New Boots
COLT
I’m brushing down Big Brother after a morning working cattle with Dad and Beck when my phone dings.
Using my teeth to yank off my gloves, I pull the phone out of my back pocket. A cold front blew in overnight, and my breath fogs in the late morning air.
It’s an email notification. Squinting at the screen, I let out a yell. “Hot damn!”
Dad pokes his head out of the stall next to mine. “Everything all right?”
“Look!” I hold out the phone. “We just got our first inquiry from the new site.”
Dad pulls his glasses off his head. “You mean from the new website?”
“Yes! Looks like it’s a buyer out of Wyoming of all places. I’ve heard of the ranch—they raise Red Angus. Saw one of the quarter horses up for sale and is asking for more information.” I turn the phone back toward myself. “Damn, that was fast.”
Lainey launched the site a week ago. Pretty much everyone in the family contributed to the building process in some capacity, so we’ve had very few glitches since. Needless to say, we all have high hopes for it. But to get an inquiry about a five-figure horse this quickly is a big fucking deal.
Dad plucks the glasses off his nose and chuckles, using the edge of his jacket to clean the lenses. “Was I right about the website, or was I right about the website?”
I pull up my favorites tab and hit Lainey’s number, bringing the phone to my ear. “You were right about the website,” I tell Dad.
“I like knowing you can admit when you’re wrong.”
“Quality of a good leader,” I reply, tapping my foot as I wait for Lainey to pick up.
She does on the fourth ring. “Hey! Sorry, I was on a call with a gal who makes custom cowboy hats. Hattie’s Hat Emporium. How freaking cute is that?”
“Sounds like a fun project. How’d she find you?”
“Apparently your mom saw her at a pop-up recently in Benton and mentioned my name. She wants the whole shebang—social media strategy, logo, website, swag. I’m so excited.”
Can’t help but smile. I love it when my girl is happy.
I love that she’s thriving.
Mostly, I love that she’s here.
“We got a lot to celebrate tonight, then,” I reply. “Because I just got an inquiry from the website.”
“You didn’t!”
“Yes, ma’am, I sure did.”
“This means you’re gonna get on your knees for me, right? And beg forgiveness for ever doubting me and, well, everyone else about the need for a new site?”
My dick twitches. “Don’t worry, Fort Worth. I got plans for you.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I’m actually headed over to Mollie’s studio right now.
But meet me at a barn at, say, two? Then we can pick up Dean after that?
Wendy at the Caffeinated Cowgirl just put peppermint hot chocolate on her menu.
Could be fun to swing by for a postcoital? I mean, after-school treat?”
Fuck me, is life allowed to be this good?
I almost feel like I’m getting away with something. Probably because I assumed for so long that I was meant to suffer for all eternity. I failed Abby. I failed my son. Failed my family. What right did I have to happily ever after?
But maybe that’s what life is about, having the balls to ask for what you want even if you don’t feel like you deserve it. Why not let God or the universe or whoever decide that and give yourself permission to embrace whatever the answer looks like?
It’s easy to get lost in your own head—lost in a spiral of shame and regret. But that’s not my story anymore.
I’m done being the victim.
I’m ready to start fresh.
“I’m in,” I say. “Your barn? You know, the one you live above?”
“Done.”
“Two o’clock?”
“Two o’clock.”
“You’re late, I’m gonna be pissed.”
“Colt,” Dad admonishes.
I grin. “I’m just teasing her, Dad. Also, can you please pretend not to be listening? We’re talking about some private stuff here.”
“So I’ve gathered.”
“Dad.” It strikes me that I sound like my son.
“I’m goin’, I’m goin’,” Dad replies. “But tell Lainey I clearly didn’t pay her enough, because she’s already covered her bill a week into the launch.”
“You hear that?” I say into the phone.
She’s smiling, I know she is, when she says, “I sure did. Tell Dale he paid me too much. Although I am raising my prices—”
“Because you’re the best?”
“Because I know what I deserve.”
“Love hearing that from you.”
“Love you.”
I lower my voice. “I really can’t wait to see you.”
“Colt, you saw me—what, four hours ago?”
I woke up next to Lainey after a night of solid sleep. She was quiet when I took her from behind, both of us on our sides. Her hand on my hip, my hand between her legs as I helped her chase down her orgasm. My strokes were steady, slow. A little sleepy.
Exactly how morning sex should be. I had to change the sheets—after a visit to the clinic in town, Lainey and I were able to stop using condoms—but not like I cared. Starting the day with the person I love just might be peak happiness for me.
It also helped me get through the morning rush with a lot more patience. Dean didn’t have any accidents, but Elvis did show up at the door with a squirrel in his mouth. The fun truly never ends.
“I’m pathetic, but I don’t care,” I say. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too. Congrats on the inquiry.”
“Congrats on the new client. You’ll be doing some good brainstorming this afternoon.”
“Why? ’Cause you’re gonna do me good?”
“I’m hanging up now.”
“Okay.”
“Oh! Don’t forget to bundle up for the barn.”
“We could just bang in my bed, you know.”
“But that would be boring.”
“Right. And we don’t do boring. Even when it’s forty degrees outside.”
“It’s fifty-three. See you at two, honey.”
Dean literally screams with delight when he opens the truck’s back door and sees Lainey sitting in the passenger seat.
“Lainey came to pick me up again?” He lost another tooth, so his smile is especially hilarious right now. “Oh my goodness!”
Lainey beams. “Get in, quick! We gotta make it to the Caffeinated Cowgirl before they close.”
Dean flings his backpack into the truck. “We’re getting hot chocolate? Are you serious right now?”
“So serious,” I say. “Need help getting buckled?”
