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)
Clint would know. How anyone couldn’t want to spend all their time with August and Reese if they could was beyond him.
“Yeah, maybe. So…what are you and Reese making?”
Clint looked at him and grinned. “You’re a brat. You’re not supposed to ask me that. I’m not telling.”
“Fine.” August crossed his arms and pouted. It took everything in Clint not to lean over and kiss his full lips.
“You still like to try and figure out your Christmas gifts early, don’t you? I remember you used to search the whole house for them—birthday too.”
“No, not me.” August pretended to be shocked at the accusation, making them both laugh.
Just as they settled, he heard Reese shout, “Pop, catch!” And looked over to see they were all playing football in the pool. August watched them, and Clint watched August.
“Go,” Clint said.
“Get changed and come with me. You’re the man I’m in love with. You’re wanted there too.”
Okay, well, that felt good to hear. Still, Clint shook his head. “Not right now. Soon. I’m going to talk to Colby for a bit.” August lingered until Clint added, “Go have fun. I’ll be there soon.” August nodded, then surprised Clint by stepping forward and pressing his mouth against Clint’s. “I have to admit, I like that.”
“I do too,” August replied, squeezed Clint’s hand, and headed for the pool.
A few seconds later, Colby nudged him. “You good?”
“Yeah. Don’t know why I’m being so strange about this. It’s embarrassing, to be honest. I just… I think I’ve spent my whole life wanting August, and now that I have him, I’m scared to death I’m gonna lose him.”
“You won’t,” Colby said.
“You can’t know that for sure.”
“Yes, I can. I’m good like that.” He chuckled. “That man loves you so much, he can hardly stand it. I could see it the first day I met him. It’s gonna work out, and it’s okay to feel things. You don’t have to be embarrassed about that.”
Clint nodded, knowing his friend was right. Still, for the first time in his life, as he watched Reese and August try and get the football away from Lewis, he felt like he didn’t belong, and he was scared of losing August for the second time.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
August
The party had gone well. They’d had chicken and steak kabobs and corn on the cob. Afterward they’d had cupcakes and Deke’s ice cream, of course, celebrating Scout and saying goodbye before he headed home.
August loved it in Briar County. Loved the sense of family and the friendships he’d gained since moving back to Harmony. It was what he’d always dreamed about when he’d thought about having his family. Cookouts and family time, laughing with good friends, people who had your back.
And Clint, always Clint, though he’d seemed a little sad today. August couldn’t put his finger on why, and every time he’d asked Clint about it, he’d said he was fine.
When it was time to go home, he didn’t hold himself back from hugging Clint and kissing him goodbye. He wanted to make sure Clint knew he was in this with him and nothing would make him change his mind. August had a feeling Lewis was going to say something about getting a house in Briar County or maybe even moving there. It wasn’t the kind of place he’d ever wanted to live, and August wasn’t sure what he would do about work—if he’d look for a new job, travel, or what—but he couldn’t figure out why else Lewis would want to come to Harmony. Maybe discovering that Zachary had been cheating on him had shaken up Lewis’s world more than August had figured. And while they weren’t right for each other, Lewis was a good man. He hadn’t deserved how he’d been treated, this whole situation having been a first for Lewis. He’d always been attractive and charismatic and had dated often before and after August. Outside of August being the one to ask for the divorce, Lewis had always been the one to end things.
Reese put his earbuds in on the way home, not talking much with August or Lewis.
He did sit down with them and watch a movie when they arrived, and once made a comment about it being like old times. August’s stomach twisted up. Not that he didn’t want the three of them to be comfortable together, but he didn’t want Reese to see this as more than it was, that maybe there was a chance their family would get back together.
“I think I’m gonna head to bed,” Reese said when the movie was over. “Good night, Dad. Night, Pop.” He went to his room and closed the door behind him.
August was anxious to get this discussion over with. He couldn’t relax until he knew exactly what Lewis wanted to talk to him about. “Let’s head out to the front porch,” he told Lewis, who nodded. They sat in the two chairs out there, the night alive with the sound of insects buzzing in the distance. “So what’s going on?”