Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
After we’d walked back to the Jeep in silence, Zach spoke again when I’d started the engine.
“It’s not weird, Dad,” he said softly. “I mean, maybe a little, but… I’m not freaked out. You can like whoever you want to like. And Evan kind of feels like family already.”
“We are not discussing this any further,” I blurted out, my voice harsher than I’d intended. My palms were sweaty as I gripped the steering wheel.
Somewhere in the back of my head, I noticed that Zach had called him Evan, though. He hadn’t even referred to him as Mr. Bailey when he said that he felt like he was family.
My body was still hot when we got back, and after Zach retreated to his bedroom, I did an emergency set of push-ups in my room. I felt like I’d just been dropped into some sort of chaotic storm, and there were far too many conflicting emotions at once.
I was embarrassed that my own son had called me out on something I had no idea he was aware of. But hearing him say it had also put a crack in a wall inside me that I hadn’t even known was there. I loved hearing Zach refer to Evan as family. It made me feel like maybe the wall was only a part of me—like maybe if I could get rid of it, I could have a future I had never even let myself dream of.
And the ironic truth was that all I wanted right now was Evan nearby. Tomorrow night, I was going to see him at a party that Red was throwing at his house. For some reason, I was nervous to see him.
I couldn’t remember a time I’d ever been nervous to hang out with Ev.
“Whoa. This man is full-on when it comes to the cowboy thing, isn’t he?” I said.
Evan and I had just walked in the front door of Red’s house, and the party was already in full swing. People were scattered throughout the living room ahead, and music came from the back of the room.
“He definitely is a modern cowboy,” Evan said, closing the front door behind us.
The place was more cabin than house. The whole thing was made of wood, from the walls to the floors to the ceilings. It was beautiful, to be sure—the decorations ranged from nice leather furniture to plush rugs to framed movie posters on the walls. But it definitely wasn’t like the average house in Amberfield.
“He must have worked on this place for a long time.”
“Red likes making places his own,” Evan said. A young man in some sort of leather outfit walked by, winking at the two of us as he made his way through the crowd of people toward the kitchen.
“We should go find Red and say hello,” I suggested, turning to Evan. He looked fucking great, of course—he’d worn a fitted black long-sleeve shirt that hugged his body in every place I liked best. I’d given Evan a ride here in my Jeep, and the whole time I’d been fumbling over my words.
I was suddenly a mess around Evan. It was like I wanted to impress him now, or like I was seeing him through a new lens that I’d never considered before. Like he wasn’t necessarily just my best friend, maybe. Even though that thought was terrifying in its own right.
“I was worried we were going to be too early, but this place is wild already,” Evan said. “And yes, we should find Red. I think I know exactly where he will be.”
Evan led me through the crowd in the living room, saying hello to many of the people we passed. One guy gave Evan a little pat on the ass as he walked by, and though Evan rolled his eyes and smiled, I couldn’t help but feel a small surge of jealousy roll through me. I had been feeling so possessive around Evan lately, and while it made me feel a little guilty, I also kind of relished it.
I closed the gap between my body and his as we walked, so that no more people could lay their hands on him.
The dining room had been converted into a sort of makeshift saloon, with a big bar at the back of it that said Casa Red at the top. The room connected to the kitchen, and I realized immediately that this is where the hub of the party was taking place. Red was behind the bar, in true form, making drinks for anybody who came up. There was a shirtless guy next to him helping out.
“You made it, you beautiful people,” Red said, lighting up as Evan and I approached the bar. We sidled up to it, reaching over to give Red a quick hug.
“And we are in dire need of alcohol,” I said. I saw a cute young guy looking Evan up and down at the other side of the bar, and I quickly moved closer to Evan, putting my arm gently around his waist. Evan looked up at me, his eyes wide, but he scooted a little closer, too.