Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 103918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 520(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 520(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
"Because you should've called me!" I snapped impatiently. "What if something had happened? I told you to call me if you needed anything! It's been a week and I haven't heard a single thing from you!" I wanted to call back the last sentence as soon as I said it. If he read it the wrong way—
"Maybe I didn't call because I figured if you wanted to talk to me, you would've actually stopped by to say hi instead of sneaking around and doing things behind my back."
I opened my mouth to argue with him but before I could say anything he added, "And don't play innocent with me, Gideon. I'm blind, not deaf. This truck of yours doesn’t exactly have a stealth mode."
"You heard me?" I asked.
"Yeah, I heard you. I heard you moving around the porch and the only thing I can think of is that you were restocking the log pile because I checked and it's not very big, yet I never ran out of wood all week. And when the power went out, I hadn't even made it down to the front door before I heard you pulling up. I waited each time for you to come say hi, but you didn't. So I figured that was the way you wanted it, and I only called you today because I didn't want to risk my health. Believe it or not, Gideon, I'm a grown man and I don't need to take this shit from some guy I barely even know. I have four older brothers who have the overprotective thing down pat. But with them, at least I know they do it because they love me, not out of obligation or because they feel sorry for me."
Before I could even process Lex's tirade, he was reaching for the door handle. I automatically snagged him by the arm to keep him from getting out of the truck. "Where are you going? You said you needed a ride."
"Don't bother. I'll figure something else out. Sorry to have troubled you." Lex tugged his arm, but I found it impossible to release him. He was right. My reaction had been over the top.
"I'm sorry, Lex. You're right, I overreacted." I could tell that my apology had fallen on deaf ears when Lex continued to try to escape my hold on him. I knew that if he got out of the truck, I’d never get a chance to talk to him again. He'd found the courage to call me and ask me for help, and the second I'd arrived to give it, I’d jumped down his throat. I didn't blame him for wanting to get away from me. "Wait," I said desperately. Instead of hanging on to Lex's coat, I slid my hand down and grabbed his. "Just wait, please," I murmured.
Thankfully, Lex stilled, though he didn't relax at all.
"Look, I just… I’ve been worried about you all week, but I didn't want to hover. And I…"
"You what?" Lex asked. I wasn't sure, but his voice seemed a little softer now.
"I just don't know what to make of this," I admitted.
"Make of what? I’m sorry, I don't understand."
"This," I said in frustration as I motioned between us. I let out a muffled curse. When was I going to remember that I needed to find a better way of communicating with this man since he couldn't see my hand gestures and body language? The idea of having to use my words to explain what was going on in my muddled mind was daunting. "Us," I said. Then I realized how inappropriate that word sounded, so I clarified, "It's been a long time since I've had to do this with someone."
Lex's hand tightened on mine just a little and instead of leaning away from me like he was ready to jump out of the truck, he actually seemed to lean more in my direction. "What are you trying to do, Gideon?" he asked.
"Be your friend!" I snapped impatiently. "I don't know if you even want to be that, but if you do, you should know that I suck at it. I've spent the last two years alone for a reason and I like it that way."
I knew I wasn't making any sense, but I already felt like an idiot for what I'd said. If I opened my mouth again, more shit would spill out and I already felt exposed enough as it was. It was the exact reason I'd worked so hard to keep the people of Fisher Cove at arm’s length when I’d returned to the small town.
With Lex, I didn't run that same risk because he didn't know about my past and I intended to keep it that way. Admittedly, I had some kind of strange connection to the younger man, but maybe I just needed to let that run its course. My mind obviously wasn't going to let me just forget about Lex, so it made sense to at least keep up some kind of relationship with him so I would know that he was safe. Then maybe I'd at least get some fucking sleep at night.