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)
“Hey. That’s not appropriate,” August scolded, even though he hadn’t liked Zachary either.
“He’s right, though,” Lewis said. “Zachary was a dick.” Because of course Lewis would fall right back into cool-dad mode, leaving August to be the bad guy. He shot Lewis a look that said he wasn’t happy, but then Lewis added, “He slept with his ex.”
Guilt twisted him up. He was irritated with Lewis, but he hadn’t wanted him to get hurt. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.”
“Eh. I should have known. I think I got distracted by the thought of a younger man being into me.”
August could see that. He and Lewis were different that way. But Lewis suddenly having more time for Reese made a lot more sense now. He was feeling shitty about Zachary and clung to the familiar.
He half expected Lewis to mention Clint and was surprised when he didn’t. Lewis obviously knew they had been spending time together. He had no doubt that Reese would have told him they were dating.
“It’s pretty out here,” Lewis said, and August nodded.
“It is. I love it. It feels good to be home.”
Lewis cocked a brow. “I’m sure it does.” And there it was. He was talking about Clint. August was sure of it.
“How’s Butter?” Reese asked, breaking their conversation.
“Good. She missed you.”
“Did she play with Midnight and Sweetie?”
“She did.” He smiled at his son in the rearview.
“Scout said we can take Butter to the party tonight. Is Clint bringing his dogs?”
“I’m not sure. I can ask him.”
“People bring their dogs to parties?” Lewis asked.
“Yeah. They like hanging out with friends just as much as everyone else.” Lewis didn’t dislike animals, but he didn’t love them the way August and Reese did. He didn’t understand why people considered them part of their family.
“So what can I expect at this party tonight?”
“Not much. It’s at Deacon and Grady’s. I’m sure Reese told you, but Scout is Grady’s nephew who spends time here every summer. The two of them have gotten close. He’s heading back to Georgia, so it’s his goodbye party. They’re having a barbecue, Clint said. Deacon will have some ice cream there. He owns a parlor and makes it homemade.”
Lewis’s gaze flickered to the rearview mirror, so August’s did too. Reese had put his earbuds in and was typing away on his phone. “You guys have made a home here pretty quickly.”
“We have.” The hairs on August’s arms stood on end, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly why.
“You and the guy…you said you’re just friends.”
“We were.”
“But now you’re not.”
One more quick look at Reese told him their son wasn’t paying attention. “No.”
“This is the first time you’ve seen anyone at all since the divorce.”
Though Zachary was the only guy to have moved in or that Lewis had been serious about, he had dated quite a bit since they separated. Not that there was anything wrong with that. He had the right and should enjoy his life. August was just different about those kinds of things, which was why he knew that’s what Lewis was trying to say. That if August wasn’t just friends with Clint, it was important. It was what August would hope was permanent. “He’s important to me, Lou. I knew him when I was a child, and he…”
“Was your first kiss. That boy you told me about.”
“Yes.”
“I’m glad you have him, then, and I’m glad you’re happy.” Lewis reached over and squeezed August’s thigh.
“Thank you,” August replied, believing that what Lewis said was true. He wasn’t a bad guy, and things weren’t terrible between them. They were just different. Lewis could be a bit selfish sometimes, yeah, but that was how people were. No one was perfect. They all had their shit.
“I need to talk to you at some point…sooner rather than later, but when it’s just us.”
And there they had it. August knew there was a reason Lewis was there, and he knew by the deep ache in his chest that he wouldn’t like it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Clint
Clint had never been a jealous man. He’d had no reason to be. He couldn’t say jealousy was what he felt now. Logically, he knew August loved him and he could be trusted. Lewis was his ex-husband. There was nothing between them romantically, but they would be a part of each other’s lives forever.
Still, he couldn’t deny there was a twinge of…something in his chest when he thought about the man. Reese was crazy about him, and sometimes, Clint knew, that made August feel like he wasn’t enough. Lewis would be staying at their house for a few days and going to the party with August and Reese, something Clint would be doing himself if Lewis wasn’t there.
But now he was heading to Deacon and Grady’s alone, and he couldn’t figure out how he was supposed to act around August. That part was nothing new. They’d been discreet before because of Reese, but now there was an extra layer of complication that would make things even more awkward.