Chapter 5
Tyler
Iwasn’t surprised when I woke up alone. Disappointed?
Yes. But not surprised. It had been a hook up and more than that, I wasn’t stupid.
Harris worked at a ranch and animals needed to be taken care of.
I knew he had some staff but that didn’t mean he didn’t need to be there to take care of shit. Maybe literally.
I snorted at my own joke and stretched, feeling good. I hadn’t expected last night to happen. Hoped, maybe, because Harris was hot as fuck. And I loved that he’d been clear in his wants. I didn’t have to guess or play games. He wanted me and I wanted him. Exactly as it should be.
Maybe we could do it again.
My pump chose that moment to start beeping and I groaned.
I’d known it was going to run out of insulin and had planned on changing it last night before I went to sleep.
Honestly, I thought it would have gone off in the middle of the night.
I was grateful it hadn’t, because I might not have heard it.
It was on my back and laying on it might have muffled the sound.
I sat up slowly, knowing my blood sugar was probably high.
I had a tendency to spike when I woke up.
That had probably used the last of what insulin was left in the pump which was why it was going off now.
I groaned and went in search of my phone so I could deactivate it. I had no idea where I left it.
What I found was my phone plugged in on the bedside table, a little piece of paper tucked underneath it. I started grinning even before I read it, hoping it was from Harris. The grin grew when I read his message.
Text when you wake up. I’ll answer when I can. H.
His number was scrawled across the bottom. Hope settled into my gut. At the very least, he wanted to check in, which was nice. Best case scenario was he wanted to see me again. I was all for that.
But first things first. I deactivated the pump so it would stop its annoying alarm, then reached behind me and ripped it off. I winced. It had been good and stuck. Which I supposed was a good thing. I tossed it in the trash with a sigh.
I added Harris to my contacts and then tapped into my text app.
Good morning
I almost added something about last night being spectacular or wanting to do it again, but I didn’t want to seem too eager.
Yet. I needed a sign from him first. I wasn’t above showing my true emotions and I definitely wouldn’t hide how much I wanted to see him again, but only if he gave me an indication he felt the same.
That done, I grabbed my little bag of supplies and shuffled to the bathroom. I heard Arlo in the kitchen, something banging quietly, and only then did I realize I was still naked. I shook my head. I should have at least thrown on my boxers. It was only polite.
After a finger prick to check my blood sugar manually, I gave myself a dose of insulin that would account for breakfast as well. I wanted to shower before I put on a new pump and it took about a half an hour to warm up and only then would it start delivering insulin based on the CGM.
I got clean quickly, scrubbing off the last of the dried cum.
Once I was dried, I filled the pump and stuck it on, this time on my thigh, counting down the clicks until it stabbed me.
I didn’t even jump anymore, even though this time it stung.
With my towel wrapped around my waist, I scooted back to my room.
I checked my phone, unable to help myself. There wasn’t a text from Harris yet, but I did see one from my dad.
How’re you doing? Haven’t heard from you in a couple of days. Mom worries, you know. Just want to make sure you’re good.
I snorted. My mom was a worrier, no doubt about that.
But my dad was just as bad, if not worse, on occasion.
And I got it. I did. They’d been worried about me from the moment I joined the Marines, always afraid of what my fate would be.
And as relieved as they were that I was out of the service, they now had this new fear.
That a chronic illness would take me out.
Also, it had literally been one day. Dad and I had texted the day before yesterday. I switched over to my text thread with my brother, Ethan. If anyone understood, it was him.
Your parents are annoying me.
He responded a few seconds later.
They’re annoying me too. Call Dad
I laughed, shaking my head. Of course either one or both of my parents had poked Ethan to see if he heard from me.
And I was sure Ethan had told them I was fine, even though it had been a few days since we’d talked.
Ethan and I were close, always had been, and we usually sent each other nonsense texts to show our love.
Copy that. Give Lainey and the girls a squeeze for me
Will do.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and decided that I’d get that phone call with my dad over with before I got on with the rest of my day.
But first, clothes. I definitely needed to be clothed before I faced my dad.
And I did mean face because a video call was best when dealing with my parents.
