Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Geraldine
I tugged on my boots by the door, the leather still a little stiff from yesterday’s mud, and grinned as Cosmo bounded down the stairs behind me, his energy bouncing off the walls like always.
Christian trailed him and was slow, but with that easy smirk, his hat tipped back as he adjusted the brim.
They’d been back less than an hour, and already they were all over me with Cosmo’s arm around my shoulders and Christian ruffled my hair, their laughs filled the kitchen like they’d never left.
It was sweet, their clingy chaos, and I couldn’t help but laugh with them, but something felt off, a quiet tug I couldn’t shake.
Damian had slipped out to the barn, his voice sharp when he’d cut through their chatter, and I’d caught that look in his eyes, tight and almost hard, before he walked away.
I pushed it aside and followed the guys outside, the morning sun warm on my face as we headed for the feed shed.
“Alright, Geri,” Cosmo said and slung his arm around me again and pulled me close as we walked. “You’re riding with me today. Christian can fend for himself.”
“No way,” Christian said and nudged me from the other side, his shoulder bumped mine. “She’s driving my truck. You snooze, you lose.”
“Boys, boys,” I said and laughed and ducked out from under Cosmo’s arm. “There’s enough of me to go around. I’ll flip a coin.”
“Rigged,” Cosmo said and grinned and snagged my hand to tug me back. “You’re picking me. I’m cuter.”
“Debatable,” Christian said and flicked Cosmo’s ear, and made him yelp. “She likes me better. Right, Geri?”
“You’re both clowns,” I said and pulled my hand free and jogged ahead to the shed. “I’m driving Cosmo’s truck, but Christian gets shotgun. Deal?”
“Fine,” Cosmo said and caught up and wrapped an arm around my waist this time. “But I'll'll get you for the ride back.”
“Greedy,” Christian said and laughed and fell into step beside us. “She’s gonna ditch us both for the horses.”
“Maybe,” I said and smirked and leaned into Cosmo’s side for a second before I slipped away to grab a feed sack.
They were clingy and sweet in their loud way, and I liked it with their easy affection and the way they made everything a game.
Cosmo hefted a sack over his shoulder and winked at me, Christian tossed one into the truck bed and dusted his hands on his jeans, and we moved like a little team, their chatter filled the air.
“So,” I said and hauled my sack to the truck, “what’s the plan after this? ”
“Checking the herd,” Christian said and leaned against the tailgate, his grin lazy. “You’re coming, right? We need your expert eye.”
“Expert, huh?” I said and laughed and tossed the sack in. “I barely know what I’m looking at.”
“You’re a natural,” Cosmo said and dropped his load next to mine and stepped close to ruffle my hair. “We’ll teach you the rest. Stick with me, babe.”
“Babe?” I said and swatted his hand away and grinned. “Slow down, cowboy.”
“Too late,” he said and hugged me from behind, his chin on my shoulder. “You’re stuck with me now.”
“Get off,” I said and laughed and elbowed him loose, but he just spun me around and planted a quick kiss on my cheek, his hands lingered on my arms. Christian chuckled and hopped into the truck bed and patted the spot next to him.
“Come on, Geri,” he said and held out a hand. “Ride up here with me. Cosmo can sulk in the cab.”
“Rude,” Cosmo said, and climbed into the driver’s seat and stuck his tongue out at us.
I took Christian’s hand and let him pull me up, and settled next to him as the truck rumbled to life.
He kept my hand for a second and squeezed it before he let go and leaned back against the cab, his arm brushing mine.
“You’re too good to us,” he said and smiled softly, his voice low over the engine. “You keep us in line.”
“Someone’s gotta,” I said and nudged him, the wind tugged at my hair as we rolled out to the pasture.
They were sweet like this with Cosmo’s playful grabs and Christian’s quiet warmth, and it was fun and easy, the way it’d been before they left.
We bounced along, Cosmo yelled dumb jokes through the window, Christian laughed and tossed bits of hay at me, and I played along and shoved him back; their energy pulled me in.
But every laugh felt a little hollow, like something was missing, and I kept glancing toward the barn where Damian had gone, his sharp exit replayed in my head.
We reached the herd, and Cosmo parked and hopped out to open the gate while Christian slid down and offered me a hand. “Ladies first,” he said and grinned and pulled me close as I jumped, his hands on my waist a beat longer than needed.
“Thanks,” I said and smiled and stepped back as Cosmo jogged over and slung an arm around my shoulders again.
“Alright, expert,” he said and steered me toward the cattle. “Spot the troublemakers. We’ll handle the rest.”
“Easy,” I said, and squinted at the herd and pointed at a cow nosing the fence. “That one looks shady.”
“Good eye,” Christian said, and clapped my back and stood close. “You’re hired.”
They moved around me and checked the cattle and kept me in the middle of it with Cosmo tugged my arm to show me a calf, and Christian leaned in to explain ear tags, their hands brushed me every chance they got.
“You’re a natural,” Cosmo said and hugged me from the side, his cheek pressed to mine. “We’re keeping you forever.”
“Dream on,” I said and laughed and pushed him off, but he just grinned and stayed close.
Christian chuckled as he tossed me a rope to hold.
It was sweet, their clingy banter, and I liked the way they made me feel wanted and part of their world.
But it didn’t hit the same and not like when Damian laughed at my dumb stories, his hand warm in mine, or the quiet way he’d looked at me at the diner.
With them, it was loud and fun, but with him, it was something else and something that settled deeper, and I couldn’t match this lightness to that.
“Earth to Geri,” Cosmo said and snapped his fingers in front of my face and pulled me back. “Are you zoning out on us?”
“Nope,” I said and smirked and looped the rope over my shoulder. “I’m just plotting how to ditch you two.”
“Never,” Christian said and slung an arm around my neck and pulled me into a quick hug. “You’re ours.”
“Keep dreaming,” I said and laughed and wriggled free, but they stayed close.
Cosmo grabbed my hand to spin me around, and Christian tossed more hay at me as we finished up.
We piled back into the truck, I squeezed between them in the cab this time, Cosmo’s arm draped over the seat behind me, and Christian’s knee pressed to mine.
“You guys are ridiculous,” I said and shoved Cosmo’s arm off and grinned.
“You love it,” he said and leaned in and kissed my cheek again. “Admit it.”
“It’s alright,” I said and wiped my face and laughed as Christian tugged my hair playfully.
They were sweet and clingy, and it was good and even great, but it didn’t light me up the way Damian’s quiet grin did or the way his hand felt steady on mine.
I played along and teased them back, but my mind kept drifting to him and out there alone, and I wondered why I couldn’t feel this happy with them the way I did with him.
We rolled back to the house, and they hopped out. Cosmo pulled me with him, and Christian closed behind. “Lunch?” Cosmo asked and kept my hand in his and swung it. “You’re cooking with me.”
“Only if I get to boss you around,” I said and grinned, but my eyes flicked to the barn, and I hoped to catch Damian. He wasn’t there, and the guys tugged me inside, their laughs loud and warm, and I let them and smiled even if it didn’t quite reach all the way.