Chapter 52 Tommy
Four bowls of popcorn, two plates of cookies, and a variety of veggies are on the coffee table. All nine of us watch some competition show that didn’t seem to garner any boos when we were voting.
Sam is tucked into my side with our shared bowl of snacks on my lap and my arm around her. Courtney’s in the middle of the couch next to Sam with Avery and Jackson on her other side. Actually, Avery is on Jackson’s lap. He saw that there wasn’t space for him to fit next to her, so he simply picked her up and sat down with her on top.
I steal a glance over Sam’s head at my oldest brother with one of my best friends curled up on him. They finally figured things out after all these years of silently pining for each other. About damn time. I think about how long I was with the wrong person and how long it took me to really heal from that relationship. Getting over Maisy was the easiest part. It just took me a lot longer to trust someone enough to not fuck me over again. I suppose it was good I thought Sam and Jax dated…it gave me time to get to know her a little while I figured myself out.
Everything feels good right now. No one is out of place and nothing is awkward with this many people gathered. Taking in the full scene around me, my eyes catch on what appears to be fairly fresh ink sticking out of Bryant’s tank top.
“You got another one?” I ask, drawing everyone’s attention first to me and then to Bryant who just looks back at me with one eyebrow raised.
“What’d you get this time?” Caleb calls out from his spot on a cushion in front of Matt’s chair, even though there are two other recliners available and a smaller couch.
Bryant’s gaze drifts to Caleb and instead of a grunt or a monosyllabic response, he leans forward, pulls off his shirt.
Courtney is the first to speak, squealing out, “No shit!”
She’s already walking up to him to examine the designs up close. I swear she doesn’t have boundaries when it comes to looking at tattoos or piercings. The rest of us just take in the swirling lines across his chest.
“None of you knew he got that huge tattoo?” Sam whispers to me while everyone else weighs in.
I shake my head. “He got his first not long after our dad died and every now and then, we notice a new one, but it’s always a mystery.”
“Oh,” she says just as Courtney plunks back down.
Oh,is about right. Our big, burly brother continues to be a mystery at times.
“How many hours did this one take?” Caleb asks.
“Six.” Bryant’s voice is matter of fact.
“When were you gone for six hours?” Chuck asks, his beer halfway to his mouth.
Bryant only shrugs his shirt over his head and turns the volume up on the show, effectively ending the Q and A session.
“He really is this quiet most of the time, isn’t he?” Sam asks, still whispering.
“He definitely is.” I give her a quick kiss since her lips are so close to mine. “He’s very capable of having conversations, but he typically chooses to be as succinct as possible with his words.”
“Court, put the phone away.” Avery tiredly swats at Courtney’s device. “You don’t need to look up tattoo designs right now, we can talk to your artist soon.”
“Fine,” she replies, glaring a little at Avery without any heat behind it.
“Sam, you should come, too,” Avery says.
“Oh please come with, I’m always indecisive and Avery just pulls out more designs to add to the pile.” Courtney’s genuine enthusiasm makes me smile.
“Is it okay that I don’t have any tattoos?” Sam asks.
“There are no qualifications needed besides being a friend,” Avery says, reaching across Court to touch Sam’s arm. “And also making sure Courtney doesn’t get something she’s going to regret right after it heals.”
A little pink appears on Samantha’s cheeks. “I think I can do that.”
“Good, I’ll see when he has time for a consult.” Courtney types furiously on her phone before tucking it back into her pocket.
It shouldn’t be that big of a deal to me. I know my two best friends are amazing. But they seem to be trying to naturally bring Sam into our little world. It was something that I know they didn’t like doing with Maisy, and they tried for my sake to be friendly with her, but they rarely asked her to hang out with just the two of them. Another sign I should have noticed so much sooner…neither of them could bear being around the person I was dating for any length of time without getting frustrated.
But here they are, inviting Sam to go to Courtney’s next tattoo consultation. They would never invite her if they didn’t want her there.
My eyes close and I just let myself feel everything this moment has to give. My brothers in one place, my two best friends right here, Caleb, who has basically become an honorary Landen, and the girl of my dreams.
All here.
All happy.
Two hours later, it’s time to get a few things done around the ranch. Caleb volunteers to help Matt make dinner for everyone, Chuck takes the four-wheeler out to check on a pregnant cow who has been showing signs of possible early labor.
“Do you want to come see the new horse Jackson’s working with?” Avery asks both Courtney and Sam. “He has to head back for an afternoon training session.”
“Sure,” Courtney says, looping her arm through Sam’s. “Let’s go.”
Sam looks back at me, likely wondering if I had anything planned. “I have a few orders to finalize, so I won’t be exciting company.”
“Let’s go,” she echoes, her eyes bright with her infectious smile as they pull on their boots and pile into Jax’s SUV.
After a few hours of hearing Bryant intermittently chopping wood, everyone is back together around our family dinner table with one of the extenders in place. We laugh and talk, the food getting passed around and everyone just being themselves. Sam’s leg pressed against mine during the whole meal.
This right here is the dream.
And I’m ready to make it happen.