Sundae's Best (Briar County 2)

He didn’t stay as long as he normally did, feeling like he would suffocate if he didn’t get out of there, which made him feel like shit. These were Patricia and Nathan’s parents. They didn’t deserve that.

When he got home, he almost picked up his cell and texted Grady, almost asked him if he wanted to come over for dinner, but he didn’t let himself. Hell, he basically had to force himself not to. He tried to figure out why it mattered, why he couldn’t spend time with the man, why he wanted to so much, until he thought he was going to lose his mind.

And when he finally fell asleep that night, he dreamed of Patricia. Of her smile, her hand in his. He heard her soft voice, the words choppy, but she always knew what to say, and Deacon knew if she said it, it was something he needed to hear. So he made himself listen.

It’s okay, baby.

You deserve to be happy.

Promise me you’ll follow your heart, okay?

Granny’s right.

Life is too short to live with regrets.

You’re supposed to move on. I don’t know what’s taking you so damn long. You’re too beautiful to be so sad all the time.

Nathan says take care of him.

It was those words that made Deacon’s eyes pop open. He was drenched in sweat, his heart thudding like a stampede of horses in his chest.

What in the hell had that dream been?

Deacon had lost his mind.

Chapter 13

Grady

There were a hell of a lot of goats at Covington Acres.

It was Wednesday—two days since he’d talked to Deacon, not that he was counting—and Grady had been at the farm since early that morning, working with Holden at the Apple Stop. He could tell it was a busy, well-run place. They had animals, a small garden, and apple orchards, which were open to the public in the fall. People would come to pick apples, eat apple donuts, and drink cider, but now the trees had already been plucked bare for the season.

Holden had introduced him to Roe’s parents and siblings, who all worked there, along with other townsfolk from Harmony. They were all clearly close, not just those who were related. Like Roe, his relatives were good people. It hadn’t taken Grady long in their company to see that.

“So, Roe says you were in the army?” Holden asked as they worked on laying the new flooring.

“Yep. Did my four years, but that was it.”

“That’s great. I’d thought about enlisting when I was younger but didn’t want to leave Marilee.” Noticing Grady’s confused look, he added, “She’s my sister. You have siblings?”

Sadness swept over him. After all these years, he’d thought he’d be used to it by now. And he was in some ways, but when he got the reminder, he couldn’t help wishing things were different. He missed his family more than words could say, this constant ache living in his chest, but they’d made their decision, and there was nothing he could do to change it. “Two sisters, yeah. Don’t really have anything to do with me, though. They couldn’t accept my sexuality.”

“Shit, man. I’m sorry.” Holden looked over at him, sorrow in his eyes. “The world is fucked sometimes, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it really is. But I’m okay. Don’t have time for people who care about who I love.” That was both true and not. He knew it was their problem, not his, but it didn’t change how much he cared about them.

“Yep. They don’t deserve you. I have Marilee and Sean, of course, but no other family. I found mine here, though, first with Roe and Wyatt, then with Lindsey and the rest of the Covingtons.”

Again, Grady felt a stab of melancholy. People had come in and out of his life, acquaintances, friends, lovers, but no one he’d considered family except Nathan. “I’m happy you have them.”

Holden wiped the sweat off his brow. It wasn’t hot really, but they were working hard, and it was an unusually warm day for November. “Took me a bit to get used to. Still does, to be honest, but that’s nothing on them. It’s all me. It’s so different from what I’m familiar with.”

Grady could understand that. It was one thing when you grew up around people like Monroe Covington and his family. Grady hadn’t. And finding your way there in adulthood had to take some getting used to. “I hope to have that one day—what the two of you do. You’re crazy about each other, I can tell.”

Holden looked his way and gave him a full-faced smile. “Didn’t think I wanted it until I met him—damn sexy man.” They both laughed. “Hey, listen. Do you have plans for Thanksgiving? I know it’s short notice, considering it’s tomorrow, but we’ll be here—the whole family will. They’re a very the-more-the-merrier bunch.”