Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 135792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Both of Liv’s parents were still alive, if not always around, but Knox had been a steadier presence than either of them, and felt like family. Like home. Liv would have done anything in his power to make him happy. If this new thing worked, they could have it all.
One-night stands were always fine, but girlfriends had a way of distracting Knox and made him waste his time on things he didn’t enjoy instead of having fun with Liv. Maybe now, he’d get everything he needed, he’d stop being so frustrated all the time and stop searching for remedies where they couldn’t be offered to him.
Liv smiled when he glanced at Knox. The blue hoodie was a bit too big on him, but it didn’t make him look any less cute. His hair was in disarray, and he seemed thoughtful as he stared out of the car window when they drove past the junkyard gate.
Was he also wondering about settling down here in some way? Their options were limited, and they could hardly complain about the guys here involved in shady shit after killing Vlad. It would take some adjustment on their side, but with winter coming, what better place could they possibly find?
Liv grinned at Knox, but the smile he got in return was lukewarm. Knox had to be embarrassed of Shane listening in on them back at the party. He was also probably tired as hell. Oh well, they’d get to hold hands and cuddle later.
“Aand we’re here,” Shane said, stopping the car in front of Frank’s house.
“Thanks, Shane,” Knox said. “We need to get ourselves a ride of our own as soon as we get our shit together.”
Shane shook his head and slid out of the car first. “That’ll be a while…”
Liv grinned at Knox and followed suit. “Wanna join me in the shower?” he asked but Knox shook his head.
“No. After all that noise and smoke I need a bit of fresh air.”
Fair enough, even if a bit of a waste.
Liv walked around the car, gave him a firm smooch that made a couple of fireworks explode at the back of his skull, and ran into the house to see Shane kissing a young, lanky guy with long, wavy hair. Being around so many gay guys was still very new.
“I take it that’s Ros?”
Shane hesitated a little, but it wasn’t like he could hide his boyfriend any longer. “Yep. And if you ever try anything, our dogs are—”
“Come on, Shane. What’s he gonna do?” Ros rolled his eyes and got off the elegant emerald green couch where he’d been sitting with Ezra and Cerberus. “Knox?”
“Nah, I’m Liv. Knox is taking a breather outside.”
“Smoking’s bad for you,” Ezra said without taking his eyes off the TV.
Liv waved it off. “He’s got this heart thing, he’s not allowed to smoke. He just needs air after the party. And, by the way, I’ve seen your sculptures. Big fan,” he said with a grin.
Ezra sighed. “He probably wants something from you.”
Liv raised his palms in defeat. “Hey! I said I’d wash the dishes, and I did, didn’t I? And I said the porridge was amazing, ‘cause it was. No fakery with me.” Which was kind of a lie, since he’d lied about Knox being his boyfriend, but it was becoming true, so no harm done.
“I take compliments without prejudice.” Ros smiled and pushed his long hair behind his ears. He wore a strange blue top with sleeves ending in fingerless gloves and a print featuring a whimsical wolf howling at the moon.
Shane grabbed two beers from Frank’s fridge as if it was his own, so they were all definitely close. “Frank’s in the workshop?” he asked Ezra.
“He’s been tinkering a lot lately. Maybe he’s trying to repair that old clock you found?” Ezra mused, drinking red wine from a glass almost as big as his face.
One look at the lady in a big historical gown taking up the TV screen told Liv he wasn’t interested in staying to watch the movie, so he excused himself and went straight into the shower, eager to join Knox outside.
They could scoot together for warmth and have beers while watching the starry sky until the mood took hold. Or not. He’d be happy either way, as long as they enjoyed time together, safe and away from the cops. Maybe it was wrong of him but he tried not to think too much about the way things went down with Vlad. About the blood, of the smells, of the terror—
He shook his head, eager to forget it. But when he went outside after the shower, all refreshed by Ezra’s almond soap, Knox wasn’t where Liv had last seen him. Shane and Frank sat in the back of a truck, drinking and clearly also not in the mood for costume drama.