Chapter 17 #2
“Hell, I could use a massage. Let’s go.”
“Ha! Okay, another one is fruit pickin’ and then baking a pie together with the fruit. My mama loves to bake, and it’d be cool to learn that with someone special, too.”
“Strawberry or apple pie sounds delicious,” he mocks.
“I agree.”
“What else?”
“Hmm…let’s see.” I read over my list, wondering if I should share the ones I told Mystery Guy but then decide not to.
“Horseback riding in the snowy mountains, a picnic in the sky while in a hot-air balloon, a cross country road trip, singing karaoke in a country bar, reading at the beach together except we read the letters we wrote to each other on our one-year dating anniversary, reenacting my favorite scene from The Notebook…” I list off and then wait for his reactions.
“Which scene?” he asks.
“You’ve seen the movie?”
“Of course.”
“Then guess.”
“Alright…” he drawls. “The one where Ryan Gosling says if she’s a bird, then he’s a bird, too.”
“Good guess, but nope.”
“The Ferris wheel scene where he’s beggin’ her to go on a date with him?”
“That’s dangerous! I’d never risk that.”
He snickers. “Had to check.”
“It’s the rain scene,” I tell him. “Where they’re fightin’ about the letters and they kiss, then it leads to hot make-up sex. But mostly the kissin’ in the rain part.”
“Interestin’ choice.”
“See, you think I’m weird.”
“Nope, not at all. Datin’ you would never get boring, that’s for sure.”
“I’m gonna take that as a compliment.”
He licks his bottom lip. “As you should.”
“Do you have date ideas you wanna do before you get married?”
“I’m not sure I’ll be gettin’ married anytime soon. But I have non-negotiables that would make or break a relationship I’m in.”
“Ooh, let’s hear ’em. Maybe I’ll haveta steal some for myself.” I make a new note and type out the title at the top. “Okay, I’m ready.”
He shakes his head, chuckling. “Alright, uhh…the top one is family comes first. If any of my siblings text an SOS, I drop everything and go. So if my girlfriend can’t understand that, then we’d break up.”
“That’s a good one. Mine would be the same because I immediately go if anyone in my family needs me, especially if it’s for my dad.”
“Another is them having to be okay with me leavin’ in the middle of the night to pick up Wilder. His number is programmed so it rings even when my phone’s on silent. My partner would also haveta understand we have a special twin bond, and if he’s hurting, I’ll most likely feel it.”
“Damn. So when he’s depressed or in pain, you always know?”
“Yeah. Been that way for as long as I can remember.”
“I think that’s reasonable, honestly. Any more on your list?”
“Just one.”
I meet his gaze through the screen. “What’s that?”
“They have to scrapbook with my family on Sunday nights.”
My lips spread into a wide smile. “That sounds like a fun tradition.”
“It can be…I don’t stay every week, but I try to at least once a month.”
“How do I get invited?” I tease.
“You gotta marry a Hollis.”
My brow arches. “Any Hollis?”
“Any of ’em that are available.”
“Well, I don’t see Wilder as the marryin’ type—unless he’s literally dragged down the aisle—so I guess I’ll haveta somehow beg you so I can join.”
“It wouldn’t take that much to convince me,” he mumbles almost too quietly for me to hear him.
“Oh? What’re you doin’ next weekend?” I quip.
He snorts. “What I always do…work and keep an eye on Wilder.”
“He can be your best man, and we’ll handcuff him to Delilah so he can’t get into any trouble.”
He barks out a deep laugh. “Trust me, he’d find a way to drag your sister into his madness.”
“That’s probably true. Have you heard from either of ’em tonight?”
His finger swipes over the screen, so I assume he’s checking his texts. “Nope. Probably won’t for another couple hours.”
“And you’re stayin’ up until he’s home?”
“Yep,” he says, not looking at all amused about it.
We’ve already talked through the midnight celebration like it was nothing. But when I yawn, he notices.
“You should get some sleep. No point in you stayin’ up too.”
“I don’t mind. I’m off work tomorrow anyway.”
“I’m not.”
“Whaddya have to do?”
“Muck stalls, disperse straw and feed, fill water buckets, check the water troughs, make sure the barn is picked up. It’ll be an easy day since there are no tours, but something always comes up.
Someone else will need help or a disaster will happen.
A fence post needs replacing, a tractor or four-wheeler needs repairs… you name it.”
“No wonder y’all stay busy.”
“Pretty much every day.”
“Not complainin’ about your long hours should be one of your non-negotiables or they might start givin’ ya a hard time about it.”
“Valid point. I’ll add it.” He taps his temple. “Girls always wanna date a cowboy until they realize how much they’re not home.”
“When my dad worked on a farm, I remember there’d be specific times of the year where he’d be gone before I left for school and wouldn’t be home until after I was in bed. Mama would keep his plate in the oven and stay up to warm it for him.”
“Sounds right. Especially durin’ the summer.”
“He’d try to make it up to us on the one weekend a month he had off. Mama would cram as much family stuff as she could into those two days,” I say with a laugh, remembering how chaotic things would be. “By Sunday nights, I’d be exhausted.”
“At least y’all understood. It ain’t for the faint of heart.”
“Is it fun workin’ on your family’s ranch with your parents and siblings? You probably get to see ’em all the time, right?”
“Yeah, it’s fun most days. But it’s easy to get sick of each other, too.”
We continue talking for a few more hours, moving effortlessly from topic to topic, and before I realize, it’s after three in the morning.
“Your sister just texted. She’s on her way to drop off Wilder.”
“Did she say how drunk he is?”
“Uh…I assume somewhere between him thinking he can ride the mechanical bull for eight seconds and being passed out on the sidewalk. Which means he’s at least half asleep.”
“I can’t believe how late we stayed up. I’m ready to pass out, too.”
“Same. But you helped the time fly by, so I’m ain’t complainin’.”
“Me neither. It was fun. And I learned a lot.” I giggle, my cheeks heating. I’m still in disbelief he volunteered. “Thanks again for helpin’ me.”
“Sure…”
“I’ll talk to you soon,” I hesitate, almost like a question.
“Yeah, for sure.”
“Okay, good night.”
“Night, Harlow.”
As soon as I end the call, I’m mentally kicking and screaming.
I know I shouldn’t crush on him, but it’s impossible when he’s this sweet and nice.
But it’d never be possible. For so many reasons…
1. He’s twelve years older and is probably looking for a wife
2. He’s way more experienced than me, so he’d have to literally teach me how to please him in the bedroom (no guy wants to do that, right?)
3. He sees me like a little sister or at the very least only a friend
4. He’s Delilah’s ex, which means she’s already slept with him
5. See number four
Delilah would freak out if she ever found out what Waylon and I did tonight.
Texting is one thing, but he helped me orgasm over the phone and talked to me in a way I’ve never experienced before.
She might’ve forgiven him for “cheating” years ago, but hooking up with her little sister would be unforgivable.
Even on the off chance he was into me, we’d have to keep it a secret, and then what’s the point?
I wouldn’t want to risk our relationship either.
It’s better not to even think anything more could happen between us, but I can still enjoy him teaching me things, if he’s even up for it after tonight. It’d be nice to get tips before I go on a first date with someone.
Assuming I can even get one.