Right Move (Clean Slate Ranch #6) - A.M. Arthur Page 0,74

in dozens of different states, but he had to admit Garrett had some of the most beautiful he’d ever seen. Robin had shown Levi his Instagram account and Levi admired the hundreds of sunsets Robin had photographed in tribute to Xander. It had been such a lovely gesture, and Levi had made one of them his phone’s background. The sky had been a gorgeous swirl of purples and reds—two of Xander’s favorite colors.

He walked a bit away from the other guests, enjoying the crisp night air without making conversation. His thoughts were filled with George and their afternoon together. Sex with George had been different from any of the other sex he’d had in the past, and not because George was a virgin and still figuring himself out. He’d felt genuinely seen and accepted by the younger man in ways he’d never experienced with a partner before. Like he had more to offer than a pretty face and washboard abs. He had come close to something similar with Grant, which was why they’d been together so long before imploding.

Everything about George was special, and Levi wanted to hold on for as long as he could. Do things with George and not just in bed. He wanted to romance him and that wasn’t Levi’s best event, but he’d try. For all that he’d stopped dreaming of a future with someone by his side, Levi could see flashes of it with George. But saying anything about it this soon in their relationship might scare George off. Be too big for him to handle.

This nebulous future also scared Levi in its own way. He’d bought a house he could take with him because he enjoyed the nomadic lifestyle. Being able to travel whenever he wanted. After living on the road for his entire life, could he actually settle down in one place? Put down real roots? Or would his wandering spirit always tug him elsewhere?

He had no idea, so he’d keep those feelings close for now.

He wanted to talk to Robin about them but it could wait for another day. Once the group circled back to the guesthouse, Levi went upstairs to his room. George was asleep in his bunk, on his left side facing the room. Only a tiny bit disappointed, Levi brushed his teeth and changed into flannel pajama pants—the room was a bit chilly tonight—and a T-shirt. He played a game on his phone until sleepy, and then settled in.

Creaking springs and thrashing woke him at some point, and Levi sat upright. Moonlight showed him George moving around in his bed, and a few soft whimpers made his heart hurt. Levi slipped out of bed and over to George’s bunk. “Hey, wake up, you’re okay.”

George cried out as he came awake, and he blinked dumbly up at Levi for a few seconds. Then he launched himself into Levi’s arms, breathing hard, fine tremors racing through his entire body. Levi held him tight, one hand cupped protectively around the back of his neck.

“You’re okay, I’ve got you.”

“I fucking hate nightmares,” George whispered, his voice a bit raspy. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Shush, it’s fine. It got you out of your nightmare faster.” He rubbed gentle circles on George’s back. “Do you remember what it was about?”

“Adrian, as usual. He’s my bogeyman.”

Levi hated that George had nightmares about his former coach, especially knowing the way the man had behaved this past summer. Maybe Adrian’s reputation as a coach had been trashed by George quitting, but Adrian had ruined George’s life and sense of safety. As much as Levi tried not to hold grudges anymore, he truly wanted to see Adrian punished for still being inside George’s head.

George pulled back, blue eyes glistening but also determined. “It was about the night he came to the apartment and hit me. Only Orry was there this time and Adrian started attacking him. I couldn’t move to save him. All I could do was scream but I wasn’t making any sounds. Just a whimper.”

“You’re okay now.” Levi rubbed their noses together. “Orry’s fine.”

“He knows where I live.”

“Yes, you live in a house full of neighbors who will call the cops if he tries to come inside again. And he’d be a complete idiot to try. He has nothing to gain from seeing you again.” Not that obsessive stalkers needed reasons to see their target again and again. Levi had no personal experience with being stalked—Grant had just been a vengeful creep—but he’d heard the stories