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)
August watched Clint as he and Colby joked around. How close were they? Not that it mattered, but they’d been at dinner together when August arrived, and he could see how comfortable they were with each other.
He liked to see Clint happy, liked to watch him smile and joke and have fun. It was maybe a little strange, but August used to do this when they were kids sometimes, just watch Clint interact with other people and see how effortlessly he did it. When August was younger, he hadn’t been good at that with anyone other than Clint, but he was better now. It had always come so naturally to Clint, though. August used to want to be just like him.
He knew he should look away, not pay attention to Clint’s brown hair and how he kept it longer on top than he used to. The burned-whiskey color of his dark eyes. His thick brows and plump lips that were almost a perfect bow shape. The same lips that had been August’s very first kiss, only now they were surrounded by a sexy goatee that was all kinds of hot.
When he realized he’d been watching Clint for longer than was likely appropriate, he forced himself to stop. When he did, his gaze landed on Grady, who gave him a knowing smile.
Oops.
“I thought Vince was supposed to be here?” Clint asked.
Holden practically growled. “He will be. He decided to move to Harmony, which he should have done a long time ago, but I’m glad he’s doing it now. He needs to get out of Atlanta and away from his ex. If you know of any rentals, let me know. We told him he can stay with us, but he’s a stubborn one. He worries about getting in the way of family stuff, so I think he’s gonna stay at the hotel.”
“He can stay with me,” Colby offered. August watched as everyone’s stare shot to him. “What? I’m single and got the space. It’s not as if my spare room is doing anything but sitting there, and I’m not in a relationship like the rest of you.”
“Um…did you forget about me?” Clint asked.
“We’re dating?” Colby deadpanned.
Clint playfully kicked his foot. “I meant, I’m not in a relationship, smartass.” They all laughed.
“You serious?” Holden asked Colby. “That would be incredible. I feel like he’s more likely to stay and get a fresh start if he’s surrounded by friends that way.”
“Sure, if he wants. Like I said, the space is just sitting there. Honestly, I don’t even have a bed in that room.”
“You’ve been there for three years,” Roe said.
“We’re not all as put together as you, big brother. But if you want to come over and decorate it, I’ll let ya.”
This time it was Roe who playfully kicked him. “Not happening.”
“Why am I always getting abused?” Colby said, then spoke to Holden for a moment, and Holden thanked him and said he would bring it up to Vince.
A couple of minutes later, Reese shouted, “Dad!” as he ran over with the other two boys. “This farm is really cool. I met Wyatt and Sean’s grandma. She said they work here some days in the summer—mucking stalls, feeding and watering animals, helping with the crops. She said they could use an extra hand because one of their part-time guys broke his leg. If it’s okay with you, she said I could do it!”
August was struck dumb for a moment. He couldn’t seem to find words. Reese was bouncing when he spoke, looking like he might just burst out of his skin. August hadn’t seen him so excited about something in too damn long.
“I also told her I can draw, and she said maybe one time I can have one of those booths like they do at fairs where I draw people who come to Movies with Goats…or their animals and stuff like that. Do you think I can do it?”
He didn’t know how to answer. It felt a little too good to be true. And what if Reese had somehow misunderstood? August’s gaze traveled to Roe.
“If she said it, she means it. We’re big on the kids learning hard work around here, but it’s a lot of fun too. Mostly they work in the mornings and then end up playing around and being kids the rest of the day. She pays ’em under the table.”
He looked over at Clint next, who gave him a smile, the kind that August used to draw strength from when they were kids. “Yeah, sure. I should probably talk to her, but I think that would be good.”
“Awesome!” Reese replied. “I told her I might go see Pop later this summer, and she said that’s okay too.”
August was a little overwhelmed, but there was no denying the want in his son’s gaze. “Sounds perfect.” Then he watched as his son animatedly chatted with the other two boys about workdays and all the fun things they did. Everything was starting to feel perfect, and he had Clint to thank for that.