Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Look, there’s a cardinal.” Reese pointed to a red bird. “Isn’t that the North Carolina state bird?”
“Yep.”
From there they talked about animals and art classes, how August liked his new job, and the snake Reese had found in the bushes beside the house. “It wasn’t poisonous,” Reese was saying. “Just a regular old garter snake.”
“We need to watch Butter. There are copperheads too around here.”
Eventually they made it to the end of the trail, where there were picnic tables for people to relax. August got the food out while Reese gave Butter more water.
He needed to talk to Reese about Clint, but he worried it would make them argue again. They’d had a good day, one of the best they’d had in a while despite the little hiccups. But he really did believe Reese would enjoy learning how to weld, and he thought Reese would like Clint as well. And the more they got out and met people, the more they made a home here, the happier Reese would end up being.
They’d just finished eating, when August said, “Hey, listen. Clint was showing me some of the work he does. He’s a welder, but he’s also an artist, like you. He makes really cool designs out of metal. He invited us over for a barbecue on Saturday, and he said he’d show you his shop and could maybe start teaching you how to weld one day if you’re interested.”
“Dude, is that why you asked me to come out here? So you could tell me about your boyfriend?”
“What? No. First of all, I don’t appreciate the tone. You can be upset, but you still need to speak to me with respect. Second, I asked you out here because I want to spend time with you. And third, Clint isn’t my boyfriend. He’s my friend.”
Reese shoved up from the table and stomped away, toward the edge of the rest area, looking at the hill in the distance. August gave him a minute, looking at his back, at the way his head angled down. When his arm lifted and he wiped his face, it felt like his own heart was cracking apart. Jesus, he wanted life to be easy for Reese. He wanted him to be happy and carefree.
August stood up and walked over to him. “I love you, Reese. More than anything in this world.”
“Everything is changing,” he finally said, voice cracking. “I thought…when you and Pop first separated, I thought you would get back together. And then when I realized you weren’t…I was just so angry.”
August wondered if that was when he started to get into trouble. “I think that’s a normal reaction.”
“But then you made us come here, and I really realized…” He swiped at his eyes. “Now Pop moved his boyfriend in, and he never wants to see me. And you’re probably going to do the same with Clint, not wanting me around either.”
Pain tightened a fist around his heart. “What? No. I will never, ever choose someone else over you, do you hear me? I will never leave you, and I will never not want you around. Your pop loves you too, and I know he wants to spend time with you.”
“But I’m not even your real—”
“Yes, you are. You’re our son. It would be impossible to be any more our son than you are. Don’t you ever, ever doubt that. You’re the light of my life, and I’m thankful for you every single day. I already told you I’m going to stalk you your whole life. If that doesn’t tell you I love you…”
Reese chuckled softly.
“I will never walk away from you. I will never not want you,” August reiterated.
He was surprised when Reese turned and threw himself at him, his arms wrapped tightly around him, Reese’s hands fisted in August’s shirt. August returned the hug. He couldn’t remember the last time they’d held each other this way, if ever.
Reese’s whole body vibrated with his cries, tears wetting August’s shirt and inspiring his own.
“Shh. I got you. I’m here, kiddo, and I’m never going anywhere.” And he was going to fucking kill Lewis for making Reese doubt him.
He didn’t know how long they stood there like that, hugging and crying, Butter nudging herself between their legs, wanting to be close and show her love too.
Eventually, Reese’s hold on him loosened.
“I just feel so angry and sad and like…like I’m not good enough. Like no one wants me.”
Christ, how could his son have been feeling these things and August didn’t see it? What kind of father was he not to know? Not to be able to fix it? “You are so loved, and so wanted. I spent my whole life wanting you, and the day we got you was the happiest day of my life. You are enough, do you hear me?” He definitely needed to find someone for Reese to talk to.