TWENTY-FIVE.
Tobias
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Your pretty girlfriend’s ranch.
I rest my hand on Ever’s thigh, fingers resting lightly against the denim of her jeans, while my other hand stays steady on the steering wheel.
The highway stretches out ahead, smooth and familiar under the tires of my truck.
When I showed up at her place earlier with a small bouquet of wildflowers and the suggestion of an actual date—our first real one—her whole face brightened.
She took one look at my button-down, boots, and hat, then disappeared inside without a single question about where we were headed.
A minute later she came back out dressed in her usual western gear: fitted jeans, a warm jacket, a plaid flannel tied around her waist, and boots that match mine almost perfectly.
I told her we were driving thirty minutes to a small rodeo in White Pine, and she didn’t look the least bit disappointed.
I spent days turning over ideas in my head.
A nice restaurant in town, maybe something fancier in Knoxville, a movie or a concert.
Nothing felt right. None of it felt like her, or like me, or like the two of us together.
Then I saw the faded poster tacked to a telephone pole on the edge of town, advertising the weekend rodeo, and it clicked.
This was us: familiar ground, no need to pretend or dress up more than we already do every day.
I already know who she is, every layer of her, and I love every part. A rodeo made sense.
“Is this an all-day thing?” she asks quietly. Her eyes follow the passing fields and barns sliding by outside her window.
“It’ll run into the evening, but we don’t have to stay until the last event.” She nods to herself. I steal a glance at her profile, trying to read her expression, but her face stays calm. “If you wanted to do something else while we’re out—”
“No,” she says quickly, cutting me off. Her hand covers mine on her leg, and she slides her fingers between mine. “This is perfect. I went to a rodeo once when I was a kid, but I barely remember it. I’m excited to go.”
I keep my eyes on the road. “I should warn you—there’s a chance we might run into some people I know.” Her eyebrows dip slightly. I catch it from the corner of my eye. “Not like that,” I add right away. “Just friends from growing up. People I’ve known forever.”
“Oh,” she says. “I see.”
I glance over again, nerves tightening in my chest. Talking about this—going on an official date, putting a name to whatever we’ve been doing—still feels foreign.
It’s been years since I’ve taken a woman out properly.
Even though Ever and I already know each other and work side by side every day, I keep worrying I’ll say the wrong thing or do something that makes her see me differently.
She’s not judging me. I know that. But there’s always that small voice reminding me she could decide I’m not enough.
“Are you nervous?” she asks, her voice softer now.
I turn onto the side road that leads to the fairgrounds. “A little bit,” I admit.
She gives me a lazy grin, the kind that starts slow and spreads. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. It’s not like I don’t know you.”
“I keep telling myself the same thing.” I flip my hand over so our palms meet, and she laces her fingers through mine again, holding on tight.
Maybe we’re both nervous because this isn’t just another late-night moment or a quick release of tension.
This is different. This is: I like you, you like me, and both of us agreeing to see where it leads.
This is taking a real step forward, making it official in a way we haven’t before.
And I want it to work more than I’ve wanted anything in a long time.
I pull into the parking lot and find a spot near the back.
I kill the engine, walk around to her side, and open the door.
She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she steps down, and I catch the slight tremble in her fingers when I take her hand.
It makes me want to be steady for her, to be the person she can lean on without second-guessing.
“You ready, Princess?” I ask as I lock the truck.
She looks up at me with a wide grin. “As long as I’m with you, Mr. Macho Man.”
I squeeze her hand tighter and start weaving us through the rows of parked trucks and trailers toward the entrance.
She takes her time looking around once we’re closer.
Kids dart between legs, laughing and chasing each other.
Cowboy hats in every direction. Women in rhinestone-studded boots click across the gravel.
Ever watches it all quietly, her head turning slowly as she takes in the crowd, the sounds, the colors.
I realize she’s a people-watcher. It’s not something I would have picked up on if we’d stayed in our usual routine.
Out here, in the middle of all this life, she’s soaking it in, and I stay quiet beside her, following her gaze, trying to see the scene the way she might.
My dad used to bring me here when I was a kid, hoisting me onto his shoulders so I could see over the rails.
Later, in high school, my friends and I would come to cheer on the local riders, drinking cheap beer from coolers in the parking lot.
