20. Jamieson
twenty
Jamieson
“ J amieson, goddammit you’re going to hurt yourself.”
Hunter lifts the barbell from my shaking arms and replaces it in the cradle.
“I really thought I could do a few more. Guess not.”
Hunter lifts his eyebrow in that way that calls my bullshit, and I roll off the weight bench, feeling like a bowl of Jell-O.
“How did the day go yesterday? Griff was pretty vague when he texted me.” Jackson tosses me a towel, and I roll into a sitting position. Hunter leans against the wall after replacing our weights and chugs Gatorade like it’s his job while scrolling on his phone.
“It went very well. His dad is here now at White Oaks.”
Griff had shared with Jackson about his dad a few days ago and finally our little group understands everything Griff has been going through. It stung a little less when I learned he kept it from everyone and not just me.
“That’s great. He must be relieved.” Jackson leans next to Hunter on the wall and bumps his shoulder. “Why do you keep checking your phone so much? Are you going to share what’s going on with you soon?”
Hunter huffs in exasperation and shoots Jackson a withering look .
“We aren’t all like you, living in a delightful land of love and rainbows.”
Jackson frowns, and I don’t like the tone Hunter is using with his closest friend and the nicest man I know.
“Hey. That’s uncalled for, and you know it. We’re not against you here and Jackson would literally give you the shirt off his back anytime and anywhere, so maybe don’t be such an asshole.”
Hunter mutters an apology, but Jackson just…explodes.
“You know what? Just once in your life, look at the people around you. We’re your friends, Hunter. I speak for all of us because I’ve never felt more sure of anything, but we’re here for you. We will stand beside you, behind you, or fucking hold you up. Whatever help you need, we can give it if you’d just let us in!”
I’ve never heard Jackson angry. Well, once, when he dropped a dish of hummus because of me bumping into him, but that was more sadness at not having hummus. This is new, though, and it feels like they’ve been arguing before about something I’m not aware of.
“Do you have a hundred thousand dollars you can loan me to keep my home? Because that’s what I need, Jack.” Hunter’s face flames red with anger, and Jackson’s mouth drops open.
“What? How? Is there —”
“Oh, I’ll tell you.” Hunter swallows hard before sagging against the wall and sliding to the floor. Jackson immediately sits beside him and presses his shoulder against him.
“I still meant what I said. Let’s work this out somehow.” Jackson’s voice is soothing, but I’m not sure how we can help financially. I know Griff is using most of his savings to pay for the rehab he took his dad to. I have some saved, but not nearly enough to even put a dent in what Hunter needs.
“When my grandfather died, he left everything in trusts. He controlled it all, even after he died.” Hunter’s lips twist in a sneer. “Even dead, he’s still messing with my life, and I can’t access the money to pay the property taxes. The bank said no to refinancing since the property is in a trust, and I’ve maxed all my credit trying to keep the remaining horses and bulls fed and cared for.”
“Riley’s friend, Gabe, is a lawyer. Maybe there’s a loophole or something? He could look at the documents if you’d like.”
Hunter thuds his head against the wall with a sigh. “I don’t want to lose the ranch. As horrible as it was growing up there, it’s all I know. It’s who I am.”
The three of us sit silently until Hunter pushes up off the floor.
“You said something about The Thirsty Cow? Why don’t we get cleaned up and head over there? I could really go for a massive piece of cheesecake right now.”
I’m definitely not against eating your feelings. But as he stalks out of the gym, Jackson and I share a concerned look.
No cheesecake in the world will solve this issue.
The Thirsty Cow is a local coffee and dessert place. Music always plays softly, and they have shelves of board games .
Various paintings of cows and photos of desserts cover the walls, and the furniture is mostly overstuffed armchairs and love seats rather than tables with chairs. It’s only been operating for a few years, but it’s a massive hit for Kissing Ridge. Baristas wear tight cutoff jean shorts and revealing shirts, which also helps to keep the place busy. It’s not just the cows that are thirsty, if you know what I mean.
Griff took me here for my birthday, just after it opened, and bought me an entire blueberry pie. That was almost two years ago, and I remember it like it was yesterday.
He’s waiting for us, along with Riley and Riley’s friend Gabe, in a small sitting area near the back. Two couches face each other with a coffee table between them, and it’s a lot like being in someone’s living room.
Except your friend doesn’t keep selling you seven-dollar coffees and giant slabs of cake.
Taking the seat next to Griff, I lean in and kiss him. “Hey, babe. Did you already order for me?”
“Aww, I’m so happy to see you guys together.” Riley sighs and Griff grumbles something I can’t quite hear.
“Thanks. I know it’s weird but…it’s right.”
Griff’s lips tilt in a tiny smile, and he shakes his head. “I ordered for you. We haven’t been here long.”
Gabe wags his finger between us. “Is this new? You weren’t together last year at the rodeo when I was here, were you?”
“Nope. But we should have been.” I drape an arm over Griff, and he smiles back at me. The lines around his eyes crinkle, and his gaze is all for me. He’s all for me and I wish I’d have seen this sooner. Sometimes love sort of bites you in the ass, though. Or kisses you in the middle of a bar and blows your mind.
Either way.
“Where are Hunter and Jackson?” Riley checks his phone before looking back at me. “He said he was right behind you.”
I’m about to reply, but the barista arrives with my coffee and two blueberry custard tarts.
“Griff, you spoil me. Two?”
“It was the last two they had, and I knew you’d want a second one if we were here longer for an hour.”
