by A. M. Arthur
Levi blinked several times in a row. “I’m sorry?”
“With the ghost town shut down, it’s not like you’ll miss work. You take the other voucher. Then I know I’ll always have a friend around, even if I do something like have a panic attack. I know there will be people on staff I’ll recognize but they aren’t people I consider friends.”
They aren’t you, Levi.
“I mean...” Levi’s gaze went distant. “I could probably ask Wes or Mack to check on the cats every day and make sure they have food. Or maybe get permission to borrow an ATV. That way I can check myself once or twice. We’ve hardly been apart since I rescued them.”
“Oh.” George’s heart dropped to his feet. “If being away is too hard, you can say no. I get it. They’re, like, your kids.”
“No, I can manage it. I just rarely have to. Which probably says a lot about my lack of a social or dating life.”
“Join the club.” George winked, and Levi chuckled. “So what do you think? Come on vacation with me?”
“Sure. Is next week too soon?”
George swallowed back an embarrassing squeak of surprise. “Next week?”
“It’s the last week they’re open to guests until January. Closing for Christmas and New Year’s, and I know they have openings. But if that’s too soon, we can wait. Only the weather next week is supposed to be unseasonably warm. Midsixties most days, low fifties at night. We might even be able to do a camping trip.”
“Um.” George had never been impulsive. He liked to plan, to know, to schedule his life. But if he worked longer hours for the rest of the week and got ahead on his work, he could take a solid week off. Unplug for a while and enjoy the ranch. Spend time with Levi.
Except Orry...because of his fluid work schedule, they hadn’t spent more than one day apart in the last seven years. How was George going to manage an entire week without his twin?
“This is a big step for you, isn’t it?” Levi asked. “Leaving your safe space and your brother for a week.”
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Get into my head and pull out exactly what I’m thinking. Orry has been my rock since we were sixteen. Not having him around...” It would be painful and weird and borderline crazy-making but George was an adult. If he ever wanted to have a real, adult life, he had to start putting space between himself and Orry. “It’ll be weird but good. Healthy, I think. And it helps knowing you’ll be around. My friend.”
Levi’s tender smile sent strange, warm feelings through George’s chest. “I am definitely your friend, George. So next week? All I need to do is call Reyes and we’re on the guest list.”
“Okay, yes.” George jumped off the plank and into the cold, dark water with both feet, confident he’d surface before he drowned. “Yes, next week. Um, I can’t exactly take Orry’s car, though.”
“If you can work a deal with him to meet halfway, I’ll pick you up. We have to be in the visitor parking area by ten a.m. Sunday morning for transport to the ranch. Pack comfortable, warm clothes. Boots if you have them.”
“I have sneakers.”
“They’ll be fine. I didn’t see any rain in the forecast but you know that can change on a dime.”
“True.” George couldn’t believe he was doing this. An impromptu vacation at a dude ranch with his new friend with only a few days’ notice. “I’ll work it out with Orry. And then I’ll text you with a meet spot.”
“Great. I was not expecting to go on this vacation with you, George, but now I’m looking forward to the experience.”
“Me too. I think it’s the first real vacation I’ve had since... I don’t know, maybe since I was eight? Our parents took us to Disneyland. But after that, skating took up all my free time, and we didn’t really do much as a family. It was always practice, school and tutors.”
“I’m sorry.” Levi squeezed George’s knee in a warm, comforting touch that lit George up from the inside out. “Having grown up with my family always around, I can’t imagine how lonely you might have been.”
George took a chance and covered Levi’s hand with his own, and the touch cemented his impromptu decision to go on the trip. “You lost your little brother. I cannot fathom that kind of pain. I don’t think I’d survive losing Orry.”
Levi turned his hand and clasped their palms together. “I sincerely hope you never have to find out.”
The moment seemed to stretch out for ages—their joined hands, the long and meaningful look they shared. The new intimacy that had begun to grow. George didn’t know what to say or do, only that he liked it a lot. But he didn’t know what to do with it. If he should push or pull back. He latched on to the first thing that buzzed through his whirling brain.
“How’s Ginger today?” George asked.
“Grumpy. I think she resents being close to her siblings but not being able to play with them. She’s got another checkup Saturday morning, though, and I really hope her doc says the leg is strong enough for me to let her out. I haven’t had to clean a litter box regularly since they were kittens.” Levi’s cheerful wink made George laugh.
“So you’re telling me they hold it for eight hours on your road trips?”
“Nah, I let them out at rest stops for bathroom breaks. I’ve even got a clicker they’re trained to respond to and return to the house.”
George stared at Levi, more impressed with the man with each conversation they had. “How did you learn to do that?”
“The internet. And I, uh, spent a lot of time with a veterinarian after I first found the kittens. He had some good ideas.”
Levi rarely hesitated or self-censored himself when he was around George, and the hesitation over the vet didn’t pass his notice. It heightened his curiosity about that period in Levi’s life. He was also polite enough not to pry.
