Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“In a few minutes. What about you? What are you up to tonight?”
“Not much,” he lied. “Might hang out with a friend, but that’s all.” The thing was, Shane was always careful what he said around her. It wasn’t that he cared if she knew Van would be there, but if she needed him, she wouldn’t call if she thought she was interrupting. Not only that, she would get stars in her eyes where Van was concerned. She wanted so much for him to be happy there, partially because of her own guilt he assumed, that she would read something more into it. Then, when Van left, she’d feel worse because Shane was alone again.
It was all such a vicious fucking cycle.
He wouldn’t hide Van, but he wasn’t announcing that shit, either.
“Do you want a few cookies?”
“Is that a question?” Shane grabbed a plate and put a few cookies on it. When he heard a car door, he grinned and said, “I’ll go. Don’t you crazy kids have too much fun.”
His mom rolled her eyes before heading to the front door. Shane went left through the back as he always did, then made the trek back to his side of the property.
When he got inside he realized there was no real space for Van to paint if he wanted to. Shane frowned before he took two of the chairs from the dining room table and put them in the garage. He pushed the table against the wall and into a corner. It wasn’t as though he used the damn thing very often or even had enough people over to need four chairs.
He turned for the door when he heard a knock. “Come in,” Shane called out, because really, there was zero chance of it being anyone other than Van and if it was, it was someone from town, which wouldn’t matter either.
The door pushed open and Van’s short, dark curls peeked around the corner first. “Hi—oh, what are you doing? You moving on me or something?” he asked. He had a duffle and computer bag in his hands.
“Yeah. Ditching town but thought I’d move my dining room table to the corner first,” Shane teased. “I was just looking around and realized if you want to paint, there isn’t much room for you here. I didn’t make much, but hopefully it will help.”
Van frowned, which Shane returned, wondering what was wrong. “You did that for me?”
“Move a table? Yes. It was an incredible amount of work. I’m not sure how you’ll ever be able to repay me.”
Van laughed, set his bags down and walked over. “I have an idea of how I could start….”
“Sucking my dick?” Shane asked as Van’s hands went to his waist.
“Nope.”
“Shoving yours in my mouth? I don’t feel like I’ve blown you enough.”
Van nuzzled his neck and kissed the skin there. “Nope. Not that either.”
“You’re going to fuck me? Give me your hole again?” Shane wrapped his arm around Van and cupped his butt. “I really want to eat your ass too. The things I can do with my tongue….”
“Getting closer,” Van replied then nipped at Shane. He slid his mouth along Shane’s jaw then pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “I brought you something else to eat instead…pizza.”
Shane playfully shuddered. “Pepperoni?”
“Is there any other kind?”
“Sausage,” Shane added with a grin.
“How did you know?”
He had no idea if Van was kidding or not. Still, he said, “I think I love you.”
“But wait…that’s not all…I got more beer too.” He kissed Shane again.
“Marry me,” Shane replied and they both laughed. Fuck, Van was fun. “So where is my pizza and beer?”
“In the car. Help me carry it all in.”
They went outside. Shane grabbed the pizza and Van said, “Can you get the beer too? I want to grab my easel and stuff. You made me room; I want to use it.”
Worry clawed at Shane’s mind because he realized he wanted Van to use it as well. Wanted to see Van in his element and maybe let Van see Shane in his. “Yeah, sure. No problem.”
They hauled the items into the house. “Your mom’s place is hopping over there.”
“Yeah, a bunch of regular party animals,” Shane replied as he went into the kitchen and grabbed a couple plates. “She’s having a good day though. It’s always nice when she has good days.”
Van looked up at him from where he was putting up his easel in the far corner of the dining room. “I’m glad to hear it.” He gave Shane a smile then that was so goddamn real he could feel it. “I printed her pictures off for her today.” He pulled a manila envelope from his bag and set it down. “I was going to frame them, but I wasn’t sure if she had like…I don’t know, a theme or something in her house and I didn’t want to fuck it up.”