Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Vince

V ince loved working at Covington Acres. The more time he spent here, the more he realized how passionate he was about that. That more than anything else, he loved seeing food grow, loved knowing that it went from seeds to substances that filled people's bellies. It was like a rebirth Vince was just realizing fascinated him.

He and Colby had been hard at work all morning. There was also something special about working so close with his friend. It often surprised him that the two of them didn't get on each other's nerves. Between living together, now sleeping with each other and working together too, Vince thought it would be too much. In the past, even with Gregory, the man he'd loved, Vince had enjoyed his space, his free time. It was part of the reason why his relationship with Holden had worked as long as it had—the space. But it wasn't something he ever sought when it came to Colby. Maybe because they were just friends with benefits and that made all the difference.

They'd been together most of the morning, but now Colby was working with Dennis on something while Vince took his lunch. He found their spot under his favorite tree and pulled out his sandwich.

He couldn't imagine having a place like this. Not that he would ever want this much land, but some might be nice. He understood why this farm meant so much to the Covingtons, while also understanding why Colby thought he might need something else that was just his.

His phone buzzed. He smiled, figuring it was Colby giving him shit about taking lunch without him or to tell him he was on his way, but that wasn't the name on the screen.

Greg.

Why the fuck was that asshole calling him?

His initial thought was to ignore it, that Greg could fuck right off, but then Vince knew his ex. He would take that as some kind of win. That he'd hurt Vince, or that Vince couldn't handle talking to him. Hindsight was twenty-twenty, and now with the visors removed—again—he saw Greg for who he was.

"Why are you calling me?" Vince said instead of hello. "Aren't you the one who was done with me? The one who had your new little boyfriend pack my bags? He not giving you enough attention, so you're going to try and come back to me?"

"I suppose I deserve that," Gregory said. It threw Vince for a moment.

"What are you playing at? You don't take responsibility for your actions. Ever."

"Ouch," he chuckled, before sobering. "I'm not playing any games. I was just thinking about you and wanted to check and see how you're doing. Contrary to what you believe, I'm not a terrible person, Vince. I've fucked up. A lot. But I've… Well, let's just say that the last year has made me see some things."

He was struck quiet for a moment, unsure how to respond. He didn't believe Greg. He also didn't give a fuck about him. There wasn't a part of Vince that still loved Gregory, not a part of him that would ever trust him or want him back.

"I heard you moved to a small town in North Carolina. Holden lives there, right? He always hated me." Gregory gave a humorless laugh. "I never imagined you as a small-town guy. If you're there because of me—"

"I'm not," Vince cut him off. "Not everything is about you." Yes, he had moved because he'd been hurt, felt stupid, and never wanted to show his face around Atlanta again, but that wasn't why he stayed in Harmony. He stayed because he liked it here. He was happy here. "Why are you calling me, Greg?"

Greg sighed. "Partly to apologize. I'm sure you won't believe me, but I've changed. I've been seeing a therapist the last year to try and work out why I'm the way I am, and…I'm in love. I'm getting married, actually, if you can believe that, and being in love for the first time, I understand now the pain I caused you…Liam…too many men to count, to be honest."

For a moment, Vince couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.

Gregory was in love for the first time. He'd told Vince he'd loved him, but he hadn't because you couldn't love someone and do to them the things Greg had done to him. But hearing him acknowledge it hit differently. Greg was in love and getting married, and though Vince didn't want Greg, didn't want what Greg seemed to have now, somehow this truth still sliced open his heart. Still made him feel things he couldn't understand…made him wonder why he hadn't been good enough.

"Good for you. Treat him right. Don't turn him into another casualty of falling for you." Without another word, Vince ended the call.

His stomach twisted up, and damn, he hated himself for that. Why did he give a fuck what that bastard was doing? And he didn't, not really, but clearly, he felt some kind of something about all this.

Vince packed his lunch away, having lost his appetite. He did manage to finish his water bottle before heading back to the crops. It wouldn't be long until they were dealing with an abundance of apples. That would hit around August and go through October. Last year was his first time experiencing apple orchards and all that went along with it.

Vince had liked all the apple desserts Vicki Covington made, loved seeing families bring their children there to pick apples on a Saturday afternoon. There was a wholesomeness to it that Vince hadn't ever thought he'd enjoy.

