Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“You do the same for me.” I motion toward the door. “Come on. Let’s get bundled up and go see your brothers. Then, I’m gonna take you home with me where you belong.”
“I like that.”
We get our gear on, then put the stools in the back of my truck, which has the cover over it. We’re quiet as we drive to Gracie’s, and I reach over and put a hand on his thigh, in case he’s nervous, so he knows he’s not alone.
“This’ll be fun,” I tell him.
“Long time coming.”
“I’m sorry if your dad ruined any part of this day for you.”
“No. It needed to happen. Maybe there’s a reason it happened today. Can I ask you something off-topic?”
“Shoot.”
“Dusty knows about us. And you talked to Archer and Bruce about me…”
“Well, I told them I have feelings for someone. I would never out you.”
“You can. I know we’re a secret because of Meadow, and hell, probably partly for me too, but if you want, you can tell them.”
“How about if we don’t keep it a secret from our friends and your brothers tonight? Even if we don’t tell everyone, and only if you’re ready, we can tell the people who mean the most to us. We can trust them, and I like the idea of people knowing you’re mine. In fact, I was going to talk to you about it later, but I’d like to tell Meadow. She’s a good kid. And she’ll keep it to herself. I don’t want you to have to go home every night. I want to be able to cuddle with you when we watch movies. I don’t want to keep from Meadow something that’s such an important part of my life. Of course, I don’t want to rush you, but—”
“Yes. Yes, we can tell her, tell them. I want that too. I’ve wasted so much time, Tripp. I don’t want to waste any more.”
I pull into the lot at Gracie’s and park, then hook my finger beneath his chin. “I don’t want to waste any more time either.” After a quick glance to make sure no one is around, I give him a quick but heartfelt kiss. “You ready for this?”
“I am,” Rhett replies. “Finally, I am.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Rhett
It’s wild how stressful walking into the bar to spend time with my brothers can be, but entwined with the stress is excitement. Tonight is unlike our dinner at East’s a few months ago, maybe because I feel like a new man. I’m not the same man I was when we spent time at Archer’s parents’ place either. It’s incredible when I consider how much my life has changed, just since earlier this year.
I’m so fucking ready to move on, to have a life, and I want a big part of that life to be me with my brothers.
When we walk in, my gaze is immediately drawn to a table toward the back. Even though Tripp and I are a bit early, the way I like, my brothers and their partners are already here.
My stomach is in knots as I keep moving toward them, Tripp’s body close to mine, our arms brushing with every step. He wants me to know he’s here, and that helps.
East spots me first. Morgan’s head tilts up a second later, and then both my brothers are watching us approach, and somehow, the tangles in my gut begin to loosen.
“Hey, man. How’s it going?” Morgan gives me a smile when I stop at the empty seat beside him.
“Hey. Great. Sorry we’re late.” My face heats when I consider the fact that we would’ve been here even earlier had Tripp not been edging me before we left.
“You’re ten minutes early,” East says.
“The rest of you are already here. That means I’m late,” I deadpan, and everyone around me chuckles.
Tripp and I take off our coats and hang them on the back of the chairs, and while I do, I look around. Gracie’s is packed, people laughing, drinking, eating. It’s decorated with a lot of wood, a mixture of traditional bar style, along with some Ojibwe history, and old black-and-white newspaper clippings featuring events from Birchbark’s past. And of course, Ella. In this loud, happy bar, there are butterflies engraved along the tops of the walls.
“This is…it’s amazing, Morgan. You did good. I’m proud of you.” I’ve been proud of him more than once in his life, likely for some things he wouldn’t even consider, but I’ve never said those words to him before today.
“Thanks. I love it. Who would have thought this would be where I’d end up? Running a bar and loving it, but it feels right. I’m happy.”
“Good. You deserve to be.” I feel everyone’s eyes on me, so I add, “Your stools are in Tripp’s truck.”
Morgan’s eyes go wide. “No shit? Can we go get them? East, come help us.”