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)
While Clint continued in the shop, August cooked lunch for them, searching for things in Clint’s kitchen and making himself at home there. It was comfortable, being this way with Clint. It was a dangerous way to think, especially so early in their relationship, but August couldn’t help how he felt. He believed some people just had a different connection, something that drew them to each other, and for him, that person had always been Clint.
They ate lunch and then ended up naked again, sucking each other off this time. He swallowed down Clint’s load, and afterward, as they lay on his couch together, August asked, “What do you think would have happened if I’d never moved?” He was on top of Clint, between his legs, his chin resting on Clint’s stomach.
“I don’t know. I think we would have ended up together at a younger age. That’s pretty obvious. There’s always been something there, but I feel like everything happens for a reason. You left because you needed to meet Lewis, and have Reese, and end up the man you are right now when you’re back again. Maybe if you never left, things wouldn’t have worked out for us. Maybe they still won’t, but…I don’t know. I’m pretty happy here, right now, at forty-two and having you, even if at some point we’ll decide to go back to just being friends.” He played with a lock of hair on August’s forehead.
“Yeah, I hear you. I think about it sometimes, what would have happened with us, but I can’t regret how things went down because then I wouldn’t have Reese.”
“Exactly.”
“Did your parents know? That you’re bi, I mean.”
Clint shook his head. “Nah, I never told them. I hate to say it, but I think that would have been hard on me when I was younger. Now, I wouldn’t care, but it’s too late.”
“I’m sorry.” August wished they had kept in contact over the years, wished he could have been there for Clint when his parents died.
“Me too.”
“But Ron’s always been supportive?”
“Yep. He’s known since that day we kissed at the creek. I told him about us now too.”
August couldn’t hold back his grin, happiness filling him at the thought of Clint sharing that they were together. It made him feel like this was as important to Clint as it was to him. But then… “Does it bother you that I haven’t told Reese? It’s not because I don’t want to. It’s not because this isn’t important to me.”
“What? No. That’s totally different. He’s your son, and this happened fast, and he’s going through a lot. I understand.”
“Okay. Because this…you…even though it’s early and we don’t know what will happen…it’s important to me.” August kissed Clint’s stomach, once, twice.
“Me too,” Clint replied as August’s mouth continued its journey up his torso before landing on his mouth.
It was just about the perfect day. He stayed until it was time to pick Reese up at the farm, so thankful to have Clint in his life again.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Clint
The next few weeks flew by. Every moment they could, they stole time together. On August’s days off, when Reese was at the farm, August spent time at Clint’s house even when Clint was working in his shop. They fucked every chance they got, but it wasn’t just about sex. Sometimes when August was over, they didn’t end up sleeping together at all, just hanging out and talking and laughing.
When Reese was at art class, they had dinner at Mama Adaline’s, and several evenings a week, Reese and August ended up at Clint’s for dinner, Clint and Reese working in the shop so Clint could teach him more about welding. He’d started to bond with Reese. They talked about school and fitting in, and Reese had told Clint that he struggled making friends, like August, but that Sean and Wyatt were different. Reese drew the dogs for Clint, which he framed, and each time he knew they would get to weld together, Clint looked forward to it more than he thought he would.
Reese had also been seeing a therapist, and once August had gotten called into work and Clint had driven him there, the two of them grabbing fast-food afterward.
They had fun together, the three of them. Clint told himself not to read anything into it, which was something he’d never had to do before. He’d never had to remind himself not to risk thinking a relationship meant more than it did. Even though he knew Reese liked him, he liked Clint as his dad’s friend, not as his dad’s boyfriend. It was hard to remember sometimes. Clint would reach for August or want to touch him, and then he’d reel himself in again. But he was happy. He felt a calmness in his bones, something he hadn’t realized was missing before.