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)
“Shit. What’s August going to do if he leaves?” Roe asked. “He doesn’t seem like he’d do well living apart from him.”
No, no he wouldn’t. Clint picked up Colby’s water and took a drink. “Don’t know for sure. He might stay or go.”
“And if he goes?” Colby asked.
“I think you know the answer to that.” That was just how Clint was built. Once he was in, he was all in. There was no changing it.
“Shit, brother. I hope it doesn’t come to that. We’ll miss you, but I understand. I’d do the same,” Holden told him.
“I almost did the same,” Deacon added. “Made more sense because of family stuff. That’s what you do when you love someone. You’re a good man.”
“He’s the best man,” Clint heard, and turned to see August standing there.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see you. I drove by on my way to your place and saw your truck, and I just…” He reached out and ran his fingers through Clint’s hair before letting his hand rest on his nape. “God, I love you.”
Worry weighed his body down. “I love you too. Is everything okay?”
“Everything is perfect. Reese is staying with me, and even if he didn’t, you know I would never leave without you, right? I wouldn’t have expected you to just rearrange your whole life for me. And I don’t ever want you to feel like I could have walked away—”
“Aww,” someone from another table said in the background, cutting August off and making them realize they had an audience.
“I’m sorry,” August said softly.
“I don’t care who hears us.”
“Me neither. I love you.” He turned. “I love him!” August said to the restaurant, a big, goofy, happy smile on his face that lit Clint’s soul on fire. It was incredible seeing him like this. “I want to spend my life with you. You’re my family. You’re my dream, Clint, twenty-eight years later.”
Clint shoved to his feet, and August pulled him into his arms. August kissed him, and damned if the restaurant didn’t burst into applause.
It was ridiculous, cheesy, over-the-top, and not something Clint would have ever thought he wanted…but it was perfect.
EPILOGUE
August
Christmas
“Reese, would you play with us?” Rose asked after they’d finished eating dinner together. It was a question August would never get tired of hearing the girls ask him. They adored Reese, and he was surprised how much Reese liked having little cousins around to play with. He was good with them and made August proud every day.
“Sure thing,” Reese replied.
They were at Clint’s brother’s place—him, Reese, Clint, and Lewis. Things weren’t perfect, but they’d gone pretty well in the few months since Lewis had asked for Reese to live with him. Lewis stayed in touch regularly. They had set phone calls every Sunday but often talked during the week as well. Reese had gone to Orlando when he had time off in November, and Lewis had decided to come to Harmony for Christmas. He was staying at the rental and August at Clint’s, which he figured he should get used to calling home, since he and Reese would be moving in there in a few months when his lease was up.
Reese was still seeing his therapist, and the three of them were doing biweekly virtual appointments. Through all this, it was hammered home how much Lewis did really care. He wanted to be a good father to Reese just as much as August did.
“They love him,” Clint said, wrapping his arms around August from behind. He let himself melt into Clint, still sometimes trying to wrap his head around the fact that Clint was his.
“They do. I like seeing him spend time with family like this. It’s been good for him—us moving to Briar County.” He turned his head some so he could nuzzle into Clint’s throat. “It’s been good for me too.”
“And why is that?” Clint teased.
“His awesome brother-in-law?” Ron cut into their conversation, making them laugh.
“Asshole,” Clint said, letting August go.
They all hung out together for a little while longer before having dessert. Afterward, he and Clint drove Reese and Lewis back to the rental, where his homemade flower garden was always in bloom because of Clint and Reese. The two of them got along well, better all the time. Reese didn’t mind that Clint was August’s boyfriend, and he knew no one would ever take his place in August’s life.
“Wanna make a stop on the way home?” August asked.
“You know I do…even if I might freeze my balls off.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll get you home before that happens. I like your balls too much to lose them.” He winked, and Clint laughed.
They pulled over at the side of the road, tugging on beanies and putting gloves on. It was silly coming to the creek in forty-degree weather on Christmas night, but August didn’t care about that. It was their spot, and it always would be.