Branded #3
I get a lot of it, which is awesome because it’s all hugely helpful.
Tate thinks the merch is an incredible opportunity, considering how on-trend everything Western is right now.
Beck asks if I’d still be interested in doing the branding for the Homestead Hen.
Dale surprises me and says he likes the logo with the script font.
Paige likes the idea of having a “history” page on the website that goes into depth on Wallaces of the past. Billie asks if we can add a page to the site for her therapy program—a placeholder of sorts until we get her branding and site off the ground.
My hand cramps from scribbling page after page of notes, but I don’t care. This project is going to be a bear to complete. It will push me in ways I’ve never been pushed before. But the challenge really is a thrill.
Colt is the only one who doesn’t say anything. When the rest of his family is done sharing their thoughts, all eyes turn to him.
I expect—hope—he’ll say that he loved everything. Ten out of ten, no notes.
Leave it to him, though, to take it a step further.
“I’m sorry I was an ass to you, Lainey,” he begins, planting his hand on the table. “I meant to send you running, but I’m real fuckin’ glad you had the balls to stick around.”
“I did it out of spite, actually,” I reply, eyes welling for the hundredth time today. “No balls involved. Sorry, Dale, for the…ahem, vulgar innuendo.”
But Dale just laughs. “You could say I deal with balls for a living, so no worries.”
“Wait, that’s actually kinda true.” Mack furrows his brows. “What we do seems a lot less…er, noble when you think about it like that.”
“Can we stop talking about balls, please?” Billie asks. “It’s getting weird.”
“You’re weird,” Nash shoots back.
Colt rolls his eyes. “Can y’all not hush for five fucking seconds so I can publicly apologize to Lainey? You guys need to hear this.”
“Sorry, sorry.” Nash clears his throat. “You’re right, we all need to witness you taking a knee. I don’t think that’s ever happened before.”
“It’s happening now,” Colt replies.
It’s happening for me.
“I knew I was angry,” he continues, “and I thought I understood why. Change was always a bad thing for us—Dean and me. But your brand of change—sorry for the terrible pun—it’s different.
It’s good. Really good. Your commitment to authenticity, to being who you are without reservation—I’ve never seen anything like it before. I’m not sure I knew it existed.”
“Aw.” Paige dots her eyes with her sleeve. “What a lovely thing to say, Colt.”
“Are we sure he’s not being possessed right now?” Tate peers at his older brother. “Because I honestly can’t believe what I’m hearing.”
Colt takes a sharp inhale through his nose. “If y’all would let me finish, you might get where I’m coming from.”
“Don’t you dare stop,” I blurt.
Billie raises her eyebrows. “I get the feeling that’s not the first time she’s told you that, Colt.”
“Y’all.”
“Fine, fine.” Billie holds up her hands, but she’s smiling. “Keep going.”
“As I was saying”—Colt turns back to me—“Lainey, you’re living proof that change can be a force for good. Staying the same meant I was safe, but I was also dead inside. Dead and very, very angry about it. And now I see that some things need to change to stay alive. Me included.”
My knees are literally wobbling at this point. I put a hand on the table too, hoping I don’t literally swoon at this man’s feet.
“Thank you.” It comes out as barely a whisper.
“Your work is truly incredible.” His eyes are soft when they meet mine.
“I’ll be proud as hell to wear those T-shirts with that logo on ’em.
I can’t wait to show people our new website.
And I can’t wait to brag on you, because you deserve it.
” His gaze moves to his family. “There, I said it in so many words. I was wrong. Y’all were right. I’m sorry about that.”
Dale folds his hands over his stomach. “Not gonna lie, son, feels real good to hear those words.”
I want to kiss the shit out of Colt. I want to cry some more. I want to fall into bed and sleep for the next four days.
But right now, the only thing I can do is keep working on this project.
“So that’s a yes?” I say. “I have your approval to move forward with the designs?”
“Not a yes,” Dale replies. “But a heck yes.”
“Fuck yes,” Billie adds.
“Yes,” Colt says simply.
People begin to scatter. Others, like Dale and Paige, stay awhile to chat with me about my ideas.
I walk out of the conference room with them, Colt a step behind me. Both Dale and Paige give me tight hugs, and then they grab each other’s hands and head for their house.
Colt holds open the door for me. The door. The one that witnessed everything that first day.
I walk outside, and he walks out behind me. The door closes with a whoosh.
It’s quiet. Not another soul as far as the eye can see.
Good.
Whirling around, I grab the front of Colt’s shirt and press him up against the door. “You.”
His eyes toggle between mine. “What about me?”
I answer by leaning in and finally slanting my mouth over his.