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)
He couldn’t imagine it, having the kind of relationship with his own mom, that Van had with his.
Shane got out of his truck and went for the house. When he opened the door, Van was in the dining room, working on the painting he’d started the day before.
Shane studied it as he got closer. The men now looked as though they were made of stone. There were small cracks and dents as though their skin was armor that had taken a beating.
“It’s us,” Shane said. He’d thought so last night but knew for certain now.
“Cocky.”
“Be real.”
“It is.” Van put his paintbrush in a container of water and swirled it around. “I should have told you I would be here.”
“You know I don’t give a shit about that.”
“I know.” He set the container down and gave Shane a smile. “Let’s go out tonight. I want to go out with you.”
A small twinge of excitement sparked at Shane’s nerve endings. He could use that. He thought they both could.
“Yeah, okay. Ryan actually asked about grabbing a beer tonight but I wasn’t sure what you wanted to do.” His words sounded so domestic…so committed…when he knew he and Van couldn’t be.
“I’m game. Call and invite him.” Van stuck his finger in gray paint and walked over. When he reached Shane, he swiped it across Shane’s forehead.
“What the hell?” Shane jerked his head away but his cheeks pulled back in a smile. “What are you doing?”
“Marking you as mine.”
Shane rolled his eyes but at the same time his palms got sweaty and his heart ran wild, like it had been locked up for his whole life and was finally free.
“I’m serious, Shane. I want to try and find a way to make this work. If it doesn’t, at least we know we tried.”
He didn’t see how it could…though there was a small echo in his brain that said, try, try, try. He opened his mouth to reply but Van put a swipe of paint on his cheek this time. “Shh. We’ll talk about it later. Tonight, we’re just going to have a good time.”
“You’re getting awfully bossy all of a sudden.”
“Does it get you hard?” Van waggled his eyebrows.
Shane held up his hand and used his thumb and first finger to mark an inch. “Maybe a little.”
“Guess I’ll have to try harder.”
Shane washed his hands while Van cleaned up his paint and then the two of them made a quick dinner. It wasn’t anything special. Just some fried chicken and a salad. They washed dishes then showered together. Van’s mark on Shane disappeared, and he found himself oddly sad by that.
It was around nine that night when they walked into Round Table, and the place was packed. Music flooded the speakers and bodies flooded the room. There was dancing and laughing. “I think everyone in town somehow knows when you’re going out and they make sure they’re here too,” Shane said close to Van’s ear.
“Long as you’re here.” Van shrugged.
“You’re being awfully sweet tonight.” He had a feeling he knew why. That Van would be leaving soon. That he didn’t have a reason to stay. Maybe it was their goodbye.
“I’m always sweet.” Van reached for Shane’s hand and then pulled back, probably because he wasn’t sure how Shane would feel about it in Last Chance.
But the truth was, he didn’t give a shit. He was so fucking tired of not having what everyone else in this town had a chance to have, and he was going to grab on to it.
He threaded his fingers through Van’s and led them up to the bar. Ryan was there and, amazingly, had two seats by him open.
“Hey.” He nodded at Shane, then Van. “Glad you guys could make it.”
“I really fucking needed it,” Van told him and Shane frowned. He should have asked Van how things went at his mom’s. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t.
He put his hand at the back of Van’s neck and leaned in. “You good?”
Van nudged Shane’s cheek with his nose. “Yeah, I’m good. We’ll talk later.”
Van ordered them all a round of shots. They drank and laughed. Libby showed up unexpectedly with her husband and joined them at the bar. Van gave up his seat for her. Shane hooked his finger in Van’s belt loop and tugged so he stood between Shane’s legs, leaning back on him.
There were a few stares around the bar—people shocked mostly, but no one said anything. He just continued to laugh and talk with his friends.
“I can’t believe we were able to get a babysitter! This is the first time we’ve gone out together in six months! Neither of our parents are real hands-on grandparents,” Libby said after burning through her first shot.
“Hey, I don’t mind helping out if you need it, Libby. You just ask.”
“Oh my God. I love you, Shane Wallace,” Libby replied.