Nathaniel
“DAMN. YOU LOOK like an angel.”
The words were out of my mouth before I could remember where I was.
Our entire family had gathered at my parents’ house since that was where the ladies had got ready.
I normally stayed in the bunkhouse or in the foreman’s cabin that was on the family ranch.
I still hadn’t fully moved into the house on my land because it seemed too damn big for just me to putter around in all by myself.
But now, looking at Charisma walking toward me in this dress that moved and glinted like the ocean swirling around her, I need as much privacy as possible.
I strode to Charisma meeting her and taking her hand in mine.
I twirled her around admiring how the dress skimmed over her curves.
Her hair was pinned up in an updo that had hairpins similar in color to the dress.
Her makeup was flawless, emphasizing her eyes and as she kept her lips nude. She looked perfect.
“Nate!”
My daddy could probably sense where my mind was going because I damn sure was thinking about pulling Charisma into the powder room and telling them we’d meet them at the event.
“I can’t admire her, daddy, dang!” He ain’t have room to talk cause he was over there drooling over my mama like he hadn’t been married to her for forty-two years.
Charmy leaned into me and whispered in my ear. “Angelic wasn’t quite the look I was going for.”
I kissed her forehead and tried to ensure her body was covering my dick until I could will it to go down. “In my version of heaven angels would look just like you.”
Charmy’s face lit up and she laughed even though I was being completely serious. “You cleaned that up in the most amazing way.”
“I gotta send my mama a bouquet for helping you pick this dress out.’
“How do you know that your sister didn’t do it?”
“Because she was giving me a running report of all your foolishness.”
Her mouth fell open and she glanced at Reecie who was ignoring everybody in her own little world with Runt. “Not her being a snitch.”
“She was a reporter because I needed you to do what needed to be done. If anyone was going to help you spend money, Reecie would’ve been the one to do it. My mama would’ve told you to get whatever but you could’ve talked her out of it. Reece doesn’t have that issue.”
“So I saw. But I didn’t argue with her. I thought it was perfect and she agreed.”
I was happy when I started to get the notifications that my card was being swiped.
I’d only cut them on because I wanted to make sure she wasn’t trying to buy something just because it was inexpensive.
I eased up after I saw the first few thousand dollars get swiped and looking at her I knew it was more than money well spent.
“You look pretty damn good yourself, Mr. Chisholm-Love.” Charmy gripped my lapels and I bent down to give her a kiss that was chaste enough to be done in front of my parents.
It didn’t stop my mind from going back to last night.
With the rodeo tomorrow, I wasn’t sure if I’d have time to be with her again tonight because I needed rest and I would definitely be trying to dive back inside her if we spent the night together.
“Nate, y’all still coming or—” I flipped Sampson off before I turned to look at him. He had the nerve to be grinning but he damn sure had both arms wrapped around Yzzy’s body with his hands resting on her stomach.
“Yzzy, I’m sorry my brother ain’t give you the appropriate response when you came down the steps. It’s clear he’s forgotten to keep wooing you even after y’all got married. I’ll deal with him after the rodeo tomorrow for you.”
Sampson flipped me back off but everyone started to make moves toward heading out to the cars we’d hired.
I wasn’t drinking and would’ve been fine driving but I wanted to have all of my attention on Charisma.
Thankfully, we’d hired four cars since everyone would be leaving at different times.
My parents understood I wasn’t going to be there all night because I needed to rest up to compete tomorrow.
I extended my arm for Charmy, ready to get the formalities of tonight out the way. “You look perfect, Charmy. Thank you for agreeing to come with me today.”
She grinned up at me, her heels putting her just slightly above my shoulder. “There’s no place in the world I’d rather be than here with you.”
I’d come out to the arena early not wanting to be distracted by anything.
It was bad enough that I didn’t get to wake up with Charisma.
That shit had me in a mood so bad I’d already snarled at two people.
I’d been able to keep myself together talking to my mama because Maureen would’ve hopped in that golf cart with her fucking belt blowing in the wind ready to give my ass some act right.
I’d double checked the equipment and checked in with my team.
After walking Pistol around to ensure he didn’t get jittery, I was on my way to put him back in the pen until it was time for us to perform later.
Doc would be here to watch over him while I performed on the bull.
For now, I had to be present with the family in order to open the rodeo.
“Behave.”
Pistol had the nerve to give a look before tossing his hair like a bitch and trotting into his temporary pen. Everyone thought I was crazy when I said his ass knew English but you couldn’t convince me that he didn’t.
“Your sister still lookin’ real fine, Nate. Might have to go chat her up for ol’ times sake.”
I sighed as I heard this ignorant muthafucka speak on my blood and knew I was gonna have to explain to my parents why I had shed his.
I was sure they’d forgive me once they saw who it was and what he was talking about.
This bitch used to be a part of my rodeo team and I felt like shit for being the one to hire him on.
I did it because I thought he was going to be family since he was dating my sister.
But he was lazy, didn’t take coaching well and was overall just there to be a part of winning teams instead of helping make them great.
That shit annoyed my soul so I was all too happy to fire his ass when they broke up.
I turned and watched him have that shit-eating grin on his face and I knew he thought he was psyching me out before the competition but he didn’t get under my skin that way.
I could beat his ass and still set a personal best time for roping or bull ridin’.
Shit, beating his ass would probably have me performing better.
“You already know how we give it up when it comes to Reecie, bitch. You can keep playing with fire if you want. I’ll douse your ass in gasoline and watch you burn. Have you looking like Fire Marshall Bill or the Crypt Keeper.”
I shut Pistol’s gate cause if I got too agitated he would start to whine and I didn’t have time to settle him back down.
“That girl who’s sitting with your family. I know her. Yeah, went to college with her and shit. Crazy how small the world is.”
I was waiting on him to say he slept with Charmy but when he left it at knowing her I decided it wasn’t worth it. I never even referred to this nigga as anything but Reecie’s ex cause I wouldn’t give him the respect of having a name besides being something that had been discarded by my family.
“That’s it? My nigga why are you bothering me right now?
I do not give a fuck if you knew my girl before I did.
She obviously ain’t give you a lick of fucking attention or you would’ve led with that.
Gotdamn I hate a small-minded, can’t even play head games right ass nigga.
You over here trying to get under my skin but you not even gone sell the bit and lie on your dick?
Why? Cause you know it wouldn’t matter to me at all.
It’s a proven fuckin’ fact that you can’t compete with me in any category.
Must be fuckin’ wit’ you to always come in second place behind me.
I know you holding onto those buckles for dear life since my absence is the only reason you got them.
Consider it a gift from me to you. That and you being able to breathe.
Now, I got a title to reclaim so get out my damn way. ”
I walked by him feeling proud of myself for not swinging on him.
Samp told me I needed to be more mature and walk away from situations that weren’t serious.
I never paid that shit any mind because that wasn’t my role in the family.
I was the hellraiser and always had been.
Still, I was trying to channel my energy into more productive areas.
Like being on alert so we could keep the people trying to fuck with us away from Black Gold Valley.
My sister’s bum ass ex was nowhere near high on my list of priorities.
“It’s not my fault that you went and wifed up a bitch that used to be a pass around in college.”
I stopped walking, Sampson’s words of caution still echoing through my brain. My first thought was to chop this bitch nigga in the throat and then spur him in all his mucosal membranes as I stomped him out but I’d made a promise to use my words and shit.
Trying to be serious was some bullshit.
When I turned to face him, he wore a shit-eating grin thinking that I was about to lose my cool.