I wasn’t sure they’d believe me otherwise, even if they could hear my voice.
Jeans, T-shirt, then a thick hoodie. I even pulled on my socks before I leaned against the headboard and video called my dad. He picked up on the first ring with a wide smile.
“Hello, son.”
I grinned. “Hello, father.”
Dad snorted a laugh. “You good?”
“I’m good.”
“Good.”
We stared at each other for a long moment before we both burst into laughter. It was a nice release of tension. And I think it helped us both.
Dad lifted his coffee mug and took a long sip, but the way he kept darting his eyes to the side made me realize he had something to say. I was prepared to wait him out. It never took long. After a few more seconds, he sighed.
“So,” he began, trying for conversational and utterly failing. “You have plans for Christmas?”
I didn’t roll my eyes but I wanted to. Instead, I just nodded. “Yep. There’s a dinner here at the Emerald Lantern. Barrett and Morgan invited me along. Supposed to be a good time.”
“Hmm. That sounds nice.”
I knew that tone. “Dad?”
“Your mother and I were thinking, you know, this is the first Christmas you’ve been home in a while—”
“Untrue,” I interrupted, though I tried never to do that. It was rude. “I made it home last year.”
“For a day and a half,” Dad grumbled.
Which was true. I’d only had leave for forty-eight hours, and twelve of those hours had been spent on travel. But still.
“Yeah, but I made it home. Because Ethan and Lainey and the girls were spending Christmas with you instead of Lainey’s parents. So I made the effort.” Knowing where Dad was going with this, I added, “Besides, isn’t it your turn to go there? Isn’t that the plan? To spend Christmas at E’s place?”
Dad made a noise of agreement. “Plans can be changed.”
I raised my brows. “You’re telling me you’d rather spend Christmas here instead of with your granddaughters? You want me to believe that Sophie, Maya, and Everly won’t be disappointed if you guys don’t show up?”
“Pretty sure the baby won’t care,” he grumbled, but the corners of his mouth were fighting not to smile.
“Kids are way more fun at Christmas and I know you and Mom can’t wait. So don’t worry about me.”
Dad’s gaze sharpened. “I will never not worry about you. I have loved you from the moment we knew you existed and I started worrying then too. It’s my honor and privilege to love you and worry about you. And your brother.”
My smile softened. “I know. I love you too. But, can I be honest?”
Dad didn’t even hesitate. “Always.”
I nodded. I knew that. I’d been so lucky to grow up with parents who loved and supported me in all things.
I’d never been afraid to tell them anything.
It didn’t mean I didn’t get in trouble or have to face consequences, but they’d always been fair, they’d always listened, and they’d always had their sons’ backs.
“You’ve had me for the past four months. And I’m grateful for it and I enjoyed it. But right now? I just want to…I dunno. Decompress. Hang out. Do silly things and check out all the stuff going on around her for the next week. Right now, I need to just…be.”
I watched a complicated set of emotions cross my dad’s face as he digested that. After a minute, he nodded. “Well, I’m not going to stop worrying but of course. You do what you need to. I trust you.”
“I trust you too, for the record,” came my mom’s muffled voice. I chuckled. Of course she was listening in. A second later, my mom’s face came into view, crowding against Dad’s cheek. It made Dad grin, and he turned to kiss mom’s cheek.
“I know. I love you both. Thanks.”
“But maybe send a text at least once a day, hm?” Mom’s eyes, the same brown as mine, were sparkling and she raised her brows. Even though there was humor there, I didn’t make the mistake of thinking it was a suggestion.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Mom took the phone from Dad and the background swung a little as she moved to sit. “Good. Now tell me about what you’ve been doing. Hickory Hollow is just darling, isn’t it?”
I laughed again as I settled in to chat.
The conversation with my mom took longer than I anticipated so by the time I made it out into the apartment proper, Arlo was already gone.
Barrett’s uncle had been generous in letting me stay here.
Barrett had offered the suggestion like it was no big deal, and Arlo had agreed in much the same way.
They both seemed to think it made the most sense.
I was still touched since Arlo and I had never met before I showed up here.
But I had to admit, it was much more comfortable having my own space than taking up Barrett and Morgan’s couch.