Page 59 of Hell and Gone
“And what’d he say?”
“Buck told me, ‘live wherever the hell you want to. The job is the job. You come home to what you live for.’” Everett spun his keys in his hand. He dropped his duffel, a bag Lawrence hadn’t noticed slung over his shoulder. “I think I’d like to live right here.”
“Right here? With me?” He had to be sure. He had to be dead sure.
“With you.” Everett grinned. “You know, someone once told me once you get the Crazies in you, you can’t get them out. I think that man was right. I’ve gotten a bit of the Crazies inside me, but I want more. I want alotmore. I want all I can take, in fact.” He inhaled, a quick breath. “I want everything. I want my chance at everything, at least.”
It was what he’d been waiting for his whole life. Happiness. Another man who wanted him, who saw him, all of him, and still wanted more. Who looked at him and thought he was worth it, worth building a life with. The feeling bloomed inside of Lawrence like summer wildflowers, like his fields bursting to life. He tipped his head back and smiled at the sun.
“There’s just one thing,” he finally said, striding toward Everett. “I don’t let anyone with ridiculous hats on my ranch.”
Everett pulled a face. “My hat is fine. It’s my work hat.”
Lawrence plucked Everett’s ball cap off and tossed it into Everett’s truck bed and then took his own cowboy hat off. He set it on Everett’s head. “There. That’s better.”
“Will you kiss me, Law, God damn it?” Everett grabbed the front of Lawrence’s t-shirt and dragged him close. He tipped his head up, the brim of the cowboy hat brushing Lawrence’s hair. “I’ve been dreaming of coming back to you, and it’s the first time I’ve dreamed of anything since Afghanistan. Icraveyou, Law.”
He traced a finger over Everett’s cheekbone, ran his touch down to his jaw. Cradled his neck. “I been dreamin’ of you my whole life,” he whispered. “Been waitin’ on you. Cravin’ you, even before I knew who you were, Everett Dawson.” He leaned forward and kissed Everett, a gentle, slow caress of lips. “I want to put a little Crazy in you,” he whispered in Everett’s ear.
Everett wrapped his arms around Lawrence’s neck and beamed. “Give me your Crazies, Law. I want it all.”
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