Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
I bark out a laugh but know she’s right. I am in deep. East means more to me than I expected. “Gee, thanks. This has been a really uplifting conversation.”
“Eh, you come to me because I’m honest.”
I nod because she’s right about that too.
“And I’m not sure what work stuff you’re talking about, but as I said, I know you. You’re the best guy in the world. If you like him, then he’s good people, and fuck anyone who doesn’t see that. What do you care about having more of for the rest of your life? Is a job going to run you a bath after a long day? Is it going to hold you and laugh with you and make you feel like everything is right in your world?”
“No.” I shake my head. Having someone I care about is more important than a job, especially a job I don’t love the way I’d hoped I would. “I get it. I just worry I’m getting ahead of myself. But I hear what you’re saying, and I’ll take it to heart.”
She claps her hands together. “Good. Now, should we have a family get-together and you can invite Easton?”
I throw a couch pillow at her. “What the fuck, Cor?”
“Mom said you’ve been spending time with him. You know how Birchbark is, and it’s not like we don’t know you’re the one they call if he’s in trouble or if they’re trying to keep him out of trouble.”
I sigh, not surprised in the least that she’s put the pieces together. “We’re just friends.”
“No reason you can’t have your friend over. Plus, it will probably be good for him. That dad of his…there’s something about him that rubs me the wrong way.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“He was rarely around when we were younger. I remember that. Mom used to talk about how sad it was that Morgan and Rhett were taking care of the younger ones.”
He’s behind a lot of what’s hurting East. I can see it. And Cora’s idea isn’t half bad. Mom would shower East with attention the way she’s known to do. He deserves that. “You know what? We should plan something. Can you bring it up with Mom without making it obvious that I’m…anything other than friends with East?”
“Sure thing, big brother, but we’re Thorns. None of us are stupid. Mom and Dad are both going to know.”
It’ll be about as easy to fool them as it is to fool myself.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Easton
For the second time, I’m showing up at Rhett’s house unannounced. This isn’t something I’ve ever done until recently. I tried to stay away from my brother once I was out of the house. Rhett and Morgan had to deal with me enough when we were kids. The last thing I want is to put my shit on them as an adult too, but this visit isn’t about me. It’s just me doing some really weird shit I’ve never done before.
I knock on the door, and this time, Rhett doesn’t answer it sweaty or covered in sawdust. He’s got on jeans and a T-shirt, but even the sight of that is different when it comes to him. Rhett has always been more of a slacks-and-nice-shirt guy, like Gregory.
“Nothing is wrong with me.” I’d rather get that out before he has the chance to ask because the question will just annoy me.
“I wasn’t going to ask. I am surprised you’re here, though.”
I shrug. “That makes two of us.” Probably not the best answer, but it’s honest.
“Our family doesn’t really work that way, does it?” He turns and begins walking away. “Come in if you want. I don’t care either way.”
“Careful, Rhett, or you’ll sound too much like me.” I close the door. “We were taught not to really care about each other, but to care about everything else—what people think, how we look to others, sounding polite and interested, when really all we do is think about ourselves.” That’s how Gregory has always been, how Rhett has been because of him.
“I don’t care about that anymore.” He picks up a stack of papers and slips them under his laptop, then closes it. “What are you doing here, East?”
I wring my hands, wishing I had a piece of paper so I could fold a butterfly to keep myself busy. It’s as good a distraction method as I’ve ever had. “I don’t know.”
His forehead wrinkles. Clearly, he didn’t expect that.
“I stopped by Gracie’s. Morgan’s got a lot of plans. He’s real proud of what he’s doing at the bar, and I just thought you might want to know.”
“The two of you are getting close. That’s good.” He looks down.
“I’m not sure how to do this, Rhett. It should be Morgan here, not me. I’m shit at stuff like this. I can’t tell how to comfort you or if you need it. I can’t say the right things, but…give Morgan a chance. He deserves it. You deserve it.”