chance. The words couldn’t make it past Levi’s lips. They were too much for this early moment. “It’s scary and exciting, and totally worth it with the right person. I believe that.”
“You believing helps me believe it. I know I’m only twenty-three, but I feel so old sometimes, and I want a life. I want Orry to have a life. I want us both to have a real life, even if it takes us away from each other for a while.”
“The great thing about the time we’re living in? Even if you’re ten thousand miles from someone you love, you can still see them face-to-face with your phone or tablet. I can tell how much you love your brother, but maybe it’s time to put your own happiness first.”
George didn’t speak, only held his gaze for a long time, before kissing Levi. Levi willingly went to his back, giving George all the control. They kissed for ages with George slotted between his spread legs. George didn’t initiate more, though, and Levi didn’t press. They kissed until exhausted, and after going through separate bedtime routines, curled up together in Levi’s bed. Sharing one space for the first time, with George snuggled up against Levi’s back. The big spoon.
Levi fell asleep dreaming of the day George slid home inside his body. He knew to his bones that the experience would be spectacular.
* * *
George experienced the unique sensation of coming awake pressed up close to an adult male body, and he smiled at the back of Levi’s head. They were still in the same positions as when they fell asleep, and while George’s left arm was a little numb, he was glad. He liked being snuggled up to Levi’s broader body. George felt safe and protected in his arms, and he was grateful to hold Levi for a little while. To offer comfort after Levi had shared something personal and painful with him.
George wasn’t generally a vengeful person but if he ever stumbled across this Grant Clark character, he was likely to give the asshole a swift kick to the nuts for betraying Levi like that. And while the majority of the subtitle work George did was for name studios, it made him sick to think he could have ever accidentally seen Grant’s video.
As comfortable as George was, his bladder gave a kick. Levi grunted in protest when George tugged his arm free, pins and needles already racing through it. Worth it, though. When he returned, Levi was sitting up and smiling at him. “Sleep well?” Levi asked.
“Very well. You?”
“Best sleep in ages.”
George slid back into bed and Levi’s arms. “That’s a high compliment.”
“And yet true.”
They rested together a while longer, until the sun had risen and the rooster call sounded. Levi went to shower first, because those bathrooms were simply not designed for sharing, and then George took his turn. He left his things on a towel to dry for packing later—an old habit he’d started when he was traveling for competitions.
Nope, not thinking about that today. He was going to enjoy his final couple of hours at the ranch. His phone had a good-morning text from Orry, which he returned. Orry had gotten a touch less clingy as the week progressed, probably because George had begun texting less frequently. He was safe here and didn’t need the constant reassurances of his brother anymore.
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