36 - Fallon
~ 36 ~
FALLON
There was something tremendously comforting about walking a busy mall, while holding your boyfriend’s hand. A timeless feeling of belonging, of happiness and excitement that brought you straight back to your teenage years, no matter how long it’s been since the carefree days of youth.
Right now I was in Texas, instead of Ohio. Exploring the halls of the Westgate shopping center, instead of the familiar Westfield, in Franklin Park. Yet it was the same level of happiness, no doubt. The same thrill and sense of pride that came with hooking your arm through someone who belonged to you; especially when that someone was a six-and-a-half-foot gentle giant, who happened to be as blond as he was beautiful.
Trey towered over absolutely everyone, and I never felt more protected as his fingers interlaced with mine. For today at least, the offensive lineman was all Texas. He’d put on his roper boots, blue jeans, and even sported a beautiful felt cowboy hat. I didn’t know what the elaborate buckle in the center of his belt meant, but it was larger than life, just like he was. Best of all, I knew he did these things for me, not himself. And yes, they seriously turned me on.
I looped my arm through his and squeezed a little tighter against him. My giant boyfriend looked totally at ease walking through the mall, as he did striding through all of Texas. It occurred to me that out of the four of us, Trey was the only real local. A transplant from the other side of the state, but still.
“Maybe we can stop and get me one of those,” I said, pointing to his head. “Always wanted one.”
Reflexively, Trey reached up and touched his head. “Here?” he scoffed.
“Sure, why not? There’s a booth up ahead, right next to—”
“You don’t get a genuine Texas cowboy hat from some booth at the mall!” Trey cried, his expression one of pure shock.
“Okay then,” I chuckled. “What about the hat shop next to American Eagle?”
His look of genuine disgust was as cute as it was hilarious.
“Yeah, well I’ve been in Texas for almost four years now,” I lamented. “And I still haven’t—”
Trey tipped his hat off and plopped it right on my head. Then he pulled back to look at me.
“Shit,” he swore. “That’s hot. ”
“I thought putting on someone else’s cowboy hat was bad luck?” I teased.
“It is,” Trey confirmed with a grin. “But you’re not putting on someone else’s hat. As of three seconds ago, that hat’s yours.”
My mouth went wide. “No, come on. I can’t accept this.”
“Sure you can,” he insisted. “I’ll pick up another cattleman next time I’m home. And you should come with me.”
“With you?” I repeated. “Back home?”
“Sure, why not?” Trey shrugged. “I go home often, but hardly at all during the season though. But my family would take to you like biscuits to gravy, I’ll tell you that. Which is what my mother would feed you the whole time we were there, like it or not.”
“Biscuits. Gravy.” I smiled. “Are we talking breakfast here?”
“Biscuits go with every meal,” Trey winked. “Breakfast is bacon, flapjacks, homemade sausage,” he went on. “Home fried potatoes sautéed in butter and onions…”
“I’ll skip the potatoes, thanks,” I chuckled.
“Plus she makes a spicy breakfast taco you wouldn’t believe.”
The pride in his eyes made my heart melt. Trey might be a star linesman and a big deal on campus, but he was a momma’s boy at heart. A hometown hero from a big old Texas family.
“Your mother’s cooking is responsible for your size, I’m assuming?”
He shrugged through another grin. “It definitely didn’t hurt.”
We’d stopped at the food court an hour ago, where Trey had ordered himself two lunches and finished them both in record time. Once I was done eating, he devoured the other half of mine.
“Mom never let me leave until my plate was empty,” he’d told me.
“Even if it wasn’t your plate?” I’d laughed.
“Well, that part’s my idea, I guess.”
Trey scratched good-naturedly at his eternal five-o’clock shadow. It didn’t matter what time of the day it was, he always had it.
“So would you?” he asked abruptly.
“Eat biscuits and gravy?”
“No, come with me for a day or two. The next time I go home.”
He looked a little worried, waiting on my answer. Which of course, was adorable.
“It—it probably won’t be for a few weeks,” Trey stammered. “Or maybe even—”
“Yes,” I said, interrupting him with surprisingly little hesitation. “I’d love that.”
His eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Sure, why not?” I smiled. “First you’ll have to give me the same crash course you gave the other girls you’ve brought home, just so I know what to expect.”
“Well, that’s gonna be a problem.”
“Why?”
“Because I never brought any other girls home.”
Trey stopped walking and pulled me to the side of the busy flow of mall people. Standing against the wall, he held both my hands so he could look into my eyes.
“I’ve only ever had one serious girlfriend,” he shrugged. “Dated her throughout high school. Broke up that summer, when we shipped off to different schools.”
I bit my lip and squinted. “Wait. Are you saying you’ve been with one other…”
“Oh no, I’ve been with plenty once I got to college,” he said sheepishly. “Well, not as many as Dalton , but…”
He trailed off, as I stared back at him blankly.
“Shit. I’m making this worse, aren’t I?”
“Somewhat, yes.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I smirked. “Dalton and I have been best friends since the first day we got to campus. If anyone could guess the jellybean jar of how many girls he’s been with, it’s probably going to be me.”
“Ahh. Got it.”
“Besides, I’m glad you boys had fun,” I smiled at him. “I’m envious of that part of your college experience, remember? And I guess it’s what enabled me to have all the fun I’m having now.”
“I— I guess so.”
“But I’m also thrilled to be the first girl you’re bringing home from school,” I told him genuinely. “Hopefully your giant cowboy family is okay with hosting this small-time Ohio potato farmer.”
Trey bent to kiss me, pulling me in, molding his body against mine. His hands slid commandingly down over my lower back as I sighed softly into his mouth, the crowd dissolving as we kissed the world away.
“They’re gonna love the shit out of you,” he smiled, when our kiss finally broke. One giant hand moved down to squeeze my ass. “You’re also gonna gain about three pounds.”