Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 140629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Katie groaned. “Oh come on. You know what it is. Tapestries, rugs, saturated colors, long, floaty skirts…”
Caspian made sure to appear bewildered. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She huffed in frustration, but Lionel stepped in to cover for the faux pas. “You done with the fire pit, Gunner?”
“Yeah, all done.”
“You’re sure you checked it twice?”
Gunner frowned. “I’m not—” He took a deep breath. “Yes, I checked twice.”
Caspian was done with the mean kids attitude. “Gunner’s reliable. I’m sure it’s all done. Can I take my friend out for lunch yet, or is there something else you need him for today?”
“Oh. You know each other?” Katie straightened with, and Caspian couldn’t help the satisfaction he felt at the terror in her eyes. He could only wonder what other shit Gunner had been put through so far.
“Oh yes, we’ve known each other since high school. Gunner’s giving me boxing lessons,” Caspian said and glanced at Lionel, who stood still, with a fake smile.
“I think we will be wrapping up for the day anyway.”
“Fantastic. You up for some food, Gun?” Caspian asked, more than ready to rub their friendship into both those clowns’ faces.
“Yeah, starving.” The warm grin made Caspian want to kiss him, cuddle, and then stuff his mouth full of dick. How on earth did Gunner manage to look cute in his own body was impossible to tell, but his smiles made Caspian’s heart skip a beat every day.
Katie’s grin was so uncomfortably wide it almost reached her ears. “You should have said! Do you two want some cake samples to go? We’ve got orange, fennel, and vanilla, all nut-free,” she babbled as if to make up for her blunder.
“Sounds delicious. We’d love to have some,” Caspian said and, despite Lionel still standing close, rubbed Gunner’s arm.
There was a moment of silence when Katie rushed off, but once she was gone Lionel cleared his throat. “To be perfectly honest, I didn’t know what boho was until I got into this business. It’s more of a girl thing. But it kind of goes with the barn wedding and all that.”
So now he was trying to blame all this embarrassment and low-key bullying of Gunner on Katie. Staying classy, Lionel. “Maybe.”
“The rustic wedding thing is so 2014 anyway. But the bride’s in her forties, so that’s probably why she chose this theme.”
“I don’t know. I think it’s a nice style. Very warm and inviting,” Caspian answered, to make Lionel even more uncomfortable. Was the guy sweating yet?
“You’d wear burlap for your wedding?” Gunner snorted and poked Caspian with his elbow.
Lionel laughed. “I’m sure his mother wouldn’t allow it. Any husband on the horizon, Caspian?”
Caspian stilled, because Lionel had kicked his feet from under him without knowing. And the worst thing was that while he’d never thought of marriage or commitment, there was only one name that passed through his mind when he heard the question.
“I would consider it if someone offered to carry me over the threshold of a nice barn, like this one,” he said and smiled at Gunner, freezing when their eyes met. Had he said too much?
Katie dispersed the tension by dashing toward them with a big paper bag filled with tiny boxes of cake samples. “Enjoy! The lemon and rosemary cupcakes are out of this world.”
“See you tomorrow?” Lionel smiled at Gunner, squeezing the clipboard a bit too tightly. “You’ve done amazing today.”
Of course he did. Here was to hoping Gunner’s job would be more pleasant from now on. Caspian was extremely polite when saying his goodbyes, to keep Katie and Lionel on their toes, and then led Gunner back toward the parking lot.
“Hope that teaches them a lesson. You don’t have to know everything from the get-go,” Caspian said as they approached the Subaru.
Gunner shook his head. “It was a good day of work, but they don’t like me.”
“They’re snobs. Just ignore them as long as they’re being civil. And they should be, from now on,” Caspian said and opened the door for Gunner before stalling when he realized what he’d done. Would Gunner notice?
Would he like it?
Or would he hate it?
He definitely hesitated and gave the door a prolonged look, but then he sat in the passenger's seat. In a way, Caspian was glad for the new car, because the old one was uncomfortably tight for Gunner.
“You look… good in the suit.”
“Yeah? You like it?” Caspian asked, holding the door open, because as long as he wasn’t in the driver’s seat, something off-plan could still happen, and all he wanted was to lean inside and give Gunner the kind of kiss he used to when Gunner had been a sweet, tiny thing. “Seeing you in my body made me rethink my style choices.”
Gunner snorted. “Has it now? I don’t see you wearing lilac sneakers.”
“Well, they’re not me, but the way you dressed made me see wearing clothes that are actually my size makes me look better,” Caspian said and finally shut the door before climbing into the driver’s side.