Chapter 3
Chapter Three
TUCKER
I think I might have a heart attack, and I hang back for a few seconds, letting Julie round the corner without me. I hear a mixture of voices, none of which I immediately recognize, other than maybe Carson, her brother?
I completely forgot about the risk of running into Carson. We never got along, and if he decided to throw a punch at me…
Well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be the first time.
“Where’s this boyfriend of yours?” Carson bellows, his voice echoing across the yard. Even one of the horses out in the corral near the barn, a solid three hundred feet away, lifts its head in response. I ready myself, as I take another step toward the front porch. There’s a brick pillar between me and the Coopers, but three steps later, I’m exposed.
And the look on Carson’s face tells the story.
“ Tucker Madison is your boyfriend?” Carson says incredulously, his blonde hair and green eyes matching that of his sister’s. He folds his arms across his brawny chest, his six-foot-two linebacker build intimidating as ever.
“Carson…” Julie warns him, throwing a hand up at his chest. “Grow up. It’s not high school, and Tuck is?—”
“ Tuck? ” Her brother cuts her off, his disgust written all over his face.
Yeah, sounds weird to me, too, bro.
“Oh, stop it,” Julie’s mother swats at Carson, beckoning me to come toward the chaos. Every instinct in me tells me to run, ‘break up’ with Julie right then and there, call this whole thing a loss…
But I need that lease…
So, I clear my throat and tip my head to Carson Cooper and his mom. “He. Been a while.”
Julie’s cheeks are flushed, and I can’t tell if it’s the cold or I just embarrassed her. But either way, I have a feeling it’s not going to get any better.
“What’s all this ruckus out here?” A deep voice calls from somewhere inside. “I don’t know why…” Cal Cooper, Julie’s father, suddenly appears in the doorway, his eyes widening as they land on me. His gray hair is slightly disheveled, like it’s been mussed from having a hat on all day long. He towers a couple of inches above Carson and is just as intimidating.
No, he’s downright frightening.
And I don’t like how any of the Cooper men are looking at me right now.
Mr. Cooper narrows his eyes. “Ain’t you Nate’s old buddy?”
I swallow hard. “Used to be, sir. Yes.” My arms are burning from holding onto Julie’s bags full of bricks. “Haven’t talked to him in years.”
“He’s been living in Oklahoma,” Julie says quickly, her pleading look to her mother apparent. “He’s got his own cattle business there.”
“Hmm.” Carson appears unamused.
But her father seems to relax a little, stepping to the side. “Well, don’t want you to get frostbite. Get in here. You’re shivering.”
No, that’s just your daughter’s lead luggage.
“Thank you, sir,” I say instead, and then nod to Julie and her mom. “Y’all go ahead.”
“He’s a gentleman,” her mother chimes, a massive grin spreading across her face. “I like him already.”
Julie lets out a sigh of relief, and I follow everyone into the massive entryway, warm and inviting. Well, warm, at least. I don’t know about inviting. It’s just better than standing out in the cold.
“Where’s your room, Jules?” I ask her, nodding to the three bags and rolling suitcase I’m carrying. “I’ll drop them off there, and then get mine from my truck.”
“You’re not staying in her room?” Carson blurts the question out, and I can tangibly feel the scrutiny he’s throwing my way.
“No,” I answer him curtly. “I don’t think that’s very appropriate, do you?”
Carson mutters something under his breath and then slips off toward what I think is the kitchen. Julie’s father eyes me with a smirk, and then follows his son. I can’t decide if it’s just the weather, or if they actually are giving me the cold shoulder.
Her mom sighs. “Your Momma taught you good manners?—”
“Mom,” Julie clears her throat, giving her the look that I can read like an open book. He’s an orphan. Don’t talk about that.
Mrs. Cooper’s eyes grow stark wide. “Oh my goodness,” she turns to me, “I am so sorry. I completely forgot you lived with Nathan…”
“It’s okay,” I reassure her, keeping a smile plastered on my face. “I’m sure my mom, wherever she is, would be glad I have manners.” Julie and her mom stare at me in total silence for a few beats, and I end up clearing my throat to break the tension that could now be cut with a knife. “Your room?”
Julie breaks from the trance. “Right. I’m sorry. Come on.” She waves for me to follow her, while Mrs. Cooper keeps that painfully embarrassed smile on her face. I give her a slight nod as I slip past her, my arms now like Jello.
Inwardly huffing and puffing, I climb the stairs to the second floor. Sweat beads up across my forehead, my sherpa jacket suffocating me. The walls are lined with family pictures. So many family pictures. I’ve seen them before. I’ve seen this house before. But it’s way different playing a fake boyfriend versus just being the third wheel.
