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)
“No, it’s nothing like that. I was about to have breakfast with Colby. I bailed on him when you called.”
Something about hearing that made August’s heart punch against his chest, made it suddenly feel like it was a little too big to fit inside him. It was silly and such a small thing in many ways, but when had someone wanted to spend time with him that much? When had anyone enjoyed his company the way Clint did and wanted him around over others?
He moved forward until Clint was leaning against the counter and August was blocking him in. Their bodies touched, Clint’s bare stomach against August’s shirt-covered one. “I’m probably supposed to feel bad that you ditched your friend to spend time with me, but I’m not sure that I do.” He smiled.
“Want me all to yourself, do you?”
“Obviously.” August kissed him. “Seriously, though, you didn’t have to do that, and I wouldn’t expect you to do it again.” But it made him feel wanted in a way only Clint seemed to be able to do.
“If I hadn’t done it, you wouldn’t have gotten that spectacular fuck, so we should both be thankful.”
They chuckled, kissed some more, then made sandwiches for lunch. They ate on the back deck and played with the dogs for a while, just talking and being with each other. August was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that this was a thing, that he and Clint were a thing, even if it was secret, they didn’t put a name on it, and he didn’t know if it would last.
“You don’t wear the rubber band anymore.” He brushed his fingers over Clint’s wrist.
“It helped me stay focused, but then I started working with my hands and that helped. I’ve trained myself now not to tune shit out when I shouldn’t. It wasn’t easy, but it worked. My brain was never as good as yours at school stuff.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is, and that’s okay. I’d rather be building things than be able to do science. We all have our strengths. It took me a long time to see that. I was intimidated by you when we were kids because you were so smart. I swear you were like an encyclopedia of animals.”
Hearing that struck August dumb for a second. “How could you have been intimidated by me?” He tangled their fingers together. He liked holding hands with Clint. “God, you were the most amazing person I knew. So strong in your convictions. Everyone liked you. I will never understand why you wanted to be friends with me.”
“How could I not? I don’t think you realize how intrigued I was by you—everything about you. So much heart and strength fit into such a little body. I remember when I used to ask you all sorts of questions just to hear you get excited about things. It made me feel just as entranced by them as you did. It just always felt right…being close to you.”
“It always felt right to me too,” August said softly. “I guess some things are just meant to be.”
“I reckon so.”
Eventually they made it back inside, where they talked some more, as if reliving the past could erase the years they’d missed out on.
“I should probably head out,” August said even though he’d rather have stayed all day. “I need to do some grocery shopping before I pick Reese up at the farm.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
He took Clint’s hand again when they walked and felt a bit juvenile for doing it. They weren’t boyfriends. They were friends who did sex stuff, like Clint had said, but August was never the type who did sex stuff with just anyone. It meant more to him than that. “Sorry,” he said.
“For what?”
Now he felt funny for apologizing. “I don’t know. I’m just…a lot.” He’d been told that before, that he was clingy and needy.
Clint frowned. “A lot sexy? A lot sweet? A lot funny? A lot of hot ass?”
“A lot of hot ass?”
“I wasn’t sure how to word it. I like holding your hand if that’s what you were saying sorry for. I like being close to you.”
He’d thought it before, but how was Clint single? August couldn’t wrap his head around it. “I like being close to you too.”
They made out again by his vehicle. August hadn’t kissed someone this much since he was young.
When he left, he wished like hell he could stay.
And he was smiling…like an idiot…the whole way to the grocery store. Maybe while he shopped too. He knew he needed to chill out and not expect too much, but he was happy, and he couldn’t remember the last time he truly felt that way.
He finished just in time to get to Covington Acres when he was supposed to pick up Reese. Holden was there too, and August parked beside him.