He just needed to stay busy so the road didn’t call him too loudly.
Not that he couldn’t travel for a while and come back to roost in two months...
“Hey, there’s the crafty cowboy!” someone shouted.
Levi glanced at the front door. Former ranch hand Slater and his boyfriend, Derrick, had arrived, and they had a pair of unexpected companions: the Thompson twins. Levi knew immediately which was Orry and which was George, because George had haunted eyes. He’d met them this summer on July 4th when the pair visited the ghost town. George had been enchanted by the horses and seemed intrigued by Levi and Robin’s trick riding routines. But there was something about his big, blue eyes that had captivated Levi five months ago, and he was a little ashamed that he’d actually searched George’s name online.
He had been shocked to realize the young man he’d met had once been rising-star figure skater Georgie Thompson. Levi respected the hell out of athletes like figure skaters and gymnasts because he knew all about technique and precision. One wrong move on a racing horse, and Levi could fall and break his neck.
Just like Xander had.
Levi straightened, intending to go reintroduce himself. Maybe start up a conversation with George.
Except George took in the crowded room, went exceptionally pale, and then bolted back outside.
Chapter Two
I can’t do this, I can’t do this, I can’t do this. Fuck!
George hadn’t woken up this morning with butterflies in his stomach. No, he’d woken up with a gut full of angry, buzzing hornets that stung his insides and insisted he cancel Thanksgiving dinner in Garrett. But Orry had been excited all week, and George wouldn’t be selfish. So he’d taken his meds, along with antacids, and tried to relax.
Hah.
He’d barely kept his legs from bouncing the entire hour-long car trip outside the city, and even though the Garrett area was now slightly familiar after having been here once before, the big sign advertising the ghost town did nothing to calm him. He swore it somehow made his anxiety worse, and he was a jumpy mess when Derrick parked his car near a sea of other vehicles. Way more than George had anticipated.
It had taken a quiet pep talk from Orry before he could even get out of the car. Derrick and Slater waited patiently, though, aware of how hard this was for George. “Come on, it’ll be okay,” Orry whispered, one hand on his right elbow.
Walk, you idiot. Walk.
He somehow managed to walk onto the spacious front porch, noting the furniture and people chilling outside. The log cabin 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.”