Waving to his teacher, he climbs in and pulls the door shut behind him. “I’m good.”
“How was your day?”
“Good.”
“Did you have art today?” Lainey asks.
“I forget.”
“What about Spanish?” I ask.
“Nah, we had Spanish yesterday. I think we did anyway.”
I hear the click of Dean’s buckle and put the truck in drive. “What about lunch? Friday is dessert day, right?”
“Um, I forget.”
Looking at Lainey, I reach for her hand and grin. “Funny that you forget all that stuff, but you remember all the adult words I say.”
“Got a good memory.”
Lainey grins back. “You sure do, buddy.”
“Dad?” Dean asks as I pull onto the road that leads us downtown.
“Yeah?”
“Why do you have a bruise on your neck?”
Lainey guffaws.
A literal guffaw, like it’s the most hilarious thing ever that my son is asking about the hickey she just gave me during a very athletic round of sex. The one we ended up having on her stairs because we couldn’t keep our hands off each other.
Thing is her laughter is contagious. Or maybe it’s just knowing I shouldn’t that makes me laugh all the harder.
It hurts to hold it back, but I still give it the old college try.
“It’s”—I gasp—“work. From work.”
Dean makes a face. “How did you get a bruise on your neck from work? Did a horse kick you there?”
“Sure,” Lainey says, her eyes watering. “I saw it.”
“And you’re not mad about it?” Dean asks.
I shake my head, my sides aching. “Nope.”
“Wow. Okay. Be careful next time, would you?”
That’s it.
I burst out laughing and so does Lainey. Dean, thank goodness, thinks we’re just laughing at his funny line. Which we are. Partly.
“Will do, Dean.”
The elementary school is about a mile from downtown, so we drive to Main Street to get our hot chocolate. It’s absurdly delicious on a cold day like this one. Then we head home, where I hang with Dean while Lainey finishes up some work.
The second five o’clock hits, I’m popping off the tops to a pair of Shiners and handing one to Lainey.
“Was gonna roast a chicken and some vegetables for dinner,” I say. “Sound good?”
Looking up at me, she smiles. “Sounds perfect. How can I help? And no, I’m not going to just sit here while you cook, so give me a task. How about I chop up whatever vegetables you have?”
“Why? Because we’re both bringing home the bacon and now we’re gonna cook it together?”
Her smile deepens, touching her eyes. “Exactly.”
“If you insist.”
“I do.”
So I light a fire, turn on some music, and we start cooking together while Dean watches an episode of LEGO Star Wars in the family room.
We chat about everything and nothing while sipping our beers. Turns out cooking is a lot more fun when you’re doing it with another person.
The chicken is absolutely delicious if I do say so myself. Sitting at my little kitchen table with Dean on my left and Lainey on my right, I notice how easily the conversation flows now.
Go figure. Dinnertime is actually pleasant all of a sudden.
Things really do change fast.
Then it’s bath time for Dean and PJ time for Lainey. She has a drawer in my room now, and it’s mostly filled with cozy stuff for hanging at the house.
The three of us line up on the couch for a good snuggle. We watch an episode of Planet Earth, and then Lainey and I put Dean to bed.
“Night, Lainey.” He kisses her cheek when she leans down to give him a hug. “You’re gonna be here in the morning, right?”
Her eyes flick to meet mine. “If you want me to be, sure.”
“We want you to be,” I say.
“Definitely,” Dean adds.
“Then I guess I’m staying over.” Lainey gives him a squeeze. “Night, Dean. Get some rest. We’ve got a fun weekend ahead.”
“Can we ride horses?”
“Yes.”
“Can we play with LEGO bricks?”
“Yes.”
“Can I help you draw some designs?”
“Absolutely. Can I ask for one thing?”
“Sure.”
“Can you give me more hugs, just like this one?”
Dean laughs. “More hugs. Got it. You smell nice, so I don’t mind.”
“Thank you.”
“Welcome.”
I dig my fingertips into my breastbone, trying to locate the exact position of the happy ache I feel there.
Once Dean’s door is closed, I bend down and toss Lainey over my shoulder.
She yelps. “Colt! What the—”
“Quiet, Fort Worth.”
“Put me down, cowboy.”
I give her ass a gentle pat. “Nope.”
“You and that word.”
Only when I cross into my bedroom and kick the door closed do I set her down on the bed. Without preamble, I pull down her sweats and panties and put my hands on the insides of her thighs, pressing them down so that she’s spread nice and wide for me.
Her eyes flutter shut when I lean in and kiss her. “Colt.”
“Quiet.”
“I know.” She digs her hand into my hair.
“Don’t forget.” I press the flat of my tongue to her clit. “I’m taking you out on Saturday. Just me and you.”
She digs her teeth into her bottom lip. “Where ya taking me?”
“Wherever you wanna go.”
“I like the sound of that.”
I suck on her clit, and she moans. “Thought you might.”
“I love when you love me this way.” Her fingers massage my scalp, making goose bumps break out on my arms and legs.
I lick her. Taste her. Dip my tongue inside her. “That.” I find her clit again. “Is the fucking stuff.”
She smirks. “You say that in the morning, you know. When you drink your coffee.”
Ha. She’s right. Probably said it the fateful morning I met her.
Now here I am, saying it for an entirely different reason.
“I like this better,” I murmur against her. “So much better, honey.”
Her eyes go soft. “Everything’s better now, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” I kiss her clit. “Heaven. Let’s find it together, yeah?”
“Yeah.” She nods.
And we do. Twice that night. Again in the morning.
Truth is heaven really is a place on earth. Long as I get to be with the people I love, I’m there.
I’m never fucking leaving again.
THE END