Fifty-three #2
I smiled against his collarbone as he pressed me closer again, relishing in the fact that he wasn’t letting me go just yet.
My hands roamed, noting the new strength in his shoulders as my fingers trailed to the back of his head, wanting to touch his hair but finding the felt band of his hat instead.
A laugh bubbled up from deep in my gut, and I couldn’t stifle it as I imagined the birdseye view of us—me hugging a cowboy.
He laughed a little, too. “What?”
“You look like a cowboy.” I turned my face up to see him.
He tipped his head down for me, letting me look into his eyes. “I almost backed out when I realized I had to dress up.”
I smiled. “So this is dress up?” I pinched the front of his shirt. “Not your typical wear on the ranch?”
“Not at all.”
“Well, I like it. You look good. You look happy.”
His hand came up, his fingers slipping around the curve of my cheek. It took all my self-control not to lean into his palm like a kitten. “There’s a lot to say, Sarah.”
“I know.”
“As soon as we get back to the ranch.”
“Okay.” I nodded.
“A lot of people from Meadowbrook are here.” He dropped his hand, and I mourned the loss. “They’ll be looking for me.”
“I’ll go with you.”
When I picked up my bag, he took it from me, pulling the straps over his shoulders.
His fingers laced through mine as we made our way to the far side of the arena, where two older gentlemen sat at a desk.
Peter gave them his name and rodeo number then claimed there was a family matter requiring his urgent attention and he wouldn’t be riding again.
I tried to appear distressed but failed miserably, biting back a smile the entire time.
Then we surged back into the crowds, and I did the looking work for Peter, scanning the bleachers where he explained they would be—the far side on the top right corner. Finally, I spotted them. And they spotted me.
“Is that Sarah?!” Bea’s disbelieving voice carried over the crowd and she shot out of her seat with a giant smile on her face. Little Wren kicked her feet against her hip as Bea waved. “Oh my gosh! Sarah! Hi!”
Hollie spotted me then, standing and waving, too. Izzy, Nora, Cooper and Harlan were also there.
Don’t cry.
I forced myself to remember all the days of swollen eyes and headaches.
But my eyes prickled with heat anyway as I realized again how wonderful the Thompson family was.
I’d filed to divorce their brother and they were jumping up and down to see me?
That shouldn’t be. But yet it was, and I had them to thank for the fact that I didn’t completely go off the rails as a kid.
Because I would’ve if it wasn’t for the love I found within their home.
Blinking back the pooling moisture, I climbed the bleachers and opened my arms as Bea rushed to fill them. She squeaked. “What are you doing here?! This is the craziest surprise ever!”
Wren leaned away from the hug she’d been forced into and reached her arms out to Peter. “Uh Pee! Uh Pee!”
From the bleacher below us, Peter held out his hands and Wren threw herself into them.
Bea was talking to me, complementing my haircut, but my eyes were transfixed on Peter, marveling at how comfortable he looked with Wren on his hip.
She pointed to something as he talked to her then he kissed her forehead.
Uh Pee? Was Wren trying to say Uncle Peter?
I almost melted through the bleachers into the grass below.
“When did you get in?” Hollie asked, jerking my brain back into the conversation as she stepped away from our hug. She had a hand braced on her belly, which had grown significantly since I saw her last.
“Um, after lunch. I got a red eye last night into Chicago then flew to Austin this morning.”
Peter turned, his brow furrowed. “You spent the night in the airport?”
“Yeah.”
Hollie tsked. “You’re probably exhausted.”
“Surprisingly, I’m okay. I’ve had a lot of coffee.”
“But how did you know we’d be here?” Hollie asked.
“Meadowbrook’s Instagram story.”
“Oh.” Hollie held out the word, understanding now.
“Listen.” I leaned closer and Bea and Hollie did too.
We probably looked rather conspiratorial, but I needed them to hear me out.
Peter was distracted as he started talking to Cooper and Harlan about his ride.
“I feel like I should’ve called in advance to make sure you have a place for me to stay, but is there any way I could squeeze in somewhere? ”
“Of course,” Hollie said. “If we didn’t have room, we would make room.”
“I could crash on a couch. I just want to spend a few nights at Meadowbrook so Peter and I can catch up on some stuff.”
“Want to stay in the fifth wheel again?”
“I hate to impose,” I said, shaking my head.
“It’s not an imposition at all. We aren’t using it again until next week. Plus,” Hollie said with a twinkle in her brown eyes, “that way Peter can stay with you.” She rushed to add, “If you want, anyway.”
Bea nodded. “Yeah. You guys might need some…privacy.”
I had to fight my smile as I took in the way the two of them beamed at me. “That would be great. Thank you so much.”