Page 25 of The True-Blue Romance

“We’re coming,” I tell Beau.

Beau does a double take when Joey comes out from behind me. “The movie is starting,” Beau says, voice full of concern.

“Uh-huh,” Joey says, a tremble in his voice.

“Y’all alright?” Beau asks, looking between us both like he caught us stealing.

“Good,” I answer, but my voice breaks on the word.

I walk past Beau back toward the farm, leaving Beau and Joey standing behind me. The sun has fallen behind the hills by the time I reach the guys that are sitting patiently on the picnic blanket. Benji has joined the group now, sitting down with Nolan’s head in his lap. The large inflatable screen shows the opening sequence of the movie, so I plop myself down and get cozy to enjoy the movie. A few moments later, Beau and Joey join the group, with Beau settling beside a curious-looking Trevor. Joey sits beside me like always, the heat of him radiating into me.

I might be unable to stop being Joey’s best friend, but I have to maintain the distance so that being in love with him doesn’t destroy me from the inside out.

6

JOEY

Lee

I got a rabbit

It’s late on a Friday night when I get Lee’s text. I’m home since it’s Easter weekend, which means the farm is shut down; we always close down for the holiday weekend. We even get Friday off, which is glorious. I’d spent the day cleaning the house and prepping for the weekend without Savannah. Her mother and I haven’t spoken since I sent the email about her moving her boyfriend into her apartment without disclosing it to me. The best thing is that due to Danica’s demanding job, she’s not home enough to have Savannah more than a few weekends a month. It still riles me up, though, to lose control over something so integral to Savannah’s safety and comfort. I don’t even know the dude.

At least I have the weekend off to stew about it in peace.

Although maybe not anymore after Lee’s text.

Instead of texting back, I call him. I haven’t seen him since the movie last week because he’s been dodging me at the farm. I’ve been busy with Benji and confirming the plans for the restaurant that’s taking shape already.

“Yellow,” Lee says with a smile in his voice.

“I wanna see the rabbit.”

“It’s seven o’clock at night.”

“So, I don’t have Savi. Can I come over and see the rabbit?”

“Will you bring dessert?”

I smile and bite my lip, comforted by our normal teasing. “I have leftover blueberry cheesecake I made for Savi during the week.”

“Be here in fifteen minutes. Whipped cream too.”

Then Lee hangs up. I shove off the couch, take a quick shower, and get dressed in sweatpants and an old T-shirt that’s seen much better days. I grab the cheesecake container, whipped cream, and a six-pack of the local beer that I know Lee secretly loves. I hop in the car and make the drive in twelve minutes, windows down and country blasting on the radio. The warm spring air whips through my hair, carrying me to Lee.

The sight of his farm settles me more than I can ever explain. Lee pops around the corner with his overalls on, no shirt, one of the hooks undone so that the front of the overalls hangs onto his stomach. For the first time in my life, I’m struck with the force of seeing him. I’ve been thinking a lot about what Benji said, especially since that moment in the orange groves where I seriously wondered what it would be like to kiss Andrew Bradley. Again. But for real this time.

The way he’s looking at me now—soft eyes, wide grin, a flush on his cheeks—makes me wonder what he would do if I did kiss him. Would it ruin our friendship? Would he hate me? Or would he pull me in closer? I’ve been surrounded by queer men the majority of my life and I’ve never found another man attractive. Well, maybe I’ve always found Lee a little attractive. His soul is so goddamn beautiful, his crooked grin, the way his eyes sparkle when he sees me. The way he’s always held Savannah like she’s his own flesh and blood.

Oh my god.

Suddenly, I feel the urge to turn around and hightail it out of here.

Because I’m not sure this is just me being attracted to my best friend.

I think maybe I’m in love with him, and maybe I always have been.

“Rabbit?” I croak, because all other words have fled me.