by A. M. Arthur
He was safe with Levi for sure, and after having been around him for the better part of the last two weeks, going home without him was going to suck. He was attached to Levi and his kitties, and George was thrilled Levi wanted to date him. A little terrified but mostly thrilled.
Orry, though, might not be as excited that the first person George ever chose to date was eleven years older than him.
At breakfast, Faith was subdued, probably sad that her vacation was over. But she cheered up when Levi reminded her they had one last trail ride that morning, so she’d get a chance to say goodbye to the horses. George was happy to tack and ride Figuro one last time. He and Levi rode side by side, enjoying the scenery and occasional glimpse of a raccoon or squirrel. Their guide, Ernie, pointed out a red fox up ahead, but George was too far down the trail to see it. Damn. He’d loved foxes ever since his parents showed him Disney’s animated Robin Hood.
His bizarre crush on a cartoon fox at age nine should have been his first clue he was gay.
It was lunchtime once they were back and the horses taken care of. George patted Figuro’s sleek forehead one more time. “You be good, girl.”
She nickered.
Lunch was a smorgasbord of leftovers, since this was the last week open to guests until after the New Year. Patrice encouraged everyone to eat their fill of the cold salads and fresh fruit that wouldn’t store as easily as the cold cuts and cheese. Levi and George sat with the Briggs-King family on the porch, despite the chill. George had genuinely enjoyed getting to know them this past week, and he found his courage to ask Mr. Porter to take a picture of their group. Then he got cell numbers from Samuel and Rey and group-texted it to everyone.
“So how was the second honeymoon?” Levi asked once the plates had been collected and returned. They all had about two hours of free time before the buckboard would arrive to take them to their cars.
“I think it was a great success and a lot of fun,” Rey replied. “Faith had the time of her life; we got to spend time together as a family with no work to worry about. I call it a huge win.”
“Excellent.”
Samuel nodded his agreement while smiling fondly at his husband.
Husband. It was too big of a word for George to even consider for himself one day when he’d never even been on a date. Even boyfriend was daunting. He just wanted to be as happy and in love as Samuel and Rey clearly were.
Patrice came around and reminded everyone to have their luggage downstairs by two forty-five so it could be loaded and driven down to the parking lot ahead of the buckboard. After he’d packed, George gazed around the room that had been his home this week. It wasn’t very large, and George probably couldn’t have handled sharing with four people, especially if he didn’t know two of them. With him and Levi?
Perfect.
They trotted downstairs and left their suitcases in the designated spot. George wandered the main yard a bit by himself to take more pictures, mostly of the bunkhouse and barn. Another of cabin row to give Orry a better idea of the grounds. George might be leaving Clean Slate Ranch today but deep down he knew he’d be back.
Now that he had Levi in his life, George would do everything he could to keep him.
* * *
Levi wasn’t sad to climb onto the buckboard for the return trip, because gods knew he’d probably be back down this way tomorrow to chill with Robin. He was more nervous over a question he hadn’t managed to ask George yet, and he wouldn’t get another chance until they were in the privacy of Levi’s pickup.
When they reached the parking lot, their luggage was waiting, the pickup driver idling nearby to watch the open gate. There was also a taxi waiting for someone. Faith looked like she wanted to burst into tears once she climbed off the buckboard. Samuel picked her up and whispered in her ear while they walked. Levi said polite goodbyes to the other guests as he grabbed both his and George’s bag. Carrying them both to the pickup felt right. Faith was settled by the time the Briggs-Kings luggage was stowed in the taxi’s trunk, and they wandered over to say goodbye.
“Despite the long drive to the airport,” Rey said, “it’s still cheaper than parking a rental for a week.”
“Makes sense.” Levi squatted and held out his hand to Faith. “It was an honor to meet you, Miss Faith. I hope you get to ride again soon.”
“Thank you, Mr. Levi.” She shook his hand, then did the same with George. “Are you boyfriends?”
George startled and glanced around, but no one—not even the taxi driver—was paying attention. With a secretive smile, George leaned in and faux whispered, “Not officially but maybe one day.”
“Good. I like him. You should like him too and get married like my dads.”
“It’s a little too soon for getting married, but I do like him. He’s a really nice guy. You have a good flight home okay?”
“Okay.” She cast a forlorn look at the departing buckboard, barely a shadow on the horizon, and climbed into the taxi.
“It was a pleasure to meet you both and get to know you,” Levi said to Samuel and Rey. “You are both very blessed men.”
“Considering the rocky start we had, we are extremely blessed to have what we do,” Rey said. “If you ever find yourself in or near Harrisburg, give me a call and I’ll cook you both dinner.”
“He loves to show off his cooking skills,” Samuel added.
“It’s what I do for a living. I have to be good at it.”
They all exchanged handshakes because the meter was running, and then the small family was being driven away. Levi and George were the only guests who hadn’t left yet, and the pickup still idled—probably waiting to lock the gate, since they’d be closed to visitors for a few weeks. Levi didn’t linger. Once they were in the truck cab, he drove them to the ranch’s entrance to Garrett’s main road and stopped.
