Chapter 14 Tommy
Ithink I laid the groundwork well for this. But I’m definitely floundering now that I sent the text. I push my phone just out of arm’s reach on the desk so I don’t send her more messages while she thinks things over.
It’s only eleven. Huh, she usually doesn’t text much until her lunch break.
My phone vibrates just before I’m about to sit on my hands since I have more questions. Legitimate, normal questions, not panic-induced babbling.
Sam: Decaf for you?
I groan. Of course she’s answering the messages in order.
Tommy: Surprise me.
She’s typing.
My leg starts to twitch as I stare at the three dots that don’t go away.
Shit, did I totally misread everything the other night? She sent a flirty text that night and I replied, doing my best to ignore Maisy’s message.
The dots leave the screen and I frown, now worrying that I messed up. Maybe I didn’t mess up. Maybe I’m just not the guy for her. I wince at the physical pain that brings to my chest.
Rubbing my sternum, I try to ease the building pressure.
Calm down, Tommy Landen. You know she stresses about her words. Don’t assume the worst in her just because—
The front door swings open with much more force than is necessary and Bryant comes in caked with mud from head to toe. He looks like he’s about to murder someone.
“Dare I ask?” I venture, grateful for his timing.
He kicks off his boots and I see his jaw clenching over and over, still fuming.
“No.”
Well, I didn’t expect to get much more of an explanation from him, especially looking like that.
“Want coffee ready for when you’re clean?” I ask.
He takes a deep breath in through his nose. “Please.”
“On it.” I reach for my phone and slip it in my jeans as I walk to the kitchen. Since it’s after eleven, the other guys will be in soon for lunch, so I brew a full pot. I consider setting out the whiskey, but they’re all going right back outside with the animals, so they can’t partake.
My pocket vibrates and my nerves return tenfold. I take a deep breath before I pull my phone out and unlock it.
Sam: Sorry for the delay! Hank called to remind me to not work right now. For full transparency, I’m saying yes to going on a date with you on Thursday. Where would you like to go? I’ll start studying the menu on my break!
Nothing could stop my smile. Not even Matt and Caleb barreling through the front door. They’re not quite as caked as Bryant, but whatever went down didn’t leave them unscathed.
I burst out laughing. “Do I get to know what happened now?”
“We were going to try getting someone on the new mare today.”
Caleb waves at me, “We attempted to get my ass in the saddle. As you might have guessed by my appearance, I didn’t make it.”
I rush a few steps over to him, “Shit, are you okay?”
Matt swats me away. “He never got a boot in the stirrup, he’s okay. We had a helmet on him the whole time, too.”
“Did the doctor give the okay for him to ride a horse that has only recently gotten used to wearing a saddle?” I ask, looking at them both suspiciously.
“I was cleared to ride.” There’s a stubborn set to Caleb’s jaw as he says it.
Matt smacks Caleb in the chest. “Are you saying you were, in fact, cleared for all styles of riding? Because that’s what you’ve been inferring.”
Caleb closes his mouth as he stares at my youngest brother whose face goes through about ten different emotions before he lets loose.
“What the fuck are you trying to do? Do you want to go back to the hospital for another month? I was there with you, and I’m not going to let you do something bone-headed just because you’re bored or think you have something to prove to the cowboys traveling with the rodeo,” Matt fumes.
“And what, I wasn’t there? I was the one in the goddamn bed, hooked up to monitors, getting my ass wiped by nurses while in a neck brace and two casts.”
This is definitely not something I want to get in the middle of. These two have been friends for a long time, but we were all surprised that Caleb’s one person who could come to the hospital was Matt. Not even his agent had access to him. I mean, this whole thing has to still be hard on him. He’s made a small fortune in the rodeo circuit and we’re six months out from his last ride, and he still can’t let loose like he seems to be born to do.
I walk back to the desk and I hear Matt’s voice soften. Turning up the speakers, I drown out their conversation and return to the one on my phone.
Tommy: Sorry, apparently the new mare wasn’t keen on the idea of someone riding her today and people are coming in hot for lunch. I know we just went for wings, but what if we did Maybel’s? Their Thursday evening chef always has something new to try and last week it was an Italian beef dish. You game?
Sam: Oh my, is everyone okay?
I can imagine her confused face at the thought that a horse might not be ready to have a person hop on its back, let alone the time it takes for them to be comfortable with a saddle. She’s typing immediately.
Sam: Maybel’s sounds great. I should be done well before 2 for the next while until Hank can present the justification for more tasks for my position, so I’ll have more time for co-op and dinners.
Sam: I mean, if you want to have dinner again.
The dots pop up and go way over and over while I type my reply. I can practically see the blush on her face as she tries to backpedal assuming there will be more dates.
Tommy: I think just bruised egos over here.
Tommy: Perfect. How about a matinee before dinner since you’re off early? I can sneak out. I happen to have an in with the guy who runs the office at Landen Acres.
Sam: Oh good, I’m glad there’s no lasting damage. How long does it take to be able to ride a horse?
Sam: A matinee before dinner sounds perfect. You pick the show and tell me what time.
Tommy: I promise to not pick anything that I know will make you jump.
Tommy: You should come out sometime in the afternoon after you’re done and see the horses we have. Maybe Friday?
Wow, that was smooth. If Chuck were reading over my shoulder he’d smack me upside the back of the head for being desperate. But I suppose I am. I’m desperate to be around her. Desperate to hold her again. Desperate to breathe in that floral perfume and have it linger on my clothes.
Desperate to kiss her.