stayed locked before Clint gave him a small smile. “Nothin’ to thank me for,” he replied, got in, and drove away, with August there watching him go.
CHAPTER FIVE
August
He’d worked his second of two shifts a week the day after meeting up with Clint. It was the day after that, and August had planned a hike and picnic with Reese.
His son had always liked being outdoors. When he was young, August and Lewis had taken him camping a lot. It had been one of Reese’s favorite things to do, though the older he got, the less they made time for that as well. It was funny how that happened sometimes. He figured it did with everyone, but it was something August wanted to actively change in his life. Reese would be eighteen soon, and who knew where that would take him, so he wanted to enjoy each and every moment he could, wanted to make memories and didn’t want Reese to look back and not be able to remember all the fun times they had together.
“You ready?” August asked.
“Yep.” Reese hefted his pack on his back, a small smile on his lips. August had thought Reese might blow him off when he asked, but he actually seemed excited to go out and spend the day together, though it was clear he didn’t want August to know he was looking forward to it. “Come on, girl,” Reese called to the dog, who immediately ran to his side.
The hiking spot was about half an hour away from Harmony, just outside of Chelsea in Briar County. Reese sat up front with him this time, Butter in the back, strapped into her doggie seat belt, her head hanging out the window.
“The life of a dog, huh?” August said as they drove.
“They’re the best. Dogs will always love you.” Reese was looking out at the dense, green scenery. His words sat heavy on August’s chest. He thought about what Clint had said to him about Reese.
“I’ll always love you too.”
Reese rolled his eyes.
“I’m serious. Like when you grow up, if you move away, I’ll probably stalk you. You’ll get married to someone, and they’ll be like…why does your dad have to live next door? And they’ll just have to know there’s no getting away from me.” He tried to be playful, to say how he felt without getting too emotional, which wasn’t Reese’s thing. He also made sure to say someone and leave it open because Reese hadn’t talked much about liking girls or boys. He was open with his son, making sure he knew there were options, that he didn’t need to know now, and he believed that as people grew, their sexuality could sometimes grow and change with them. But Reese usually just blew him off.
“You’re a dork, Dad.”
“Hey, I can always hide in your attic. You’re lucky I’m moving in next door.”
“Stalking is illegal.”
“Are you going to call the cops on me?”
Reese gave him a slight, teasing smile. “Maybe.”
Christ, he’d missed this. Missed having fun with Reese and his son not being angry with him. If he could, he would take away every ounce of Reese’s pain and bear it for him. That was what parents did. “What if I live across the street instead? That’ll give you a little more space.”
Reese shook his head and chuckled, before putting his earbuds in. August sighed. It had been good while it lasted.
He finished the drive, then parked in the lot for the trails. There were three of them, with different degrees of difficulty, none of it too hard. They weren’t expert hikers or anything, but August kept in good shape and Reese was young.
They grabbed their things, each of them with a pack. Reese put Butter on her leash, and they went for the sign pointing out the trails.