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 his first clue he was gay.
It was lunchtime once they were back and the horses taken care of. George patted Figuro’s sleek forehead one more time. “You be good, girl.”
She nickered.
Lunch was a smorgasbord of leftovers, since this was the last week open to guests until after the New Year. Patrice encouraged everyone to eat their fill of the cold salads and fresh fruit that wouldn’t store as easily as the cold cuts and cheese. Levi and George sat with the Briggs-King family on the porch, despite the chill. George had genuinely enjoyed getting to know them this past week, and he found his courage to ask Mr. Porter to take a picture of their group. Then he got cell numbers from Samuel and Rey and group-texted it to everyone.
“So how was the second honeymoon?” Levi asked once the plates had been collected and returned. They all had about two hours of free time before the buckboard would arrive to take them to their cars.
“I think it was a great success and a lot of fun,” Rey replied. “Faith had the time of her life; we got to spend time together as a family with no work to worry about. I call it a huge win.”
“Excellent.”
Samuel nodded his agreement while smiling fondly at his husband.
Husband. It was too big of a word for George to even consider for himself one day when he’d never even been on a date. Even boyfriend was daunting. He just wanted to be as happy and in love as Samuel and Rey clearly were.
Patrice came around and reminded everyone to have their luggage downstairs by two forty-five so it could be loaded and driven down to the parking lot ahead of the buckboard. After he’d packed, George gazed around the room that had been his home this week. It wasn’t very large, and George probably couldn’t have handled sharing with four people, especially if he didn’t know two of them. With him and Levi?
Perfect.
They trotted downstairs and left their suitcases in the designated spot. George wandered the main yard a bit by himself to take more pictures, mostly of the bunkhouse and barn. Another of cabin row to give Orry a better idea of the grounds. George might be leaving Clean Slate Ranch today but deep down he knew he’d be back.
Now that he had Levi in his life, George would do everything he could to keep him.
* * *
Levi wasn’t sad to climb onto the buckboard for the return trip, because gods knew he’d probably be back down this way tomorrow to chill with Robin. He was more nervous over a question he hadn’t managed to ask George yet, and he wouldn’t get another chance until they were in the privacy of Levi’s pickup.
When they reached the parking lot, their luggage was waiting, the pickup driver idling nearby to watch the open gate. There was also a taxi waiting for someone. Faith looked like she wanted to burst into tears once she climbed off the buckboard. Samuel picked her up and whispered in her ear while they walked. Levi said polite goodbyes to the other guests as he grabbed both his and George’s bag. Carrying them both to the pickup felt right. Faith was settled by the time the Briggs-Kings luggage was stowed in the taxi’s trunk, and they wandered over to say goodbye.
“Despite the long drive to the airport,” Rey said, “it’s still cheaper than parking a rental for a week.”
“Makes sense.” Levi squatted and held out his hand to Faith. “It was an honor to meet you, Miss Faith. I hope you get to ride again soon.”
“Thank you, Mr. Levi.” She shook his hand, then did the same with George. “Are you boyfriends?”
George startled and glanced around, but no one—not even the taxi driver—was paying attention. With a secretive smile, George leaned in and faux whispered, “Not officially but maybe one day.”
“Good. I like him. You should like him too and get married like my dads.”
“It’s a little too soon for getting married, but I do like him. He’s a really nice guy. You have a good flight home okay?”
“Okay.” She cast a forlorn look at the departing buckboard, barely a shadow on the horizon, and climbed into the taxi.
“It was a pleasure to meet you both and get to know you,” Levi said to Samuel and Rey. “You are both very blessed men.”
“Considering the rocky start we had, we are extremely blessed to have what we do,” Rey said. “If you ever find yourself in or near Harrisburg, give me a call and I’ll cook you both dinner.”
“He loves to show off his cooking skills,” Samuel added.
“It’s what I do for a living. I have to be good at it.”
They all exchanged handshakes because the meter was running, and then the small family was being driven away. Levi and George were the only guests who hadn’t left yet, and the pickup still idled—probably waiting to lock the gate, since they’d be closed to visitors for a few weeks. Levi didn’t linger. Once they were in the truck cab, he drove them to the ranch’s entrance to Garrett’s main road and stopped.