Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“Graduated twelve years ago,” Gray answered. “We’re all turning thirty this year. It’s easy math.”
“Hey,” Wyatt said, offended. “Don’t age me. I was a boy wonder. Advanced for my age.”
“Right. He’ll be thirty January second,” Bryce said. Scout opened one of the two built-in refrigerators and pulled out a Bud Light. Mace’s gaze followed.
“You ready for another?” Scout asked, already opening the door again, reaching for a Heineken.
“Yeah, I guess,” Mace said, lifting his bottle, guzzling the rest like he had inside the house.
Mace swung his attention back to the guys. “I’ll be twenty-seven this year. We didn’t play together unless y’all were bad, or little for your age, then maybe.”
Wyatt snapped his fingers together, and he sat up, pointing at Mace. “Wait. You’re the guy…” The sudden excitement Wyatt had at remembering a moment now had his brows dropping just as quickly, a deep frown following. “Did you rodeo? Mason Sutton?”
The gulp Mace took this time was slower than the others. Whatever Wyatt remembered had him continuing without Mace’s answer.
“Oh, man. I’m sorry about all that.”
Questions rushed forward, immediate and demanding, but they all remained unasked when I sensed the vibe had changed. Mace needed a break and we were the perfect group to give that to him.
“Do you know that Wyatt’s a bum still living off his family?” I said, taking an empty seat opposite Mace, turning away from the stunning landscape to better stare at the handsome guy.
“Hey!” Wyatt crunched up his empty beer can and threw it in my direction. I dodged the can as it bounced off Scout’s backside. “At least I’m not an actor,” Wyatt blurted. A small part of me celebrated getting under his skin.
“Steaks are almost done,” Scout said. Those words were my signal to finish gathering the meal and be ready for the greatness about to be bestowed upon us.
“We’re eating out here. Is that good for you?” I asked Mace about halfway between the screen door and the group of guys.
“Sure. If there’s enough,” Mace said. His third beer bit the dust when he drained that bottle in the same fashion as the other two.
“Yeah, there’s enough. Wyatt made sure of that,” Scout said, lifting the heavy tray of foiled covered steaks.
“I’ll go get the baked potato fixin’s,” Wyatt said, pushing off the railing to follow me inside.
“Yeah, I’ll come help too,” Bryce said. A second passed before the back door closed. Bryce didn’t miss a beat. “What’re you doing out there?”
“What’d you mean?” I asked, trying to split my thoughts between the task at hand and the beauty that seemed to steal all my reasonable thought.
“How don’t you remember?” Wyatt asked. “He was the only survivor in a badass accident. I can’t believe it’s him. People still talk about it.”
The emotional connection I’d developed made more sense now, but I fought it. I tended to attract the hurt and needy but had learned a long time ago to place those invisible protective barriers around me or I’d absorb their problems.
“I’m not trying to keep him around for more than a couple of months.”
“I don’t think he’s casual, dude. Did you hear how his sister answered questions about him? He didn’t say a word. Everything he’s revealed is elusive. He’s too vague,” Wyatt said. “I’m out on him. That out there’s a lot to unpack.”
“Huh…” I finally muttered.
“Did you think he’s all tensed up because he’s overwhelmed with you?” Wyatt asked from right beside him, his tone condescending.
“No, of course not,” I started, before stopping mid-sentence. “Okay, well, I did hope that was the deal.”
“I don’t think he’s fling material,” Bryce added his two cents in that all business way he had about dealing with everything. “I can see how bulldozing your way in, then washing your hands of it, could make matters worse. Look, keep the facts in mind. He’s gorgeous, I’ll give you that, but living out his life in that bar doesn’t just happen. Something’s piled up on him.”
“I just met the man, Bryce. I’m not trying to marry him. I’m trying to have sex with him,” I said, defensively. He wasn’t trying to put a ring on Mace. So now that Bryce had a relationship, all of a sudden, he was an expert?
“I see you’re fighting my words, just remember these people are real people. They don’t play like you do. You’ll take off to go about your life, and he’ll be left here dealing with the consequences,” Bryce said.
I managed everything in one hand and went around Bryce, turning the doorknob, but stopped before pushing the door open, trying to understand since Bryce was not letting this go.
So, because of my career, I couldn’t have a date or two with a normal, everyday kind of guy? Have a nice time, maybe get lucky a time or two.