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)
So that was exactly what they did. Clint and Reese changed out of their welding gear, cleaned up a bit, and then the three of them rode in August’s vehicle to a little Mexican restaurant in Everett. It was one of Clint’s favorite spots, and he was excited to take them there.
They laughed and talked, discussing their upcoming camping trip and Reese heading to Orlando. Once they had their bellies full of tacos, they were able to walk to Sundae’s Best from there.
The ice cream parlor was busy, the way it always was in the summertime, people from all over Briar County, and hell, the state, coming to treat themselves to Deke’s creations. The line went out the door, so they got at the end and waited.
“Wow, people clearly like his ice cream,” August said.
“Psst,” Clint heard from behind him, and turned around to see Scout waiting at the outdoor eating area of Deke’s place. He was sitting on the wooden railing of a raised deck, a new build Grady had added. Scout had on a backward ball cap, his dark hair sticking out from under it, a dirt smudge under his right eye, and he was wearing a pair of basketball shorts and a tee.
“Oh, hey. What’s up?” Reese said as Scout jumped down.
“Nothin’. I asked Uncle Grady if we could come down when you said y’all were coming. Deke was already workin’, and even though they live together, Uncle Grady will take any excuse to be with Deacon, so he said yes.”
They chuckled.
“Love will do that to you,” August said, his gaze flickering to Clint, and Clint swore it nearly stopped his heart. It could have been a coincidence, of course, using that word and looking at him, but Christ, he hoped not.
“Yeah, whatever guy I end up with one day has his work cut out for him. After seeing Uncle Grady and Deacon, I’m not accepting anything less than a fairy tale.” Scout grinned, proud of himself.
“Good for you,” Clint replied.
“I’ve been told I’m a bit of a handful. I’m okay with that. Are y’all gonna have Scout’s Summer? Deacon named it for me.”
“I am,” Reese replied.
“It’s like an orange creamsicle but with Deacon’s special twist, because duh, Deke is awesome and I am too.”
“I think that might be the truest statement I’ve ever heard.” Clint loved seeing Scout come into his own and being so proud of himself at a young age. If it hadn’t been for August, he wondered how long it would have taken him to come to terms with his bisexuality.
Grady came out a few minutes later and visited with them while they were in line. They all ended up ordering Scout’s Summer because how could they not after his endorsement? Things slowed down enough that Deacon was able to sit at one of the outdoor tables with Grady, Clint, and August—Scout and Reese in a corner on the railing with their backs to them, feet hanging over.
“They got close fast,” Grady said softly.
“They’re texting all the time,” Deke added.
“I was wondering if it was just me who noticed that. I didn’t know for sure that was who Reese was always messaging, but I figured it was,” August replied.
Clint watched August while he watched Reese and Scout. “It happens that way sometimes. You just meet someone and click.” Since the boys had their backs to them, he reached over and brushed his thumb over August’s cheek.
“You guys met when you were kids?” Deacon asked, and Clint dropped his hand, he and August alternating as they told the story.
Deacon’s voice was thick with emotion when he said, “Love is kinda like a North Carolina storm. Sometimes you know it’s coming, and sometimes you get stuck right in the middle when it hits you out of the blue. All you can do is stand there and soak it in, let it nurture you and help you grow.”
Grady wrapped an arm around Deke and kissed him. “How did I have any choice in falling when he says things like that?”
Clint figured he didn’t have any choice in falling for August either, and he was okay with that. He wished he could hold him the way Grady was doing with Deacon, that finally, after a whole lifetime, he could claim August as his.
“Reese is a good kid,” Grady added.
“Thank you,” August replied. “So is Scout.”
“I adore the little shit,” Grady said, and they all laughed.
They hung out for a little while longer before Clint, August, and Reese were on their way to drop Clint off at home, and like always, he hated for the night to end.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
August
They’d gone to a lake with a camping area outside of Asheville.
The first day they set up their tent and the rest of camp, before doing some exploring. They went swimming in the lake, cooked dinner on the fire, had s’mores, then played board games at the picnic table.