“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.” Levi whipped out his phone and a minute later, George was watching the evidence. He was leaning in close to Levi so they could both see the screen, and he caught that familiar pinelike scent on Levi’s skin. Something sweet on his breath. So enticing...
Once the video ended, George scooted away. “I guess at this point, you can find a video of anything online.”
Levi’s eyes twitched with something unpleasant. “Yeah, you can.”
The levity of the moment seemed to vanish, replaced by an awkward silence George wasn’t used to feeling with Levi. But something in George’s comment had struck a bad chord, and George needed to fix the musical score before Levi changed his mind about this vacation.
“What else should I pack for next week?” George asked.
Levi’s face brightened. “There’s a more complete list of suggestions on the website, but warm clothes for sure. If you want to do an overnight campout and own long johns, I’d suggest packing those. I guess growing up in ice rinks, you don’t get cold too easily?”
“Not very easily, no. Orry doesn’t like the cold much, though. I think it reminds him of—” George snapped his mouth shut, aware he’d been about to blurt out one of Orry’s most private secrets. That he’d run away from home when he was sixteen, in defiance of all the attention their parents showered on George, and he’d prostituted himself to survive. Orry had chosen to share the secret with their downstairs friends but it wasn’t George’s place to tell Levi. “Um, a bad time in his life.”
“I can understand that. We all have different triggers for our traumas.”
Don’t I know it.
“But Orry’s good now?” Levi asked gently.
“Yeah, I think so. It was a lifetime ago. But thank you for caring.”
“You’re my friend, George. I care about the people you love. I’d like to be Orry’s friend, too, but he seems hesitant about me, and I can’t figure out why.”
“He’s just overprotective. Has been ever since I quit skating. But he knows I’m trying to be the person I used to be, to be part of the world. He’s trying to temper his instincts to question the motives of every person who comes near me.”
Levi studied his face for a moment with those beautiful, expressive eyes. “Someone betrayed your trust. Someone besides your parents?”
George’s gut shriveled. “Yes, and I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Heard and backing off.”
“Thank you. I trust you, Levi, but there are some things I don’t talk about, not even with Orry.”
“I get it. I hear you. I went through a horrific period of time in my life, and I did things I have only ever told my therapist. There are probably a few things I didn’t tell her because I blocked them out. But you will always have a safe place with me, George. I promise.”
“I know, thank you. And same. I’m not much of a talker but I’m a pretty good listener.”
“Yes, you are.” Levi looked like he wanted to say something else, but instead deflated George’s good mood with, “I should probably go.”
“Oh, um, okay.” George didn’t want their pleasant conversation to end, but he couldn’t be greedy with Levi’s time. The guy had an hour’s drive home and a whole other life beyond his friendship with George. “I’ll text you a spot to meet on Sunday morning.”
“Sounds good.”
They both rose and George walked him to the door. He hoped Levi would ask for another hug, but all Levi did was extend a hand. Slightly disappointed, George shook with the firmest grip he had, resigning himself to the fact that yesterday’s hug had been gratitude over Ginger. Nothing more. “Thank you again for the vacation voucher,” George said. “I’m nervous but excited. I’ve never done anything like it before.”
“Then I am honored to be there for your first time.” Levi held eye contact a beat longer than George expected before releasing his hand.
George immediately missed his touch, and he didn’t allow his mind to spin out on why. He was simply starved for human contact; that was all. That was all it could be.
Right?
Chapter Eight
Over the course of his lifetime, Levi could count on one hand the number of times he’d been seriously nervous to do something. First time riding a horse solo when he was four? No big deal. She was a gentle mare named Starling, and he’d loved every second of being on the majestic beauty. First time standing up on the saddle of a galloping horse? Cake walk because he was confident in his physical abilities.
The two most recent times were last December, when Levi showed up at Clean Slate Ranch to surprise Robin with a visit—someone he’d truly missed and hadn’t seen in nearly three years. The other time was when he let himself fall in love with Grant, and that had gone spectacularly wrong.
And then there was today, driving to the pickup spot George had texted him. They’d chosen a truck stop because it was easy to get in and out of, and it was very public. Not that this was a hostage negotiation or anything, just a passenger exchange. But Levi imagined Orry had some personal anxiety about his brother going off on his own for a solid week.
Levi texted that he’d arrived and tried not to fidget while he waited. George sent back that they were about five minutes out and he’d be there soon. That made him smile and his heart beat a little harder. He sipped from the thermos of water he always kept on hand and hummed to whatever was on the radio. After not seeing him for the last two days, George was almost here.
He’d never thought to ask what Orry’s car looked like, but an older-model gray sedan pulled into the spot next to Levi’s truck. Levi got out to help, but Orry was the one who hefted George’s suitcase into the bed of his pickup. Then Orry pulled George to the other side of the car and whispered to him. Levi held back, giving them a moment.
The twins embraced in a long hug that hinted at the strength of their bond. George pulled back first and said—from what Levi could see of his lips—“Go, I’m safe.”
Orry turned and gave Levi a stern look. “Take care of my brother. His safety is in your hands, dude.”
“I’ll take good care of him and return him to you in pristine condition.”
A woman holding a plastic bag of groceries from the plaza’s convenience store walked past and shot them all a funny look. George blushed, then moved to stand by the passenger side door of the truck. He watched Orry back out and drive away, waving once. Whether or not Orry could see the gesture, Levi didn’t know. He resisted the urge to go around the truck and open George’s door for him; this was not a date, just an outing with a friend.