Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
He waited for Vince to make some kind of comment. He’d never actually said those words to anyone before. He’d hinted, or played it off like he hadn’t found the right person but that it was in the cards for him. How could he be a Covington and not want marriage and kids?
But Vince didn’t look or act surprised. He didn’t give Colby a hard time about it or try to change his mind. He just said, “Good point. Maybe we can go skydiving instead.”
Colby barked out a laugh. “You just went from us getting married to jumping out of a plane?” He knew Vince was joking, but he liked the thought of Vince still being in Harmony in six years. Liked thinking of them still being friends, and Vince wanting to plan something with him so far in the future.
“I’m a fickle man, what can I say?” Vince got out of the truck, and Colby did too.
When they met behind it, Colby wrapped an arm around Vince’s shoulders. “No, you’re not. You’re about as steady as they come.” Not for the first time, he silently acknowledged how thankful he was to have Vince in his life. How glad he was that Vince had moved to Briar County and Colby had asked the man to live with him. Everything was better and felt more fun with Vince around.
Another vehicle came down the driveway, and he turned just as the Jeep parked.
“Hey, Uncle Colby!” Wyatt, Roe’s son, greeted him. Sean, Holden’s nephew, got out of the passenger seat. Scout, Grady’s nephew, and Reese appeared from the back.
“God, stop. I can’t get used to seeing you drive. It makes me feel old,” Colby replied.
“You are old!” Sean teased, and Colby ran after him, catching the kid and giving him a playful noogie. Sean was family to him, just like Wyatt was.
“Take it back, you brat.”
All the kids laughed, and Colby let him go.
“He could have taken you, but we have to respect our elders,” Reese teased.
“What are we going to do with this generation?” Colby pointed to them, but really, he thought they were fucking great. They were so different from when he was a kid. While Scout used he/him pronouns, he didn’t stick to gender stereotypes. He played sports and liked to dance. Sometimes he wore dresses, and others, he’d be in what people considered more typical boy’s clothing. It wasn’t odd to see him playing football in a skirt or wearing a basketball jersey with painted nails. Colby couldn’t imagine someone being that brave when he was young, and then when he looked at the other boys, how accepting they were, how no one batted an eye to gender nonconformity or being queer; hell, they made him prouder than Colby could say.
When Wyatt’s phone rang, he said, “Oh, it’s Bianca. I’ll meet you guys inside,” then headed back to his vehicle to talk to his girlfriend. The whole thing was new. It was Wyatt’s first one from what Colby knew.
“You’re here early this summer,” Colby said to Scout as the rest of them walked toward the house.
“I’m going to stay the whole summer with Uncle Grady and Deacon. I like it here better.” He glanced at Reese, then looked away. “I want to be here for the wedding too.”
Roe and Holden were getting married toward the end of summer. Colby figured the whole town would shut down for the occasion.
“Well, you know we’re all glad to have you,” Colby replied.
The house was packed like always—Roe and Holden, his sister, Jackie, and her family, his brother Dennis and his family. Wyatt’s mama, Lindsey, was already here with her boyfriend, Larry. Holden’s sister, Marilee, and Ozzy, a guy she was dating. Plus, his parents, of course. Deke, Grady, Clint, and August weren’t here, but that wasn’t a surprise since this was more a Covington family thing. Sean and Wyatt must have asked to bring Reese and Scout.
“Hey, brother.” Holden hugged Vince, having seen them first.
“Good to see you, babe.” Vince kissed his cheek.
Colby shifted uncomfortably, unsure why. Probably because being at family functions now did this to him. He wasn’t proud of it. It made him feel like shit. He was surrounded by the most loving people in the world, yet they made him feel insecure.
“Hey, Colb. You keeping him in line?” Holden asked Colby.
“Someone’s gotta do it.”
They all chuckled.
Cousins ran around the large farmhouse, playing. Wyatt was the oldest. Siblings and spouses talked. It was like a party every time they were all together. Colby stayed engaged like he should, but damn, sometimes his own family was overwhelming to him.
Everyone chatted and visited for a while. Dennis and Dad were talking to him and Vince about some of the crops on the farm and things that needed to be done. Once dinner started, his mama had a rule about not talking work when they were at the table, so Dennis and Dad tried to get it out of the way now.