“I want to ask you something,” Levi said. “Since it’s only three o’clock. I know you probably miss your brother and are eager to see him again, but did you want to spend some time in my home before I drive you back?”
George’s bright smile calmed Levi’s nerves. “Yes. Please. I’ll just text Orry and let him know we’re, um, that I want to see Ginger again. Which is totally true.”
“Are you going to tell him anything about us being intimate?”
“I will.” He sank against the bench seat. “We need to sit down and have a long, serious conversation. Not just me coming out and seeing you, but also him lying to me on Thanksgiving. We definitely need to talk about that.”
“How do you think he’ll feel about you seeing me?”
“Honestly? I think he’ll be upset, and I think he’ll blame you because you’re older and way more experienced, and it doesn’t help that I haven’t come out to him yet. I don’t think he’ll be mad about that but definitely hurt.”
“Do you think it will help if I say I have nothing but the best of intentions?”
George snorted. “I don’t know, because I don’t have the best of intentions.” He wiggled his eyebrows in a suggestive way that took any possible sting out of the words. “I don’t want to go home and go back to being the person I was before, Levi. This week has been too important to me.”
“It’s been important to me, too. You’re the only other person besides Robin who knows what Grant did to me.”
“Then, to borrow your words, I thank you for your honesty and your trust.”
Levi couldn’t resist leaning across the seat to kiss George. “Then let’s go say goodbye to the cats.”
And that was part of it, but not all of it, once Levi parked his pickup near his home. They spent more time naked in his bed than playing with the cats, and Levi was okay with that. He liked George in his bed and in his life, and he wanted the younger man there as often as humanly possible going forward.
Chapter Seventeen
George was not ready to lea
ve the sanctuary of Garrett, California, but he had another life to return to. As much as he would have liked to chill in Levi’s home forever, the real world beckoned him back into its less interesting embrace. After swapping hand jobs—George wasn’t quite ready to go down on Levi yet—and playing with the cats, they climbed into Levi’s truck for the trip back to San Francisco.
They stopped along the way for a takeout dinner to eat in the cab. George wasn’t a huge fan of fast food but the restaurant Levi chose had a grilled chicken sandwich that seemed acceptable, plus a side salad option instead of fries. They entered George’s neighborhood a little after eight that night, and George’s gut soured the closer Levi got to his place. Their vacation at Clean Slate had been the best kind of dream. The real world wasn’t quite as awesome.
Levi found a spot on a side street to park. “Do you want me to walk you to your place?” he asked.
“Okay.” They were over a block away from the house, and George wasn’t sure about walking around alone, especially after dark. It was a relatively safe neighborhood, but still.
“Excellent.”
Levi carried George’s bag, and they walked close without touching. Other homes were brightly lit with people moving around inside, testament to all his neighbors living their lives. Cars passed them on the street, carrying other folks to their Saturday evening plans. Or perhaps home from a late dinner in a nice restaurant. So many possibilities for people who didn’t hide themselves away from the world.
At the big house’s door, George produced his keys. “You don’t have to come inside if you aren’t ready to, um, I don’t know.”
“Announce to your neighbors that we’re dating?” Levi supplied, smiling. “I’m comfortable with whatever you are. Would you like me to walk you to your door like a proper date would?”
“We weren’t on a date.”
“Technically, no, dates don’t last a full week. But we’re also doing our own thing, remember?”
George grinned. “I think I like the idea of our first date being a ranch vacation. It’ll be an easy anniversary to remember.”
“Then I’d like to walk you to your door.”
“Okay.” George’s belly wobbled with nerves but he slid his key into the lock and turned the knob. He was not surprised to see Derrick, Slater, Dez and Morgan having another Monopoly tournament in the living room, with two mostly empty six-packs and a pizza box nearby. Slater rolled the dice and their quartet looked up to see who was home.
“Hey, you’re back,” Slater said. “Hi, Levi. What did you think of the ranch, George?”
“It’s breathtaking,” George replied. “I loved it there, and I am amazed you gave up living there.”
Derrick playfully pinched Slater’s cheek. “That’s because he loves me too much to keep playing with horses.”
Slater swatted his hand away. “I lived there for as long as I was meant to, and it was time to move on. Give other people a chance to enjoy its magic. Looks like Levi took good care of you.”
Coming from Derrick or Dez, George might have read more into the statement, but Slater was typically a blunt person. “He did. He and Robin even did a trick riding demo for the guests, which was really cool.”
“Until Faith announced she wanted to be a trick rider too,” Levi added with a chuckle.
“Faith?” Dez asked.
Levi described the family they’d met and befriended, while George kept glancing at his stairs. He’d texted Orry roughly what time he thought he’d be back almost an hour ago and hadn’t gotten a response yet, so he had to be working at the bar. “Anyway, I’m going to walk George upstairs. He’s had a long week, and I imagine a nice soak in a real tub sounds like heaven right now.”
“Amen,” Derrick said. “Those showers in the guesthouse are utilitarian at best, and not very big. I doubt Morgan would be able to turn around in one.”
