Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“What are you playing at? You don’t take responsibility for your actions. Ever.”
“Ouch,” he chuckled, before sobering. “I’m not playing any games. I was just thinking about you and wanted to check and see how you’re doing. Contrary to what you believe, I’m not a terrible person, Vince. I’ve fucked up. A lot. But I’ve… Well, let’s just say that the last year has made me see some things.”
He was struck quiet for a moment, unsure how to respond. He didn’t believe Greg. He also didn’t give a fuck about him. There wasn’t a part of Vince that still loved Gregory, not a part of him that would ever trust him or want him back.
“I heard you moved to a small town in North Carolina. Holden lives there, right? He always hated me.” Gregory gave a humorless laugh. “I never imagined you as a small-town guy. If you’re there because of me—”
“I’m not,” Vince cut him off. “Not everything is about you.” Yes, he had moved because he’d been hurt, felt stupid, and never wanted to show his face around Atlanta again, but that wasn’t why he stayed in Harmony. He stayed because he liked it here. He was happy here. “Why are you calling me, Greg?”
Greg sighed. “Partly to apologize. I’m sure you won’t believe me, but I’ve changed. I’ve been seeing a therapist the last year to try and work out why I’m the way I am, and…I’m in love. I’m getting married, actually, if you can believe that, and being in love for the first time, I understand now the pain I caused you…Liam…too many men to count, to be honest.”
For a moment, Vince couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.
Gregory was in love for the first time. He’d told Vince he’d loved him, but he hadn’t because you couldn’t love someone and do to them the things Greg had done to him. But hearing him acknowledge it hit differently. Greg was in love and getting married, and though Vince didn’t want Greg, didn’t want what Greg seemed to have now, somehow this truth still sliced open his heart. Still made him feel things he couldn’t understand…made him wonder why he hadn’t been good enough.
“Good for you. Treat him right. Don’t turn him into another casualty of falling for you.” Without another word, Vince ended the call.
His stomach twisted up, and damn, he hated himself for that. Why did he give a fuck what that bastard was doing? And he didn’t, not really, but clearly, he felt some kind of something about all this.
Vince packed his lunch away, having lost his appetite. He did manage to finish his water bottle before heading back to the crops. It wouldn’t be long until they were dealing with an abundance of apples. That would hit around August and go through October. Last year was his first time experiencing apple orchards and all that went along with it.
Vince had liked all the apple desserts Vicki Covington made, loved seeing families bring their children there to pick apples on a Saturday afternoon. There was a wholesomeness to it that Vince hadn’t ever thought he’d enjoy.
“I’m in love. I’m getting married, actually, if you can believe that, and being in love for the first time, I understand now the pain I caused you.”
Vince shook those thoughts from his head. He had no business thinking about Greg. Why the fuck was he allowing this to take up space in his head?
He made his way to the gardens. The fruits and vegetables were growing like wild, so Vince lost himself in harvesting cucumbers, beets, bell peppers, zucchini, garlic, and carrots. He was proud of how well everything was growing. Sure, that wasn’t only because of him, but he’d had a hand in the gardens this year. Seeing the growth day in and day out always made him feel accomplished.
The more time he spent out there, the more the tension inside him eased. Fuck Gregory. Vince still didn’t believe him, but he wished the man the best. He wasn’t going to spend his life hating the guy because if he did, how the fuck would he ever move on?
He couldn’t say how much time passed before he heard, “You have a green thumb.”
He turned around from where he knelt on the ground and looked at Charles. He looked tired and was moving slowly as he approached. “Thank you. I never knew that about myself until I moved here. I enjoy it.”
“I’m glad. And I hope you know I’m not blowing smoke up your ass either. The vegetables have been doing much better under your care, so whatever you’re doing, keep it up. You and Colby have been working hard on the orchards too. He’s taken care of those trees well.”
Before he could reply, he saw Colby approaching. His hair was wet with sweat, sticking to his head. It was hotter than it should be.