“Here,” Julie chimes as we make it to the second door on the left.
I stare at the deep cherry wood as she swings it open. “Is this the same room you stayed in as a kid?”
Julie makes a face, tipping her head in confusion. “Yeah, it’s my room? Why would I stay in any other?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug it off, trying to wrap my head around having a room dedicated to you for the entirety of your life. Must be nice to always have a place to go.
“Don’t make fun of anything you see hanging on the wall…” Her voice trails off as I step inside, instantly grinning.
“It’s like Flicka threw up in here,” I burst into laughter, my eyes taking in every inch of the gawdy, glittery horse decor. “Is this why you never let anyone in here?” I turn to see her with her arms folded across her chest, her cheeks bright red.
“ Obviously, Tucker Madison.”
I cock a brow. “So, I’m not Tuck anymore, huh?” I toss the bags on the brown and pink horse quilt, trying to stifle a deeper laugh as I catch sight of a bedazzled Breyer horse on the other nightstand.
“I really thought I was going to grow up and never leave this ranch,” Julie says, her voice coming out with a nostalgia that instantly silences me. “I guess that’s why I haven’t changed it, and I keep thinking, someday, when I have a kid, they’ll wanna see my room like this… My niece loves it in here.”
I pause, unable to hide my shock. “Wait, Carson has a kid?”
Julie laughs. “Yeah, Carson has a daughter. And a wife, too. Can you believe it?”
“Huh,” is all I say, rubbing my forehead beneath my hat. “Hard to picture his mischievous self with anyone.”
“ Mischievous, ” Julie snorts. “More like half-brained. I’m sorry for how he acted today when you got here. I knew it was going to shock everyone, but I forgot the two of you had beef…” She pauses, leaning against the doorway. “But why do you have beef again? It seems like everyone in this town has a problem with you.”
“More like I had a problem with them,” I chuckle, sliding off my jacket and draping it over my arm. I ignore the way Julie’s eyes follow my movements, making me almost… nervous.
“So,” she urges, “What was your problem with my brother?”
“Uh,” I furrow my brow. “I think it was just Nate, mostly. Your brother really didn’t like your boyfriend, and I would’ve gone to the ends of the earth to protect him…” Until you, I want to add, but keep my mouth shut. The past doesn’t matter.
“Oh, Nate was a hothead.”
“He was a lot of things,” I retort, shaking my head. “But we don’t have to talk about that. Why don’t you show me my room? I’m dying to see the theme of mine.”
She rolls her eyes. “Ha ha. Don’t get your hopes up. Not everyone has hours on their hands to bedazzle like I did.”
I shake my head, letting her lead me across the light-colored hardwood floors to the room directly across from hers. “Isn’t this kind of close?”
Julie stops, her hand mid-turn on the doorknob. “What do you mean?”
“Where’s everyone else sleeping?” I ask, glancing up and down the hallway.
“Well, Carson, Jessie, and Carly will be sleeping at their house on the ranch. Mom and Dad have a room on the other side of the house. It’s just us.” She pauses, a huge grin tugging at her lips. “Are you worried about sleeping this close to me?”
My heart rattles my ribcage. “Maybe. I had to carry the body bag up here, remember?”
She giggles, her eyes lighting up. “So then don’t prank me, and you’ll be grand.”
“Deal,” I grunt out, shaking my head as she pushes open the door. It’s the polar opposite of her room, mostly warm neutral tones, with the exception of the massive Christmas quilt on the bed, featuring Frosty the Snowman.
In a cowboy hat.
On a horse.
Yikes.
“Mom loves Christmas,” Julie hums, as if reading my expression. “And you know what’s weird?”
“This quilt?” I offer up, feeling like a dadgum genius at the moment.
“No,” her expression is unmoving. “Usually, when I get here the whole house is already decked out in all the Christmas décor. This year, there’s one wreath.”
“One too many,” I mumble.
“Okay, Scrooge.”
“I don’t know why everyone constantly calls me that.” I stare into the coal black eyes of Frosty on his Palomino pony, and shudder. How can people find this cute? It’s something straight out of a horror movie. Who wants a creepy, black-eyed snowman showing up at their place?
“Anyway,” Julie mutters, shaking her head. “Never mind. I’m going to just go ask her myself instead of waiting around and worrying.” With that, she spins on the heel of her black Vans and leaves me…
All alone with the Frosty the Creepy Cowboy.