“I will admit, though,” Levi added, “I do keep a small emergency litter box stored away in case of terrible weather. They don’t mind a little rain but refuse to go out during torrential downpours or too much snow.”
“Makes sense. Most cats hate water, right?”
“In my experience they do, but I’ve seen videos on social media that suggest some love it. I saw one once of a cat swimming in a full bathtub.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.” Levi whipped out his phone and a minute later, George was watching the evidence. He was leaning in close to Levi so they could both see the screen, and he caught that familiar pinelike scent on Levi’s skin. Something sweet on his breath. So enticing...
Once the video ended, George scooted away. “I guess at this point, you can find a video of anything online.”
Levi’s eyes twitched with something unpleasant. “Yeah, you can.”
The levity of the moment seemed to vanish, replaced by an awkward silence George wasn’t used to feeling with Levi. But something in George’s comment had struck a bad chord, and George needed to fix the musical score before Levi changed his mind about this vacation.
“What else should I pack for next week?” George asked.
Levi’s face brightened. “There’s a more complete list of suggestions on the website, but warm clothes for sure. If you want to do an overnight campout and own long johns, I’d suggest packing those. I guess growing up in ice rinks, you don’t get cold too easily?”
“Not very easily, no. Orry doesn’t like the cold much, though. I think it reminds him of—” George snapped his mouth shut, aware he’d been about to blurt out one of Orry’s most private secrets. That he’d run away from home when he was sixteen, in defiance of all the attention their parents showered on George, and he’d prostituted himself to survive. Orry had chosen to share the secret with their downstairs friends but it wasn’t George’s place to tell Levi. “Um, a bad time in his life.”
“I can understand that. We all have different
triggers for our traumas.”
Don’t I know it.
“But Orry’s good now?” Levi asked gently.
“Yeah, I think so. It was a lifetime ago. But thank you for caring.”
“You’re my friend, George. I care about the people you love. I’d like to be Orry’s friend, too, but he seems hesitant about me, and I can’t figure out why.”
“He’s just overprotective. Has been ever since I quit skating. But he knows I’m trying to be the person I used to be, to be part of the world. He’s trying to temper his instincts to question the motives of every person who comes near me.”
Levi studied his face for a moment with those beautiful, expressive eyes. “Someone betrayed your trust. Someone besides your parents?”
George’s gut shriveled. “Yes, and I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Heard and backing off.”
“Thank you. I trust you, Levi, but there are some things I don’t talk about, not even with Orry.”
“I get it. I hear you. I went through a horrific period of time in my life, and I did things I have only ever told my therapist. There are probably a few things I didn’t tell her because I blocked them out. But you will always have a safe place with me, George. I promise.”
“I know, thank you. And same. I’m not much of a talker but I’m a pretty good listener.”
“Yes, you are.” Levi looked like he wanted to say something else, but instead deflated George’s good mood with, “I should probably go.”
“Oh, um, okay.” George didn’t want their pleasant conversation to end, but he couldn’t be greedy with Levi’s time. The guy had an hour’s drive home and a whole other life beyond his friendship with George. “I’ll text you a spot to meet on Sunday morning.”
“Sounds good.”
They both rose and George walked him to the door. He hoped Levi would ask for another hug, but all Levi did was extend a hand. Slightly disappointed, George shook with the firmest grip he had, resigning himself to the fact that yesterday’s hug had been gratitude over Ginger. Nothing more. “Thank you again for the vacation voucher,” George said. “I’m nervous but excited. I’ve never done anything like it before.”
“Then I am honored to be there for your first time.” Levi held eye contact a beat longer than George expected before releasing his hand.
George immediately missed his touch, and he didn’t allow his mind to spin out on why. He was simply starved for human contact; that was all. That was all it could be.
Right?
Chapter Eight
Over the course of his lifetime, Levi could count on one hand the number of times he’d been seriously nervous to do something. First time riding a horse solo when he was four? No big deal. She was a gentle mare named Starling, and he’d loved every second of being on the majestic beauty. First time standing up on the saddle of a galloping horse? Cake walk because he was confident in his physical abilities.
The two most recent times were last December, when Levi showed up at Clean Slate Ranch to surprise Robin with a visit—someone he’d truly missed and hadn’t seen in nearly three years. The other time was when he let himself fall in love with Grant, and that had gone spectacularly wrong.
And then there was today, driving to the pickup spot George had texted him. They’d chosen a truck stop because it was easy to get in and out of, and it was very public. Not that this was a hostage negotiation or anything, just a passenger exchange. But Levi imagined Orry had some personal anxiety about his brother going off on his own for a solid week.
Levi texted that he’d arrived and tried not to fidget while he waited. George sent back that they were about five minutes out and he’d be there soon. That made him smile and his heart beat a little harder. He sipped from the thermos of water he always kept on hand and hummed to whatever was on the radio. After not seeing him for the last two days, George was almost here.