“Don’t say that.” Dez reached across the board to punch him in the arm. “I’m still trying to convince Morgan we should make a reservation for next summer. It sounds like fun.”
Morgan grunted.
George said goodnight to his friends and led the way upstairs, key at the ready. Other than going downstairs to get the mail, George wasn’t used to coming and going with any great frequency. But he was starting to enjoy coming with Levi—in more ways than one. The apartment was expectedly empty and dark. Orry must have been out all day, assuming George would be home before dark, because whenever Orry worked late and George went to bed, he always left the microwave light on so Orry didn’t come home to the dark.
At least, he hoped Orry had been out all day and hadn’t not left the light on because he was mad at George for some reason.
George hit the light switch by the door, which turned on their floor lamp. Levi put the bag down near the door as George turned to close it, giving them a bit of privacy. He checked his phone but still no reply from Orry. Ninety minutes wasn’t the longest he’d ever taken to reply to a text, but George was also used to knowing which job Orry was doing. Saturday night was a good night for driving ride shares or bartending.
“Nothing from your brother?”
George shook his head. “I mean, I’m not super worried or anything. I guess I was hoping he’d be home. I wanted a hug.”
“Will a hug from me tide you over?”
“Definitely.” George slid easily into Levi’s arms now, and he rested his head on Levi’s shoulder, nose pressed into his neck.
“I suppose this will have to tide me over for a while too.” He ran his fingers through George’s hair in the familiar, petting gesture that George was beginning to adore. It made him want to roll over and show his belly like a puppy.
They stayed like that until a key rattled in the doorknob, then broke apart quickly, George’s heart suddenly in his throat. Orry didn’t seem surprised to see Levi; someone downstairs must have mentioned him still being here. “You must have just got back,” he said. “You’re still in your coats.”
George didn’t want to lie and say yeah, they had just gotten back. Levi saved him with, “We got distracted. It was a long week.”
“Huh.” Orry tossed his own coat over the back of a chair, even though they had hooks by the door, then went to the fridge.
“You don’t work tonight?” George asked.
“Bartending gig starts at ten, and I was hoping to eat before then if that’s okay.”
George took a step back, even though the remarks had been directed toward the refrigerator’s interior. It wasn’t like Orry to be that snappish with him. Levi briefly squeezed his elbow before letting go. “I’m sorry.”
Orry sighed heavily and let the fridge door close. Turned. “No, I’m sorry. It’s just been a really long day of ride shares and I’ve missed you. The apartment has been so empty.”
“I missed you too.” George opened his arms. “Peace?”
“Of course, dude, we aren’t fighting.” Orry crossed the distance and hugged him. “I’m glad you’re home, and I’m glad you had a good week.”
“I had a great week.” George squeezed his brother tight, overjoyed to be with him again after almost a full week apart. The longest separation since they were both sixteen. “I took way more pictures than I sent you.”
“I bet.” Orry pulled back and studied him. “You seem different. More confident.”
“I am. I rode a horse and camped overnight, and I made new friends and acquaintances. I was so happy, Or. I felt alive for the first time since... I don’t even know. It’s been forever.”
“I believe you.” He shot Levi a suspicious look. “I also need to eat before I got to work again. We’ll talk more in the morning, yeah?”
“Of course.”
Orry went back to rummaging in the fridge. George took Levi outside to the private landing. “Call me tomorrow when you have a chance to talk to him,” Levi whisper
ed. “We’ll plan our next date.”
“Okay.” George brushed his lips over Levi’s, wishing he was brave enough to do more. “I’ll see you soon. Thank you for everything.”
“You’re welcome. It was all truly my honor. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Count on it.” He reluctantly watched Levi descend the steps and disappear from sight. The muffled sounds of Levi saying goodbye to the Monopoly crew drifted up, and then the softer sound of the front door closing. After an entire week close to him, Levi was gone.
George went into the apartment where Orry was eating a sandwich at the small kitchen table while also doing something on his phone. He was tired and the idea of a long, hot bath was appealing, but George plunked his ass down into the chair opposite his brother and asked, “Why did you lie to me on Thanksgiving?”
Orry nearly choked on his food. “What?”
“You told me you had a bartending gig, but the bar you work at was closed that night. I’ve kept this in for weeks, bro, but I need to know the truth.” George couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so blunt with his brother, demanding information rather than simply accepting what he was told. And it felt good. Freeing.
Orry put his sandwich down and stared at him for a long time, his identical blue eyes difficult to read for the first time in ages. “I didn’t mean to lie. Exactly.”
“What does that even mean? Lying is lying.” And wasn’t he guilty of the same thing by not telling Orry he was gay and now dating Levi? Probably but right now, this was about his brother.
“I know, I just...didn’t want to put any kind of pressure on you. About stuff.”
“Stuff like what?”
“Dating stuff.”
For a split second, George thought Orry knew about him dating Levi. Except that wasn’t right. No one knew for sure about their status, which meant... “Are you dating someone?”
“Yes.” Orry stared at his lap. “I met her in late October, and a few times when I said I was working I was actually with her. Hanging out. Doing stuff.”
