4. Ace
ACE
Three dots appear and for a second I think she might actually say no, but then those four words come through.
Liv: I will be there.
Listen, it’s not like we aren’t both grown with needs.
There is little to choose from in this small town as far as prospects, especially when it comes to not wanting to settle down.
So, my reputation as a bachelor is perfectly shaped armor.
The local women don’t even try anymore. They’ve moved on to the other men who are wanting to settle down…
and it’s not that I don’t ever want to… I do.
I just have standards. Things I want to have before I give my heart and entire soul to someone.
Like a place to call our own, and a salary that can provide for us and our children.
Some might find that weird, but honestly I think it’s the smart thing.
Why rush into things before you can provide for the women you are going to spend the rest of your life with?
I don’t believe in divorce, so rushing isn’t in my nature. My parents rushed into things because my mother got pregnant with me, and I don’t remember a single time where she didn’t seem miserable. My father is an asshole and very old-fashioned. You know, the woman cooks and cleans and he works.
My wife isn’t going to be expected to do anything.
Marriage is a two-way partnership. It’s an equal effort.
Until men realize that, their woman might never feel complete happiness.
Why can’t I do dishes or laundry? My hands are just as capable as anyone else’s?
The stigma behind how women should be treated is backwards.
Maybe that’s because my mother taught me that way.
She didn’t want me to grow up thinking women are just there to please their man. They are so much more.
Gavin walks up the driveway to my place. We’ve been best friends since t-ball days. His father and him run a ranch the next town over, but their dynamic is much different than my father’s and I.
“What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be out working?” He opens the ice chest and grabs a cold beer and takes a seat on the porch. “Or is your father being a dick again today?”
I take a swig of my beer. “He’s always a dick, so that’ll always be the answer. Nah - I got my shit done early today so figured I’d enjoy a cold one and silence.”
“Are you forgetting what’s going down in a few days? You need to keep your head in the game.”
He acts like I haven’t been waiting for this opportunity since I was a teenager.
Not that I wanted Olivia’s family to lose their ranch, but they did forget to pay their bills.
I’ve been saving every paycheck, waiting for the time when I might finally get my hands on my own property.
She might hate me for it, but this is my shot.
I can’t give up just because I’m sleeping with the enemy.
“Seriously, shouldn’t you be getting finances together? A proposal? Instead you're just sitting here acting like the biggest auction for decades isn’t happening in a matter of days and there will be plenty of bidders.”
I toss the empty bottle into the trash and grab a new one. “Believe me, I haven’t forgotten. I’ve got shit under control. No need to worry. Can’t you just come over and enjoy a beer? If I wanted to see a therapist, I’d book an appointment.”
“Well hell, where’s my money then? I’ll start back charging you with interest, if that’s how you wanna play it.”
“Very funny. I’m meeting with the bank to secure the loan, just have to see how much I can get pre-approved for. Hopefully it’s enough for some buffer room. I have a feeling the price is going to get jacked up just for the hell of it.”
“Oh, I’d be surprised if it goes for anything less than half a million. Every ranch owner in the state will be in attendance. The Grant’s have been in this game for generations and everyone wants to get their paws on their property.”
Jesus. Way to make me feel better. “Already know this. Let’s talk about something else. How’s Melissa doing?”
He claps his hand on my shoulder. “Well, she compared herself to a whale this morning, so not great. Pregnancy has been rough for her, yet she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Wish she could see what I see.”
“You guys are so in love, it makes me sick. Why she ever married your ass, I’ll never know.”
Honestly, they have been inseparable since high school, and always together, stuck at the hip. I used to give him a hard time about it, but as I get older, I can only hope I find someone who loves me in such a way.
“Hell, I can’t believe she chose me either, but I spend every day making sure she doesn’t regret it. Man, I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
We chug the rest of our beer and it’s around six o’clock now. I gotta leave to meet Olivia soon. “I’m gonna head in and shower. Head home to your wife and rub her feet or some shit.”
He laughs, but knows I’m right. If there is anything I know about how they operate, it’s a nightly ritual when she’s pregnant. Three kids later… it’s a given. “Hey, keep your girl happy, and she’ll return it tenfold. Take it from me.”
Once he’s in his truck, I go inside and start the shower. We might just be messing around, but still want to look and smell my best. Too much sun today not to shower beforehand.
I pick out my white t-shirt and jeans and set them on the bed before stepping into the shower.
My mind runs as I wash my hair and body…
always about Liv. The girl has all the qualities I look for, but she’s all wrong.
If her father was anyone else, I’d never give her up, but knowing exactly how my family will react, puts a damper on it being anything more than what it is.
I turn off the shower, dab the towel down my body, and then wrap it around my waist. She infuriates me, but also makes me feel…
worth more. She has never yucked my yum.
Hell, one night I even told her about my dream to have my ranch.
Prove my Dad wrong. And to my surprise, she told me to go for it.
But, I don’t think she ever thought it would be her ranch I’d be coming after.