I Can See for Miles Read Online Free PDF Page B

Greg’s lap as he joined them on the sofa. “It makes perfect sense, babe. But you’ve never been damaged goods. The way you’ve handled the last eight months have filled us with a pride and awe that we could never put into words. You are the strongest and bravest person I know, Josh, and I think that’s what Alec couldn’t handle. He knew he would never be able to cope as well as you.”
    Josh smiled, the warmth of his friend’s words covering him like a blanket. “It’s a good thing you don’t let Mario handle the deep and meaningful speeches.” He rubbed his cheek against the denim of Mario’s jeans. “What would you have said, Tavella?”
    “I dunno, something earth-shattering like, ‘Charlie’s real pretty’.” Mario’s fingers continued to card through Josh’s hair.
    Joining in with the other men’s laughter, Josh closed his eyes and smiled softly. “Yeah, he is, real pretty.” Putting his hand against Mario’s knee and swinging his feet off Greg’s lap, he pushed himself up and stretched tiredly. “I’m gonna hit the hay. Need to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for when I make a fool of myself by falling off a horse tomorrow.”
    “Do you need a hand?” Mario asked, gripping Josh’s elbow.
    Josh slapped Mario’s hand away gently and shook his head. “I keep telling you, dude. You’re not my type.”
    “Pfft,” was Mario’s eloquent response, and he thumped Josh playfully on the arm. “G’night, man.”
    “Night, guys.” Josh counted the fifteen steps until he reached his bedroom door, his fingers skimming over the table against the wall. He had already done several walk-throughs of the cabin earlier today and knew exactly where his room was. Turning the handle, he looked back over his shoulder, suddenly serious. “I just want you both to know that I couldn’t have made it through any of these last eight months without you. I know there were times when I was a complete bastard, but when all the others petered out and faded into the background, you kept coming back. If I’m strong, it’s because you were there to hold me up, and if I’m brave, it’s because you taught me how to be.” He turned quickly, feeling the emotion of the moment stinging behind his eyes, knowing from the hitch in Mario’s breathing that he was having the same difficulty, and closed his bedroom door behind him.
    Counting in his head, he walked toward the bureau and opened the top drawer. Underwear to the left, sleep pants in the middle, and T-shirts on the right. He took out some sleep pants and a top. At home, he just slept in boxers, but although the day had been warm, the night air had become cool, and he would be glad of the extra layers. He quickly set about his nightly ablutions, flushing the toilet when he was finished, then washing his hands and his face, and brushing his teeth. Feeling around on the countertop beside the sink, his fingers found his brush, and he dragged it through his hair, wincing as the teeth caught in knots the breeze had created. Settling himself between the cool sheets, Josh shuffled around on the pillow until he found the most comfortable spot and sighed heavily, closing his eyes.
    Of their own volition, Josh’s fingers found their way to his lips, as they had Charlie’s. He’d have had to be dead, not just blind, to have missed the tremor that shook Charlie when Josh had traced the curve of his mouth. Josh’s body had answered with one of its own. Not for the first time since the accident, Josh fell asleep wishing he could see—wishing he could see just how green those eyes were.
     
     
    “Y OU okay?” Greg’s voice was soft in the darkness of their bedroom. He snuggled in closer against Mario’s side and slid his arm across the other man’s waist. “You’re thinking… I can hear you.”
    Mario chuckled and lifted Greg’s chin with his forefinger, capturing his boyfriend’s lips in a thorough kiss. “Nothing gets past you does it, Watts?”
    “Not when