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)
“I paint and draw.” Reese spun one of the windmills. “Can I do this? Will you teach me? I mean, not to make stuff like this. I know that takes a lot of practice, but…actually, you don’t have to. It’s okay.”
Clint didn’t even know Reese and he could see the war raging inside him. He wanted to learn but didn’t want to get close to Clint. When his gaze darted to his dad and back, Clint also realized he didn’t want to let August down either.
“I’d love to if you’re interested. No obligation, though. Just something to keep in mind if you want. Welding is a bit of a process. You also have to be real careful because it’s easy to get hurt, but I’ve taught a few classes for it too, so we can make it work.” It took Clint years to get where he was, but he could teach Reese some of the basics.
“I’ll think about it,” Reese replied, and August squeezed his shoulder in what Clint thought was support.
“Sounds good to me. Y’all hungry? I’ll get the grill going.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” August asked as they headed out of the shop.
“Nope. The two of you are guests. Just keep me company, is all.”
Clint looked forward to that maybe more than he should.
CHAPTER SEVEN
August
“Dad fell in the lake?” Reese asked around a bite of hamburger.
“He sure did,” Clint replied, giving Reese all August’s secrets.
“In my defense, the dock was slippery as hell,” August countered.
“Then how come I didn’t fall in when you tried to drag me with you?” Clint teased, the memory clear as day in August’s head. It was the summer after seventh grade, and they’d decided to go fishing. What Clint didn’t know was that August fell because Clint took his shirt off and August had been distracted with Clint’s chest. He’d already been more filled out than August was, and he’d been so busy gawking, he’d tripped over his shoelaces and tumbled right in. On reflex, he’d reached for Clint but missed.
“You have to give me all the dirt on Dad.” Reese took another bite. August loved seeing him like this. Somehow, while Clint had been preparing the grill and then cooking, Reese had loosened up. He’d forgotten to keep enforced that wall he’d spent two years building. It was a beautiful sight, and he couldn’t help hoping he saw a lot more of it from now on. August had a feeling Reese would like Clint. There was something so welcoming about him. He drew people in and made them feel comfortable. At least he always had with August.
“Absolutely,” Clint replied.
“I don’t know about all the dirt.” August cocked a brow at his friend, and Clint shot his gaze back and forth between August and Reese.
“I don’t know what to do,” Clint fake-whispered loud enough for August to hear him. “I’ll tell you later.”
“Note to self: don’t leave the two of you alone together,” August teased, but really he was thrilled. Sometimes Reese had such a hard time letting people in, and August worried he would miss out because of it. Like with the welding. There was no doubt in his mind that his son wanted to learn, but he might let his stubbornness get in the way of that. August hoped that since he was loosening up around Clint, he’d allow himself to have that pleasure. August wanted him to see that regardless of August’s friendships or whether he got into a relationship again, his life would always include Reese.
They talked and joked for a little while longer, Clint spilling more tea on August, as Reese sometimes put it. Reese got to the point where he was telling some stories too—about himself and about August. Apparently it was “pick on August” day, but he didn’t mind.
When Midnight brought a toy up to Clint and the other two dogs descended on him, Reese offered, “I’ll play with them.”
“Absolutely. Let me know if they tire you out, and I’ll take over. I don’t know about Butter, but Sweetie and Midnight can play for hours.” Clint tossed the ball to Reese, who caught it.
August watched as his son jogged down the steps of Clint’s back deck and into the yard. “He really does love animals,” August said.
“Like his dad.” August turned to watch Clint, who was watching Reese. “He’s a good kid. You’re doing a good job.”
“You ever want them? Kids, I mean?” He wasn’t sure why he was asking other than the fact that it surprised him Clint was alone. He was good with people, so caring that August expected him to have a family of his own. Or at least a partner.
“It’s not something I thought about. I can’t say why that is…maybe because I’ve never been married or in love?”
“Never thought about it at all?” slipped out of August’s mouth.