Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“I think I love you too,” her husband Trace added and they all laughed.
“Shane’s babysitting service? Has a nice ring to it,” Ryan teased before taking a slow swallow of his beer.
“I’ll bring your ass with me. It’ll be part of the job description.”
It continued like that the rest of the night. Shane had lived there his whole life. He spent more time at Round Table than he could remember, but none of those times felt like this. Because of Van, yeah, but Ryan, too. And Libby and Trace. Why didn’t he try to make more friends? Why was he always satisfied just being the helpful mechanic who always had a smile for everyone but didn’t count anyone as a real friend?
When another song started Libby set her drink down on the bar. “I want to dance, Trace. It’s been too long since I danced.”
“Then let’s do it.” He set his drink down too before leading his wife to the small dance floor.
Shane knew Van would turn before he did. Knew Van’s mouth would get close to Shane’s ear before it did, too. “Do you feel comfortable dancing with me here?”
“Yeah,” Shane replied, his voice raspy with need. He wanted to dance with Van here. Wanted to mark Van as his, even if it was only for a short time. Van set his beer down. Shane had stopped drinking a while before to make sure he was okay to drive home when it was time.
Van pulled away from Shane and stood up. He nodded toward the dance floor with a cocky, little grin and was like a magnet, drawing Shane to his feet. “I’ll be back in a minute,” he told Ryan, but then added, “You’ll be okay,” when he suddenly felt guilty.
“Um…yes? Why wouldn’t I be okay?” His brows drew together, making Shane feel silly.
He let Van lead him to the dance floor. Van wrapped his arms around Shane and Shane did the same as they moved together to the slower country song.
“You feel good.” Van ran his hands up and down Shane’s back.
There was a couple who gave them a dirty look before walking away, but Shane ignored it. Didn’t give a fuck what they thought. This was his life and this was where he lived and he wouldn’t quietly hide that for anyone anymore. “You feel good too.”
They danced like that through two songs. It was close to the end of the second one when Van’s nose nudged his neck, when he nuzzled there and then put his mouth to Shane’s ear again. “I want you to come to LA with me.”
Shane froze. His spine went straight and he tried to pull back but Van wouldn’t let him.
“Why would you say that? You know I can’t leave.”
“I’m not asking you to move with me. I’m not saying it has to be right now. I just want to know it’s a possibility. That you visiting and spending time with me there is a possibility. I’m not ready to walk away from you. I can come back and see you and you can go to LA to see me. Just a weekend here or there.”
“Van…” discomfort tied Shane’s stomach in knots. “Let’s go outside.”
He worked his jaw in frustration. He was pissed at Van for asking. Pissed at Van for doing it there. Pissed at Van for having to leave. Pissed at Van for making Shane want to say yes. Pissed that he wanted more.
Shane worked his way through the crowd, Van beside him. Shane sucked in a deep breath when they got outside, but didn’t stop moving. Not until they were at the back of the building where it was quiet and they were alone. There was an alley behind them and a light there as well.
“You know I understand your situation, Shane. Jesus, I respect the hell out of you for who you are. But you deserve a life too. And your mom wants that. Come once, and if you hate it you don’t have to go back.”
“What about my mom?” he asked. Did Van forget she might need him?
“You know there are people who will help. Her knitting friends. Hell, there are three people in that bar we just left who I know would help too. I’m not ready to walk away from you,” Van said again and Shane cursed.
He wasn’t ready to walk away from Van either.
“What happened today? With your mom?” Because something had changed. It had come on too suddenly for there not to be a reason.
Van shrugged. “Nothing and everything. I went in and signed papers with the lawyer. I just can’t keep trying. I deserve better. She’ll never accept me for who I am. She will always believe he did the best he can by me and…I can’t keep trying, Shane.” He laughed and said, “I like saying your name.”