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)
“I’m pretty sure he’s met everyone in the bar.” Colby raised his voice to speak over the music and people.
“You only live once, man. I let myself get wrapped up in that asshole again and again, someone who did nothing but fuck with my head. Now I’m going back to focusing on nothing but having a good time.”
Colby frowned, but Vince didn’t seem to notice.
“Can I get you guys a drink?” The bartender leaned over the counter so they could hear him.
Clint got a rum and Coke, and August just a beer as he had to stay sober to drive them home tonight. He’d enjoy this and then stick with water or soda the rest of the time.
“These three all go on my tab tonight,” Vince told the bartender. He seemed a little different tonight, like he had all this energy inside him he couldn’t contain. August wasn’t sure that was the right way to word it. Maybe it was just that he was trying hard? Or looking for something he felt he’d been missing?
“You don’t have to do that,” Clint said.
“You do for me,” Colby teased.
“Who knew he would be so mean to me? He’s always giving me a hard time,” Vince replied.
“Wait. Me? I think you have this all wrong.”
“How long have you guys been together?” the bartender asked, making the drinks.
Colby’s face flushed red. “He’s not… We’re not… I’m straight,” he finally got out.
“Sure you are, sweetie.” The twinky bartender winked.
Colby took a drink of his beer instead of responding.
“Do you guys dance?” Vince asked.
August hadn’t danced in…hell, since not long after college. He wasn’t good then, and he was probably worse now, but damned if he didn’t suddenly want to try. He felt like a whole different man since he’d come to Harmony.
“No,” Colby replied just as August said, “Sure.”
Clint cocked a brow as if surprised, but then a smile curled his lips. “You two go. I’m gonna hang with this guy for a bit.” He pointed at Colby.
“I’ll protect your boyfriend from the wandering hands of men.” Vince saluted playfully.
Clint laughed. “Thanks, but I think he’s got it.”
August kissed him, letting his lips linger there a moment, then made his way through the crowd with Vince, already having fun, and counting down the minutes until he could get Clint out there to dance with him too.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Clint
“You okay?” Clint asked Colby when August and Vince left. He couldn’t put his finger on exactly what it was, but something seemed up with Colby.
“Yep. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know. You seem off. Is it being here?” Clint didn’t think that was the case, didn’t think Colby would care about something like that, but he wasn’t sure.
“What? Fuck no. I wouldn’t give a shit about that. I just…hell, I don’t even know what it is or if it’s anything at all… Have you ever looked at your life and wondered what the point of it is? I don’t mean that in a way that should make you worry about me. I don’t want to hurt myself or anything like that.” Colby took a swig of his beer, turned to watch the people in the bar as they danced and talked and kissed. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t know who I am. I know who I’m supposed to be—Colby Covington, the baby of the family, the one who works on the farm, the one who struggles with women and figuring out what I want. Who can’t settle down and grow up.”
Clint was speechless for a moment. He’d never heard Colby talk that way before. Sure, there had been a few situations lately where he seemed a little off, but now there was this melancholic air about him that seemed to weigh him down, that oozed off him in heavy waves when Colby let his guard down.
Clint said, “I think feeling that way sometimes is natural. It’s hard not to believe we have to fit in some kind of mold, or like some decisions were made for us, but you’re a lot of things outside of what you mentioned. You’re a good brother and friend. You’re funny and kind, and clearly, Vince enjoys your company. You gave him a place to stay, and you’re helping him out during a hard time. Is this related to what we talked about before? How you feel like you’re not settled down the way you should be? When Roe met Holden, Roe was what? Forty-three? Forty-four? I’m forty-two now and in love for the first time. There are no rules to how life is supposed to be led. Everyone is different.”
Colby nodded, then swallowed down the rest of his beer. “Yeah, you’re right. Just been feeling like I’m missing something, is all. Or like there’s more to me than I even know, which I realize doesn’t make a damn bit of sense. Ignore me. I’m being weird.”