Chapter Fifteen #2
Tyler nodded. “He was only a few years old when he threw me, and he’s too ornery to die.
” That’s what Tyler told himself when his mind conjured a worse fate for the beautiful horse.
Many handlers would’ve taken extreme measures to break his spirit.
“I’d love to show him a better life, if he hasn’t found one yet. ”
His dad pulled him into a tight hug. “I’m proud of you, Tyler.
” Then, he pulled back and cupped his face.
“And I love you. There’s nothing you could ever say or do to change that.
Mom and I will always be a safe place for you to land as long as there’s breath in our bodies.
Never hesitate to call us again. Do you hear me? ”
Tyler nodded. “Thanks, Dad. I appreciate that, and I love you too.”
His dad held his gaze for several moments, searching for any signs that Tyler was only placating him. He nodded once satisfied and said, “I’ll let you visit the horses while I head to the house to chat with Owen. I want to get to know my future son-in-law.”
Tyler had already promised forever to Owen, so there was no need to temper his dad’s expectations. “Good luck stealing him away from Mom.”
They parted ways outside the greenhouse, and Tyler noticed a lightness in his steps after laying his emotions bare.
The sense of peace expanded when he stepped into the horse barn.
Most of the gorgeous creatures were longtime residents and greeted him with familiar enthusiasm.
The newer horses took a few minutes to warm up to him, but they came around too.
He stroked velvety noses and even hugged some of their necks as he walked the length of stalls.
The door to the tack room opened, and he wasn’t at all surprised to see his mom step through it. She’d put on a thick hoodie and tall riding boots and pulled her hair back into a ponytail since he’d last seen her at breakfast.
“Fancy meeting you here,” he said when she noticed him.
It looked like his dad wouldn’t have to fight for Owen’s attention after all.
Then again, with a family as large as theirs, it was highly likely someone else had swooped in.
Owen had proved that he was adept at navigating the chaos without Tyler’s interference.
She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and kissed Tyler’s cheek. “Your dad isn’t the only one who needs to retreat to their favorite place for a break from the chaos.”
“Do you want me to leave so you can have some peace?” A small part of him hoped she’d say yes so they could just leave things the way they were last night, but Tyler knew there was more he needed to say to her.
“No way,” she said. “I’m grateful for the time alone with you.” She hooked her arm through his, and they walked among the horses. “I think Owen is wonderful, Tyler. I love the way he loves you.”
“I’m crazy about him too, Mama.”
“Knowing how happy you are on the ranch makes it easier to accept you’re not coming back to Texas.” Of course, she already knew. As with Grandpa’s blunt boyfriend question, Tyler was grateful she’d made this easy for him.
“I want you and Dad to come see us in Colorado, and I promise to visit you guys more often,” Tyler said. “We’ve resolved the issues that have held me back, and the rest are mine to work on.”
She stopped and looked at him. “What things?”
“For starters, I need to stop projecting my fears onto others and assuming the worst. I left home because I wanted the freedom to make my own decisions, and here I am making ones for everyone else.” Tyler blew out a frustrated breath.
“I wasn’t fair to you or Dad, not when I was younger and not now.
Looking back, I understand you were just trying to protect me. ”
“We should’ve given you guys a little more room to make your own mistakes,” she said. “Maybe we would’ve avoided a lot of this if we had. Then again, maybe Owen is right, and things turned out the way they were intended.”
Tyler quirked a brow. “Owen said that?”
Laughing, she pinched his chin. “Maybe not in so many words, but the sentiment was there.”
“Thank you for helping him, Mama.”
“It was my pleasure, Tyler.”
“Owen was so excited about his reading opportunities last night that I didn’t think he’d ever get to sleep.”
“About that,” she said with a slight grimace.
Tyler held his breath while he waited for her to continue.
Had they been too loud? He’d been honest about Owen’s excitement and struggle to fall asleep, but Tyler hadn’t told her the creative ways he’d eased Owen’s tension or the ridiculous sex puns they’d come up with in the space-themed room.
