24. Romy
24
romy
“ H ow was your movie date?” Lina asked, wagging her brows when I entered the stables the next morning to tack up Winnie.
My heartbeat shot to my core at the memory. There was just something about watching how I made Jude lose control while he pleasured me. This large, tattooed man, who quietly commanded any room he walked into, falling apart by my touch. No wonder I didn’t last long when he had his fingers inside me.
I gave Lina a wry smile.
“Ha! I knew it!” She clapped, a little skip in her step as she ran to wrap her arms around me. “Please tell me ya’ll fucked!”
“Lina!” I gasped. “He’s your cousin. And no, we had a very nice evening talking.”
“Talking?” She looked aghast. “I thought Jude had better game than that.”
I wasn’t about to kiss and tell.
I laughed. “It was good for us to get on the same page.”
After our “movie date” in the truck, Jude and I drove back to the house, his arm around me, softly stroking my shoulder. We had been quiet, exchanging awed smiles with each other. I wanted him to come to bed with me. In fact, I had pulled his hand toward his room. I wasn’t nearly done with him. But he had insisted we hit the brakes; he’d sleep on the couch.
I didn’t want to part from him, so I washed up, put on my pajamas, and crawled onto the couch with him. We shared all the highlights and lowlights of the past twelve years. He told me how he struggled with depression, but he was going to therapy and taking medication. Being back on the ranch, he was slowly feeling as though he was regaining his equilibrium. He hadn’t recognized how much he had lost of himself being away from his family and Thornbrush.
I shared with him that I didn’t know if I wanted to continue teaching, that it was draining all my energy and joy. It felt rewarding at first, but now it just felt as if I was taken for granted and unappreciated. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I didn’t know if I could continue giving of myself when there was no one to fill my tank.
Although I had avoided returning to Willows, it wasn’t until now that I sensed my homesickness. Could you feel homesick when you know you are home?
I didn’t know. But the chest-tightening longing I felt whenever I stepped out the front door—taking in the sweeping high desert and mountains, breathing in the scent of grass and pine, and listening to the distant rush of the river with the bellows of cattle—made me yearn to stay still. To settle my feet in the dirt of this place.
Of course, I didn’t tell that part to Jude. Even talking into the wee hours of the morning, we tiptoed around the questions of “what now?” and “are you going to leave?” I didn’t want to ask him if he was returning to Vegas after this fight. I didn’t want to consider further than the here and now. I needed to figure out what was going to happen with Hazel first before I made any life-changing decisions. Thinking beyond that was too overwhelming.
At some point in our conversation, I fell asleep on the couch, only to wake up alone in his bed. I had never slept so hard. I didn’t even notice him carrying me to the bed.
But for the first time, I woke up rested and with a smile on my face. I hurried out of bed to wish him good morning, but he had already left for the day. My smile nearly faltered, if not for the coffee and note on the kitchen counter—with his phone number on it. Like we were high school kids again exchanging numbers. I felt like a teenager, too, excited about my crush.
I quickly pulled out my phone, typed in his number, and texted him.
Me
Hi.
Jude
Who’s this?
Me
It’s me.
Jude
Who’s me?
I rolled my eyes at that.
Me
Do you give your number out to other girls?
Jude
Only the gorgeous blonde ones who scream my name.
My scoff was followed by a soft giggle. I watched three dots pop up on the screen while he texted.
Jude
JK. I hope you slept well in my bed.
I loved this part of our friendship. I always had. We could banter and laugh all day back in high school. I never tired of our conversations. But I didn’t remember Jude being such a flirt or having such a filthy mouth. Then again, I hadn’t known he had liked me since we were sixteen. It made my belly flutter.
Now as I tacked up Winnie, preparing to lead another trail ride with Lina, my back pocket buzzed. I swiped my phone from my jeans and read the text.
Jude
Since I won last night, does that mean I get a prize?
I laughed under my breath.
“What?” Lina asked.
“Nothing,” I told her, while my fingers flew over the phone screen, texting him back.
Me
Who said there was a prize?
Jude
Honey, I don’t think you can dodge this one. I play for keeps. I’m pretty sure I have you beat. You’re going to break the rural noise ordinance.
“Oh, you got it bad,” Lina tittered as she hoisted herself into the saddle.
I must have had the silliest smile on my face because she was looking at me with a knowing smirk.
Just then, Reed walked into the stable.
“People are already arriving for the trail ride,” he barked.
Lina didn’t look up, only adjusted Mushu’s reins. “Thanks for the announcement.”
“They’re waiting. It’s supposed to be a two-hour ride, and it’s already ten o’clock.”
It was the most I’d ever heard from Reed.
Lina shot him a glare. “And? Why don’t you go use those stellar social skills and keep them occupied until we’re ready.”
Reed turned on his spurs, grumbling as he retreated to the outdoor arena.
“Can he get any more fucking bossy?” Lina asked. “I’ll go make sure he’s not killing our TripAdvisor rating while you saddle up.”
While Lina rode out of the stable, I shook my head at their antics. Thank goodness Lina was leaving for the circuit tomorrow. They could use a break from each other. I also thought Lina could be a little oblivious to her feelings, like I was.
Before I grabbed Winnie’s tack, I shot back a text.
Me
I don’t know, babe. Pretty sure you’re going to cause a stampede with all the “fucks” you’ll be yelling when I ride you. We’ll see who earns the prize.
I pocketed my phone with a satisfied grin on my face, threw the blanket and saddle over my arm, and headed over to Winnie’s stall.
Why were we taking things slow, again?