He’d never thought to ask what Orry’s car looked like, but an older-model gray sedan pulled into the spot next to Levi’s truck. Levi got out to help, but Orry was the one who hefted George’s suitcase into the bed of his pickup. Then Orry pulled George to the other side of the car and whispered to him. Levi held back, giving them a moment.
The twins embraced in a long hug that hinted at the strength of their bond. George pulled back first and said—from what Levi could see of his lips—“Go, I’m safe.”
Orry turned and gave Levi a stern look. “Take care of my brother. His safety is in your hands, dude.”
“I’ll take good care of him and return him to you in pristine condition.”
A woman holding a plastic bag of groceries from the plaza’s convenience store walked past and shot them all a funny look. George blushed, then moved to stand by the passenger side door of the truck. He watched Orry back out and drive away, waving once. Whether or not Orry could see the gesture, Levi didn’t know. He resisted the urge to go around the truck and open George’s door for him; this was not a date, just an outing with a friend.
They both climbed into the truck. It was about three years old now, and while it didn’t have all the newest bells and whistles, Levi made do with it. It had driven him a lot of miles and across a lot of states since he bought it slightly used. “I’m a little surprised your brother didn’t hand me a written list of personal care instructions,” Levi said.
George burst out laughing in that lovely, lyrical way he had on the rare occasions he laughed around Levi. “I kind of am, too. But I’m under strict orders to text him at each meal, and to send pictures.”
“Proof you’re not damaged?”
“I guess. I do think he’s a little jealous he can’t go. Maybe we can save up and come back together in the summer.”
“If you want to do that, don’t wait too long to make your reservation. The slots fill up fast these days.” Levi backed out of his spot and got them on the road.
“That’s good business for the ranch, though, right?” George seemed to look everywhere at once while Levi navigated his way back onto the interstate. “Slater has told me stories about how Mack built the ghost town to keep the town of Garrett from dying off and the ranch being threatened.”
“Yeah, it’s definitely good for business, and Robin’s told me a lot of the same stories. They deserve to be proud of everything they’ve accomplished, especially Mack.”
“I agree.”
Levi glanced at George’s profile, unable to get a good read on the kid’s mood. Was he anxious? Excited? A little bit of both? “I take it your boss was okay with you takin’ off a whole week?”
George’s head swiveled in his direction, lips twisted in confusion. “I freelance, I don’t have a b—oh. Ha ha.”
“I thought it was funny.”
“I worked longer hours Friday and yesterday so I won’t lose much income. I’ll just do more videos when I go back to make up for it. Hey, how’s Ginger?”
Nice deflection away from your job.
“She’s been sprung from jail.” One of the most joyful moments of his new life had been watching Ginger walk out of the crate and join her siblings outside in the grass. They didn’t wrestle like they often did, seeming to sense Ginger needed to take it easy for a while. Around lunch, he’d found them sleeping by the house in a pile of fur and limbs, soaking in the sunshine.
“Awesome. I am thrilled she’s doing better. I guess you arranged for people to feed her?”
“Yes, Wes agreed to feed them and check their water bowl. But I might have to sneak up and visit them some afternoon. I’ve only been away from them for a whole week one other time, and it was torture. But they were also in another state, not a shortcut through the trees.”
“I get it. If I could sneak away for an hour to visit Orry, I would. I won’t lie, Levi, parts of this week are going to be tough for me, so I’m glad you’ll be around.”
Those wor
ds settled in Levi’s heart and he held them tight. “I’m here for whatever you need.”
They didn’t talk much more on the drive, but the silences weren’t awkward. “I’m starting to remember the way here,” George said when Levi turned off the interstate that eventually led to Garrett. “Which I guess I should, since it’s my fourth time in, like, a year and a half.”
“I’m glad you decided to come up to the July 4th celebration the first time. Glad we got a chance to meet.” If Levi hadn’t already briefly met and interacted with George both times at the ghost town, he might not have been confident enough to approach him at Thanksgiving. To be his friend.
“Me too.” George gazed out at the road ahead of them, his profile distant. “I’m grateful Slater and Derrick came home when they did that night, or me and Orry might never have gotten to know them.”
Levi searched for a “that night” reference but found nothing familiar. “What night?”
George blushed and looked at his lap. “Why do things keep slipping out around you?”
“Because you trust me. But you don’t have to explain anything to me. Not unless you want to, and I won’t share your secrets. I promise.”
“I know.” He stared at his twisted fingers as he spoke. “When I quit skating, my coach was furious. Like, beyond furious, because he’d spent so many years training me. Grooming me. He was so desperate to get one of his athletes into the Olympics, and he was sure I’d be the one. When I refused to compete anymore, he trashed me to any reporter who’d interview him. After Orry and I moved in with our grandparents, Adrian, my coach, came to their house to try and reason with me. When I refused and Grandpa ordered him out, Adrian got physical. Gramma had to call the police to remove him.”
“Damn,” Levi said, aching inside for what had clearly been a traumatic moment for a teenager.
