Right Move (Clean Slate Ranch #6) - A.M. Arthur Page 0,7
exterior of the place. The chill in the air and smell of nature all around him. He followed his brother inside, trying to focus on the back of his head and not see the crowd right away. To absorb the warmth and wonderful scents of turkey, spices and other things.
Then the very loud, “Hey, there’s the crafty cowboy!” seemed to put all eyes on Slater and their quartet. All eyes on George. He saw a sea of disappointed fans and all the old shame came rushing back. Crushed down on him. The house was too small, the fans too close.
So he ran like a coward.
Ran all the way back to Derrick’s car and pressed his forehead against the cool metal of the door. Regulated his breathing the way he’d been taught during panic attacks. Felt the car beneath his touch. Smelled grass and the faint odor of wood char.
“You’re okay.” Orry stroked his back with a firm, familiar touch. “Jesus, I didn’t think you were this bad.”
“I’m so sorry I embarrassed you.”
“You didn’t embarrass me, bro. I feel like an ass for not realizing how anxious you were about this.”
“Didn’t want you to see. You wanted to be here. You deserve this.”
“Yeah, well, you don’t deserve this.” By “this” Orry meant more than just today’s panic attack.
But George was tired of letting his anxiety cripple him. His friendships with his downstairs neighbors had reinforced that fatigue and made him truly face his loneliness. “I’m going back inside, I just need a few minutes. I wasn’t prepared for all those people. It’s been a while.”
“I know. But if the people in that house are anything like Slater, they won’t judge you for having a panic attack.”
“Thanks.” George released his grip on the car long enough to hug his brother, then leaned his back against it. Stared up at the sunshine and blue sky. “This is nice.”
“Real sky and sun on your face is always better than through a window.” Orry hesitated, as if about to comment again, then smiled and went back to the cabin.
George closed his eyes and allowed the sun to warm his face for a little while as he worked up the courage to go back in. His attacks embarrassed the hell out of him when he had them in front of other people. But unless Orry told everyone that’s what had happened to him, folks could simply assume he left something in the car.
Except for the handful of folks on the porch who could probably see him standing here like a fool. Oh well, it couldn’t be helped. As his adrenaline waned and his fingertips stopped twitching, he caught the sound of rough scuffling nearby. George opened his eyes to an unexpected sight: Levi the trick rider.
He blinked hard, sure he was imagining him because of the sun glaring against his eyelids, but no. Levi stood a few feet away with a bottle of water in one hand and a small, almost shy smile on his face. “Hey,” Levi said. He held out the bottle. “Thought maybe you could use this.”
“I...thank you.” George was crazy thirsty now, and Levi surprised the hell out of him by cracking the top before handing it over. George gulped the cold water, thankful for the man’s unexpected kindness. “I mean it, thank you.”
“Happy to.” He tucked both hands in the pockets of his low-slung jeans. In a long-sleeve blue cotton T-shirt and sneakers, Levi seemed different from the cowboy George remembered. More peaceful. And the man was good looking in a way that made George feel very plain.
“It’s a nice day.” Stupid small talk was stupid but George still wasn’t good at handling conversations with near-strangers.
Levi’s smile broadened. “It is. We’ve had a string of really nice weather up here this week. Glad it held up because I think Wes invited the whole county to this shindig. Some folks might have to eat outside.”
“Probably me.”
“Not used to big crowds of people, huh?”
“No.” Words were coming more easily now, and it had everything to do with his conversation partner. Something about Levi simply...put him at ease. “No, I haven’t been around a group like this in years. But Orry really wanted to come today, and I knew he wouldn’t if I stayed at home.”
“That’s a brave thing to do, George. Step outside your comfort zones for your brother.”
“He’s taken care of me for a long time. It’s my turn to do something for him.” Determination straightened George’s spine. “I can do this.”