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)
“Sean and Wyatt did. They told me and Scout afterward. Holden told Sean first, then asked Wyatt’s permission, he said, kinda like you hear people do with someone’s parents. He said it was hard for Wyatt in the beginning because even though his dad is gay, he hoped his parents would get together. But they’re a family now—all of them. Wyatt’s stoked they’re getting married, and he and Sean are like brothers even though Sean is Holden’s nephew and not his son.”
“They’re good people,” Clint said. “I’m damned happy for them.”
“It would be cool if Pop moved here one day. If you and Pop were still good friends the way Mr. Roe and Miss Lindsey are. I mean, I know that won’t happen. I’m just saying it would be cool if we were all a big family like they are even if you’re not together. Clint and Pop would be friends too. You’d like him, Clint. Pop is fun.”
Guilt twisted and tied up August’s insides. It felt so right for them to move here permanently, and he knew Reese was happy, but he also knew how much he missed Lewis. Did it make him an asshole that he’d moved Reese away from his other father? He was pretty sure that being jealous of how much Reese loved Lewis was a huge asshole move.
“I’m sure he is,” Clint said. “I have a lot of fun with your dad too.”
Clint had clearly caught on to what Reese said and was trying to make August feel better.
“Your pop likes the city. And with his job—”
“I know, Dad. I was just sayin’.” Reese settled back against the seat. August was fairly certain he’d just fucked up somehow.
“Scout seemed nice,” he said, hoping to change the subject to a happier one.
“Yeah, he’s cool. How many people play football in a skirt?” The excitement was back in Reese’s voice, and August let out a relieved breath. “His knees were all scraped up when we finished, but I helped him get them cleaned up.”
“That was nice of you.” He looked back at Reese and smiled. He’d been shocked as shit when Reese had tied Scout’s shoe. He’d never seen his son do something like that before.
Reese shrugged, and then his phone went off, lighting up the truck as if he’d gotten a message. That was the end of any discussion. He was engaged in his cell the rest of the drive home.
When Clint pulled into the driveway, August wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. It was late, but he was wide-awake. “Do you want to come in and have a drink?” Friends could do that. It was a friend thing to do.
A flare of surprise went off in Clint’s eyes, and he nodded. “Sure.”
Reese didn’t even seem to notice, all focused on his phone as the three of them got out. Butter went crazy when they got inside, Clint immediately kneeling to give her some love.
“I’m going to take her out and then go to bed,” Reese said while typing on his phone.
“Okay.” The wheels were spinning in August’s head. The first thing he wanted to do was ask a million questions—who Reese was talking to being the first—but he held himself back. “Or we can take care of Butter if you want.”
“Cool,” Reese replied. “’Night, Clint. Night, Dad. I love you.”
“I love you too,” August told him, then watched his son disappear down the hallway and close the door behind him. “Something’s going on,” he said softly, just for Clint.
“What do you mean?”
“Here, let’s get a drink and go outside.” He grabbed two beers, and they followed Butter into the yard. “I don’t know. I could be reading into it, but the way he jumped right away to tie Scout’s shoe, I’ve never seen him do that for another kid his age. Certainly not the day he met them.”
“Think he has a crush?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s never shown interest in other kids that way. Most share little crushes or have boyfriends and girlfriends or whatever, but he hasn’t yet. He’s a little behind that way. We’ve always been real open with him, that when it comes to sexuality, there’s a whole spectrum and he doesn’t have to have any answers until he’s ready. He’ll be loved and affirmed no matter where he falls when it comes to attraction or the gender spectrum, but he’s a teenager. He blew us off and rolled his eyes and said he didn’t want to talk about it. But he was definitely talking on his phone to someone he’s very interested in.”
“Maybe.” Clint shrugged. When Butter ran around the far side of the house, they followed. “It was like that with you. I mean, I knew I liked girls, but you came out of nowhere for me. One minute I was straight and you were my buddy, and the next I was like, holy shit, I want to kiss him.”