Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
I took a step toward the door, then another, when Charles’s words stopped me in my tracks. “He wasn’t in love with Daniel.”
“That’s not what he says, and I think he’d know.”
“Do you, though?” Charles cocked a brow. “I think…I think he loved Daniel, and maybe he could have been in love with him, but he wasn’t. Not just because he wouldn’t allow himself to be either. Daniel was a good man, but he wasn’t the right one for Bentley. He loved Bent…made him feel needed and important. Daniel liked to try and get his way with Bent, and he liked Bent to take care of him. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, but that’s what Bent held on to. He thought Daniel needed him, and that made him feel worthy. And Daniel…Daniel wanted to conquer the unconquerable. He wanted the man who didn’t want marriage and kids to want them with him. He wanted to be more important than Bent’s work, and he deserved that. Everyone does, but Daniel wanted it to prove he could have it. Bentley never saw those things in Daniel, but I did.”
I scratched the back of my neck, discomfort heavy in my gut. “Don’t feel right talkin’ about the dead this way.”
“I don’t mean it in a negative way. More power to Daniel for those things. He and Bentley were exactly the same that way. Bent wanted to conquer the business world, to be the best, and Daniel wanted to conquer Bentley. It wasn’t as healthy a relationship as Bentley tells himself it was. They fought all the time, even before Daniel wanted more. There was always a sort of competition involved…Daniel vying for Bentley’s attention in everything, like he wanted him to himself. When he got something he wanted, it was never in the way he wanted it. He was even jealous of me after a while. And again, I don’t say that to put Daniel down. I don’t believe he was hateful or anything. I just think…maybe he was just as scarred as Bentley, only none of us saw it, or maybe he showed it in different ways and that’s what connected them. But it wasn’t healthy for either of them.”
I wasn’t sure what to say or do. It felt wrong talking to Charles about these things, like I was going behind Emerson’s back. “They were together for years.”
“They were. But Bentley used Daniel as a way to beat himself up…to hate himself because he was letting Daniel down. It wasn’t good for him. It wasn’t good for Daniel either. They should have only been friends. Have you ever known people like that? Who were a train wreck waiting to happen, not because either of them was bad, but because they were wrong for each other?”
I shook my head. We were both quiet. One of the goats crossed the yard, having escaped the pen again. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because it’s not the same with you. I’ve been here less than twenty-four hours, and I see that. Bent lowers his guard with you. He doesn’t try and punish himself with you. He just…is. Bentley has a lot of stuff going on inside his head, but he’s happier right now than I’ve ever seen him. Rolling around with you yesterday? That’s not the man I know. He’d never been able to shed his responsibility that much, to just let himself go. You give him that, and he’s going to fight it because that’s how he is. He doesn’t think he’s worthy, but…don’t give up on him, okay? Just please don’t give up on him.”
“I won’t.”
“Good.” He winked.
There was a noise from inside the house, and then Emerson came out, wearing shorts and no shirt. His hair was a mess from sleep, brown eyes unsure, his dark, thick lashes a shield when he lowered his head.
“You should have woken me.”
“You should have slept longer,” I countered.
“Are you guys going to make out now? Because if so, I want to watch,” Charles teased.
Emerson shook his head, and I chuckled, then said, “Let’s go get some breakfast goin’. I’ll make biscuits and gravy.”
“Shit, man. I think I’m in love with your boyfriend,” Charles joked.
“Find your own.” Em pulled me to his chest and into a hug. I knew without looking when he cocked his head, knew his brows were lightly knitted together like he’d just realized what he’d said.
The look must have been clear on his face because Charles’s laugh was so loud, the house shook with it.
“Shut up,” Emerson said.
“Yeah, shut up,” I added.
But he didn’t correct himself, and I didn’t either. The three of us went into the kitchen, made breakfast, and ate together.
We’d just finished when my phone rang. My heart immediately dropped when I saw Aunt Sherry’s name on the screen. “Hello?” I answered, with Emerson’s watchful, concerned eye on me.