Over time, though, everyone drifted. They got steady jobs, married, had kids.
I stayed the same—single, working the ranch, no one waiting for me at the end of the day.
A palm slams into my chest, hard enough to make me stumble back a step. Instinct kicks in. I shift in front of Ever, body tensing, ready to shove whoever it is away. Then I recognize the face and smack him right back on the chest.
“Damn, dude,” Connor says, rubbing his shoulder where I hit him. “Did you beef up the last few years or what?”
“Don’t come at me like that, then,” I say, keeping my tone light.
He grins wide after a second and opens his arms. I let go of Ever’s hand and step into the quick embrace, clapping his back.
“How you been, Tobe?”
“Good,” I answer short. I step back and reach for Ever’s hand, then lace our fingers tight. “How’s Mina? She around?”
“Yeah, she’s good. Wandering somewhere—I’m trying to round her up,” he says. I shift to the side and pull Ever a little closer to my body.
“This is Ever,” I tell him. She gives a shy grin, small but genuine.
“Girlfriend?” Connor asks, his eyebrow lifting.
I run my hand along my jaw. “Just seeing where things go right now,” I say, the words coming out careful. I glance down at Ever, hoping I didn’t just ruin the moment. But she squeezes my hand once, firm and reassuring.
“Pleasure to meet you, Ever. I’m Connor. We go way back to the nineties,” he says politely. He extends his hand, and she shakes it with confidence.
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” she responds kindly.
“I’m not sure I’ve seen you around before,” he says further. “Where’s he been hiding you?”
“Probably the same place he’s been hiding,” she answers smoothly.
Connor laughs, clearly liking her already. “You work at the ranch?”
“She’s Ray and Linda’s niece,” I explain. His eyes widen quickly.
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry for your loss. I heard about what happened. Linda was a nice woman. Made the best cookies for the farmers market.”
I look down at Ever, hesitant. “I didn’t realize she baked.”
“Oh yeah,” Connor says. “The best. Crisp on the outside, chewy in the middle. I’d drive thirty minutes out of my way just for a batch.”
Ever makes a thoughtful sound, then glances up at me with soft eyes. I run my hand up her back and give her an encouraging grin.
“Is this new?” Connor asks, gesturing between us. “It seems new. The way you two are looking at each other.”
Ever chuckles softly. “He’s been annoying me since I got back to Tennessee.”
“Ah, so he finally wore you down,” Connor says lightly. Then another body bumps into my arm from the side.
“Oh my gosh. I never thought I’d see the day you came back here,” Mina says, her voice bright and teasing. “And you must be Ever. I’ve heard so much about you. I’ve been dying to meet you.”
Ever blinks. “Oh…” She shoots me a curious look.
Mina doesn’t wait. She steps forward with her arms open, and Ever doesn’t hesitate—she returns the hug easily. I raise an eyebrow at Connor. He just shrugs, clearly as lost as I am.
“I’m Mina, his better half,” she says, then pull back and leans into Connor’s side.
“It’s true,” he confirms. Then drapes an arm around her shoulders with another shrug.
I look to Ever and see her hair out of place. I reach out and tuck the loose strand over her shoulder and smooth it down with my fingers. I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her close to my side, then turn to face Connor and Mina.
They’re both staring at us with wide eyes and matching smiles. Mina glances at Connor, and he gives her a tiny nod, like they’re having an entire conversation without words.
“Do you guys want to sit with us?” Mina asks, turning her attention to Ever. “I would love to get to know you more.”
I look down at Ever instead of answering. This is supposed to be our first real date, just the two of us. If she wants to keep it that way, I’ll make it happen without hesitation. But I want this to be her call.
She meets my gaze and shrugs lightly. “Sure,” she says softly. “Do you want to? I don’t mind.”
“If you want,” I tell her.
She gives me a small, easy smile. Mina is already turning and waving us forward, leading the way out of the standing crowd. I take Ever’s hand again and lean down close to her ear. “We can ditch them any time you want.”
“We can hear you, you know,” Connor calls from ahead.
I kick lightly at the back of his leg and catch his foot. He stumbles half a step, shoots us a glare over his shoulder, but doesn’t say anything else as we file into the arena and find seats in one of the middle sections.