They’d used flying to the moon for their first round of orgasms, and riding the rocket became the anthem for round two.
That had been the one that finally eased Owen enough to sleep.
“I think I owe you another apology about the sleeping arrangements. I thought about just putting you in the guest bedroom with the single queen bed but worried it was too presumptuous. What if you weren’t a couple and I put you in a room with one bed?
I didn’t want to offend anyone. Do you want to move to the other bedroom? ”
“Yes, please.” They’d made the best of their arrangements, but he’d be a fool to refuse a bigger bed for the remaining two nights in Texas.
She kissed his cheek, and they resumed walking. “You’re not the only one who needs to change their thinking. Relationships require effort from everyone. We’ve learned from our mistakes, right?”
“Definitely.”
“Then let’s just promise to do better from now on,” she said.
Tyler held out his pinky and said, “I swear.”
His mom hooked her little finger around his. “I swear too.” They shook to seal their commitment. “Care to saddle up and take a ride with me?”
He’d only planned a quick visit with the horses, but he couldn’t refuse the invitation.
It was after twelve by the time they finished their ride and aftercare for the horses.
The weather was unseasonably warm but breezy, so his cheeks were pink when he caught his reflection in the downstairs bathroom mirror.
He’d ducked in to wash up before heading to the kitchen to help his mom put a light lunch together for everyone.
That was the plan until Owen stepped inside the bathroom and closed the door.
He wrapped his arms around Tyler’s waist and rested his chin on Tyler’s shoulder.
“Damn, you look good, baby,” Owen said huskily. “You only wear that sweet flush on your cheeks when you’re riding horses or me.”
Tyler held his gaze and noticed the way Owen’s midnight eyes twinkled with love and happiness.
It reminded him of their life-changing time in the photo booth two months prior.
Tyler had entered that night feeling like Owen was slipping away from him and ended it with tremendous revelations that put them on the path to this exact moment.
Tyler felt seen, understood, and accepted in ways he had never dreamed possible once he left home.
Turning in Owen’s embrace, Tyler kissed the lips he loved so much.
“Speaking of riding,” he said, “we’re moving into a different guest room with a queen bed. ”
Owen huffed out a sigh and shook his head. “I started a list of space puns we could use for the rest of our stay.” He leaned forward and nuzzled his nose against Tyler’s neck. “I’d planned to change the lyrics to Elton John’s ‘Rocket Man’ tonight.”
Tyler chuckled and said, “I’ll tell her we changed our minds.”
Owen growled and grazed his teeth against Tyler’s neck. “A queen, you say?” Their bed back at the ranch was only a full, so the added space sounded like a luxury. “Can I still spoon you?”
Tyler slid his hand down and grabbed Owen’s ass. “Only after I fork you.”
Owen snorted, then kissed a path along Tyler’s jawline. “Looking forward to it.”
“Maybe we can skip lunch and take a nap,” Tyler suggested.
Owen dropped his arms and stepped back, taking his delicious body heat with him.
“Or maybe we wait until bedtime so we’re not too obvious.
” He gave Tyler one last kiss and eased toward the door.
“Besides, I get to see you all the time. You only have two more days with your family before we head back to the ranch. Soak it all in, baby.”
“Fine,” Tyler said with an eye roll. “Be practical.”
Owen was right, and Tyler knew it, so he threw himself into activities with everyone.
The kids had an endless tank of energy, fueled by holiday excitement and his mama’s Christmas cookies.
It was both strange and beautiful how easily he reconnected with his family after nearly two years away.
There were obvious changes to everyone’s physical appearances, of course, but they’d all grown and matured into better people.
Tyler squabbled with his siblings over petty things, as they’d done when they were younger, but the good-natured jabs landed differently.
When his brother accused him of cheating at Go Fish, instead of getting offended, Tyler simply dared him to prove it as he slipped the card Owen needed to him under the table.