Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
He started to walk away when I said, “Thanks.”
“It’s just a chair.”
“Not for the chair, Cranky Campbell.” He shook his head as though he didn’t know what to do with me. “For letting me be here. It means a lot to me.”
Beau’s brows knitted together as he took me in. There was something different in the way he looked at me, in the intensity of his whiskey-colored eyes.
“Beau!” Kenny called again, snapping Beau out of whatever trance he’d been in.
“It’s fine, Cocky Carmichael. It’s not a big deal.”
But it was, and I thought we both knew it.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Beau
Beau watches Ashton, but I don’t think he knows it. Ashton watches Beau even more. It’s weird. ~ Love, Kenny
Every time I glanced Ash’s way during the game, his eyes were firmly glued on me or the players. He wasn’t like other people in the stands, who looked at their phones or seemed distracted. Hell, he’d hardly sat down the whole time, energy radiating off him in a way that was nearly visible in his movement, his pacing, in the way he fidgeted.
I hadn’t expected him to be as into it as he was. Hell, I also never would have thought he would want to go to the game or that I’d walk into Mom’s shop and see him there again, sitting with my brother.
When we’d won, he’d whooped so loud, a few people looked at him, and he’d lowered the hat on his head again.
My eyes kept finding him as we thanked the other team and celebrated with friends and family. Ash stayed back, this enigma I couldn’t figure out anymore, and I wondered if I’d ever really known who Ashton Carmichael was. I wondered if he had the answer to that question himself.
It wasn’t until the building emptied of everyone other than Kenny and me that Ash came out. “Dude, that was such an incredible game! That catch at the end, Kenny? Felt like I was watching Beau out there.”
Kenny’s smile lit up the damn building, and I felt my defenses softening even more toward Ash.
Kenny began speaking so fast, some of the words got tangled together. That was one thing the speech therapy hadn’t helped as much with. Sometimes he just got so excited, it was hard for his mouth to keep up. Still, he made me proud every day.
“Slow down, Kenny,” I reminded him.
He took a few deep breaths, then asked, “Do I really remind you of Beau?”
My heart clenched at that. He always placed me on a pedestal I was damn sure I didn’t deserve to be on.
“You do,” Ash told him. “Maybe even better.”
When he threw me a grin, I found myself saying, “We’re having pizza at Mickey’s. It’s a bit of a tradition. I’m sure you’re busy, but if you’re not, you’re welcome to join us.”
“Well, you are my ride and all,” Ash replied. “I guess I kind of have to go.”
“Guess you do,” I added.
“But, Beau, Ashton doesn’t have to go. I want him to, but if he can’t, we can always drop him off at his car.” He cocked his head as though he was working through why we would think Ash had no choice but to go with us.
“You trying to get rid of me?” Ash teased, putting an arm around Kenny’s shoulders.
“No,” Kenny answered simply, but I was caught by how easily they took to each other. Ash treated him the way he would anyone, didn’t talk to him as though he were a child, and didn’t ignore him as though he didn’t matter. Many people did both, but not Ash.
My memory flitted back to that day when Ash had helped me teach Kenny how to play in the park…and then to that night, before the kiss, when he’d asked about my brother. Even back then he’d treated Kenny with more respect than most people, hadn’t he? I’d never given him enough credit for that. I’d always just seen the things I didn’t like about Ash when I looked at him…well, that and the fact that I was pretty sure that even before I realized I was gay, part of me knew I’d wanted Ashton Carmichael. “Come on, you two knuckleheads, let’s get out of here.”
“Knuckleheads? Knuckleheads? Did you hear what he called us, Kenny?” Ash feigned offense. “That’s why I call him Cranky Campbell.”
“Cranky Campbell?” Kenny replied, chuckling sweetly.
“Oh, no. Don’t tell me the two of you are going to start ganging up on me with that name.”
“Guess you better be extra nice to me, huh, CC?” Ash teased.
“I’m not talking to you.”
“But you just did,” Kenny replied, and the three of us laughed again.
“I’m leaving without you guys.” I went for the door, Kenny and Ash behind me. We tossed the equipment into the back of my truck and then made our way to Mickey’s.