"I'm in love. I'm getting married, actually, if you can believe that, and being in love for the first time, I understand now the pain I caused you."

Vince shook those thoughts from his head. He had no business thinking about Greg. Why the fuck was he allowing this to take up space in his head?

He made his way to the gardens. The fruits and vegetables were growing like wild, so Vince lost himself in harvesting cucumbers, beets, bell peppers, zucchini, garlic, and carrots. He was proud of how well everything was growing. Sure, that wasn't only because of him, but he'd had a hand in the gardens this year. Seeing the growth day in and day out always made him feel accomplished.

The more time he spent out there, the more the tension inside him eased. Fuck Gregory. Vince still didn't believe him, but he wished the man the best. He wasn't going to spend his life hating the guy because if he did, how the fuck would he ever move on?

He couldn't say how much time passed before he heard, "You have a green thumb."

He turned around from where he knelt on the ground and looked at Charles. He looked tired and was moving slowly as he approached. "Thank you. I never knew that about myself until I moved here. I enjoy it."

"I'm glad. And I hope you know I'm not blowing smoke up your ass either. The vegetables have been doing much better under your care, so whatever you're doing, keep it up. You and Colby have been working hard on the orchards too. He's taken care of those trees well."

Before he could reply, he saw Colby approaching. His hair was wet with sweat, sticking to his head. It was hotter than it should be.

"Are you out here harassing Vince?" Colby teased. Vince pushed to his feet.

"I'm doing no such thing. I was just telling him how much help he's been and how well he does with the crops, is all."

"Oh. Then I forgive you." Colby winked at him. "Dad's right."

"Eh. Makes sense. I'm good at most things I do," he answered playfully, and damned if Colby's cheeks didn't pinken.

"Well, I'll let the two of you get to it. The boys will be here in a bit, so I'm going to wrangle up some jobs for them to do." Charles nodded at Vince, then Colby, before slowly hobbling away.

When he was a good distance away from them, Vince stepped closer to Colby, all up in his space. "You blushed when I mentioned how good I am… Were you thinking about my lips around your cock?"

"Fuck," Colby gritted out, hand on Vince's waist. "I'd hoped you didn't notice that."

"Not a chance. I notice everything about you," he said, earning a shy smile. He filed that away, keeping it with Colby's other smiles.

Colby looked around, and when he saw what he apparently wanted to see, he said, "Come here," then motioned toward one of the buildings where they kept gardening supplies.

Vince didn't question him, following Colby to the building, then inside. He kept on going until they got to the back, tucked behind a cabinet, and Colby pulled Vince's mouth to his.

Just like that, everything else from the day slipped away while he let Colby's tongue explore his mouth, before feeding Colby his own.

"This is fun," Colby said as Vince kissed down his neck.

Vince thought everything with Colby was fun. "What? You never hooked up in one of the barns on your parents' property?" Vince bit his neck, then licked away the sting.

"No, and I think we should try it more often." Colby went for the button on Vince's jeans. Despite all this being new to him, he didn't hold back, willing to take Vince into his hand or his mouth.

Just as he flicked the button open, a noise came from behind them. "I need to grab a few things!" Dennis said to someone as he came into the building.

Colby dropped his head back, letting it bang softly against the wall. As Dennis moved closer to them, they both froze. Vince didn't know if he should move out of the hiding spot and draw Dennis's attention away or if they should stay put.

"Goddamn it. Where is it?" Dennis said, voice getting closer. There were noises of cabinets opening and closing. Would he eventually come back to the one they were hiding behind?

There was a bang, bang, bang as lids opened and stuff shifted around, the sounds not far away.

He worried that Colby was scared of getting caught. Vince didn't want to out his friend by messing around with him in his parents' shop like they were a couple of teenagers, but when he looked at Colby, all he saw was him biting his cheeks to keep from laughing.

The same sensation bubbled up in Vince, and he tucked himself closer to Colby, hoping to stay in the shadows, but also enjoying this more than he should.

"Fucking finally," Dennis eventually said, grabbing whatever it was he'd been looking for and slipping out. The second he was gone, they dissolved into laughter.