Griff does this little shoulder shrug, like he doesn’t know me better than myself sometimes, and I press a kiss to his lips and linger there.
“I love that you spoil me with blueberries.”
Griff laughs and playfully grabs my shirt and pulls me closer. “If I knew all it would take was blueberries to win you over, I’d have done it sooner.” He pecks another kiss on my lips before letting go, and I straighten to find Riley clutching his hands to his chest in absolute glee.
“You two are so fucking perfect. This makes me so happy.”
Riley is still grinning as I take a bite of my tart.
“Do you think Jackson could grow blueberries for me in that gardening setup he has?” I ask Riley.
“I don’t actually know if he could. But I could ask.”
We chatter on a bit more, but the whole time, Gabe is tuned out, and it feels almost rude. He’s not even listening to the conversation, so I turn my head to find out what he’s looking at.
And all I see is Hunter and Jackson at the counter and I know he’s not eyeballing Jackson. Interesting .
“So, Gabe. Are you in town for long this time?”
He snaps his gaze to mine, and I smirk. Yeah, I caught you looking, big guy.
He raises an eyebrow, cool as a cucumber, and his gaze shifts back to the two men while he speaks. “I might be here longer than expected.”
Riley, who had been talking to Griff, chimes in. “He might be staying, actually. Permanently.”
“No shit? I thought you were a city guy and hated all the big trucks and animals in these parts.”
Riley laughs with far too much enthusiasm, and Gabe finally gives us his attention.
“I don’t hate the animals. That’s not true.”
Jackson and Hunter arrive, and I lean back and watch with amusement as Riley gives his seat to Jackson and snuggles on his lap, while Gabe shifts to create extra space for Hunter and raises that damn eyebrow again.
Hunter would rather sit on the floor, I think.
“To answer your question, Jamieson, while I may be ‘ city ,’ as you put it, I like the small-town vibe, and I like the animals so far. Especially the wild ones.”
Hunter stiffens and stares into his mug like it’s the most fascinating thing in the world.
“Tell them the good news, Gabe. Quit stalling.” Riley pokes Gabe’s shoulder behind Hunter, and we all turn our attention to Gabe, who leans forward and places his now empty mug on the table.
“As you all know, I miss Riley. He’s my best friend and I hate being in the city without him. Visiting him here has made me reevaluate my life goals.” Gabe puffs a huge breath. “I’ve left my law office, and I purchased a small law practice here. I’m moving here permanently.”
Riley is absolutely thrilled and kisses Jackson as he laughs. His two best men will now be in the same town, and he could only be more excited if he were a kid on Christmas morning.
Griff and I stand to offer Gabe a handshake and congrats, which he accepts with a genuine smile.
Hunter grunts.
“Have you found a place to stay? Riley, is your place available?”
He shakes his head. “No, I rented it last month to my assistant, which works for both of us since we’ve been finishing part of the floor for an office now that we have condo approval for it.”
Hunter finally feels the weight of my stare and shakes his head. After all Griff has shown me the past few weeks, and what I’ve learned from this group of men I call friends, I can’t believe he’d remain quiet.
He’s gonna kill me, but I’m saying it, anyway.
“Don’t you have an extra room or two? You could rent to Gabe while he finds a place of his own? There aren’t a lot of quality properties for sale right now, and I’m sure Gabe would prefer to take his time before he buys.”
Jackson tilts his head in thought. “He’s right, Hunter. And he’s an extra set of hands to look after the place if we go to a rodeo.”
Hunter glares the sharpest of knives my way, but I don’t care. If he won’t speak up to take something that could help him, I will. It might not help him keep the ranch in the end, but it’s still money to pay some bills .
“He wouldn’t know what end of the horse to feed,” Hunter grumbles, and Gabe just smiles.
“Sounds like you could teach me since you’re so good at knowing everything then.”
“I’m very particular about how I keep house. You can’t just leave stuff everywhere.”
“Okay. I’ll keep everything in my room.”
“No overnight guests.”
“Not a problem.”
“You pay for your own groceries.”
“I don’t expect you to feed me.”
Hunter’s jaw clenches and unclenches as we watch their exchange like a tennis match.
“I’m difficult to live with.” All of us laugh, and Hunter throws his hands in the air. “I’m being honest!”
“If you’re being honest, then tell me why you don’t want to rent to me so badly.”
If I had a bag of popcorn right now, it would be perfect because there’s something going on here, and I’m done with secrets. Griff’s were enough to break me. I don’t want Hunter to be like Griff and carry all his burdens alone.
“I like my space.” He raises a hand when I open my mouth. “I’ll try it to keep these three quiet, but it’s short-term, and we agree on a price after you see the place.”
Gabe beams the brightest smile and holds out a hand.
“You’ve got a deal.”
Hunter shakes Gabe’s hand once before stalking off to the counter, complaining about his cheesecake taking too long.
“What the fuck was that about?” Griff asks .
Gabe relaxes back into his spot, a pleased smile on his face.
“Nothing. He just wants cheesecake, and can you blame him? This place makes the best.”
We all chatter about anything and everything. Griff even fills everyone in about his dad, and Gabe offers him help if he needs to step in to act as a power of attorney. We talk about the next rodeo and the Kissing Ridge Rodeo in two weeks’ time.
Jackson says he’s excited to get out there with Hunter again, and it’s nice to hear the excitement in his voice as he talks about the hydroponics and the crazy stuff the dogs have been up to.
Eventually, I ease back into the couch with my second tart, and Griff cuddles a little closer.
And I fucking love my life.