Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 135792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Knox was to spend Thanksgiving dinner at Frank’s but they would share a meal before Liv had to drive off for his second shift of the day. He tried to not get upset over being on his own on a holiday. Such was life, but knowing that all his friends would be out there, spending quality time together, while he walked the perimeter of the motorcycle club property in the cold did get to him, no matter how hard he tried to pretend that it didn’t.
His birth family hadn’t given him a good example of how one should spend time on a day like this one. Mom was absent half the time. Dad couldn’t even get Liv a cage for the hamster he gave him for Christmas many years ago. It ended with the poor thing being accidentally squashed by a guest a couple of days later as it freely ran around the floor. Still, there would always be at least a special pizza on the table, or ice cream. Sometimes, if both of Liv’s parents were in decent shape, they would even all watch a movie.
And once Liv’s dad got together with Knox’s mom, they’d always met up on Christmas or Thanksgiving.
It would be lonely without Knox tonight.
Liv was deep in his thoughts when a cloud of billowing smoke made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
That was where their trailer was. Where Knox was.
He pushed on the pedal to accelerate beyond reason and made the turn toward their home, sending gravel in all directions. But as he dashed past the bend and hit the brakes, ready to leap out and run into the flames, several hands rose, waving at him from around a bonfire with flames as tall as a grown man.
He sank into the seat, overcome with relief. Everyone was here, Frank, Jag with Dane, Shane with Ros, even Dex and Hammer. As his eyes focused on the scene, he took note of a large table set up with various plates, bowls, and bottles, and a massive barbeque grill standing close to the trailer.
Knox spread his arms with a wide smile as soon as Liv got out of the car. “Ta-dah!”
The bright glow illuminated his face, he wore his hair in a ponytail, and his eyes shone at Liv with glee.
Liv once again glanced at the big table, unsure what this was. The music streaming from a speaker resting on a bench against Dex’s hip didn’t make anything clearer. “Are you… partying?” The without me was silent, because while he would never ban Knox from enjoying himself when he could, but he’d counted on an hour of alone time. He felt numb with disappointment when Knox gave him a tight hug.
“No. We are partying,” Knox said, pulling away enough to look into Liv’s face. “I got you the night off and arranged for everyone to come to ours. I’ve got rabbit on the grill, I made potato mash, and Ezra’s coming with turkey any minute now.”
Liv’s thoughts came to an abrupt halt, and he rested his hands on his hips. “You what? Went behind my back?” After a glance Frank’s way, Liv lowered his voice leaning in. “You know we need all the cash we can get.”
Deep down, Liv welcomed this change, because yes, he missed being able to have fun, but he had obligations. He’d committed to saving Knox at all cost, and couldn’t afford the club thinking twice before giving him work.
Knox's expression soured, and he rolled his eyes as if this wasn't a big deal. "Come on… It's just one night. It won’t change much.”
Not really, because the club paid double for holiday shifts.
Liv nodded toward the trailer. “Can we have a word?”
Disappointment passed over Knox’s features, drawing Liv into the sad depths of his eyes. This was meant to be a nice surprise. And Liv had ruined it by not being happy.
“Sure,” Knox muttered and led the way past their friends. The scent of meat was making Liv salivate, but as desperately as he wanted to relax with his man and friends, the money for Knox’s surgery should take priority over everything else. Was this… sabotage?
Liv let him go inside first and then closed the door behind them, his tongue dry as he stepped into the kitchen area and met Knox’s gaze.
“Why?” He asked as soon as they were alone.
Knox stuffed his hands down his pockets and avoided his gaze. “What do you not like?”
Fuck.
“Look, I can see you thought this was a good idea, but you should have talked to me first. They were going to pay me double for tonight, and now someone else is going to snatch that gig.”
“Yeah, but that’s not the only point of your life, and you’re gonna win the race next month anyway.”
Liv dragged his hands down his face, increasingly antsy, as if fire was climbing up his legs. “It might not be enough. The surgery needs to be a priority, and every bit counts. Not to mention that I might not win,” he added as a sense of doom settled in his chest, making his body heavy as lead.