Chapter 5 Tully
FIVE
TULLY
The only bright spot about today is, well, nothing.
Okay, fine, it was an alright type of day, and I get to hang out with my best friend.
The best part of this week so far has been coming home last night to Dean and him taking care of me in all the ways a woman hopes and dreams for.
I mean he cooked, gave me an orgasm, we ate said dinner, and he doled out more orgasms like it was his life mission.
The best part was he stayed the entire night.
I wasn’t sure how we were going to navigate the specifics, but after the last round of sex, I was too tired to care.
Plus, Dean curled his big body around mine, my back to his front, his leg wedged between both of mine, and his arm wrapped around my midsection.
He’d linger his hand here or there through the night, which gave me a peace of mind he was still there with me.
“Earth to Tallulah, are you in there?” Birdie waves her hand in front of my face.
I got so lost in my Dean-induced fog that I forgot we were sitting her and Lane’s front porch.
I’m on call tonight. One night off, two nights on.
Nothing makes sense when it comes to Herbert and the way he runs his clinic.
All I can do is grin and bear it, get some time beneath my belt, and somehow manage to keep my head above water.
Needless to say, work was awful today, and walking into my place today was worse because Dean wasn’t there, and it really sucked eating the leftovers by myself.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m kind of tired from this week already.
” I shrug my shoulders. This sucks, but not as hard as I sucked Dean’s dick last night.
There goes my mind into a whole other dimension once again.
I’m beginning to think Dean has a magical aura around him and he’s somehow managed to make me become obsessed when it comes to anything related to him.
“Well, your job sucks,” Birdie states without hesitation.
Leave it to my best friend to tell me like it is.
She may be a couple of years younger than me, but she does not mess around.
Neither do I, which is why our friendship is as strong as it is.
Except she’s a paperback book lover, while I’m an audio girlie all the way, and it takes her twice as long to read the books we choose to buddy read.
Though that isn’t the case anymore; it’s now her who waits for me to catch up.
After working all day and sometimes well into the night, listening to a book is the last thing I want to do.
Even in the car, the only noise I want is silence.
“Tell me something I don’t already know.” We’d usually be sitting here enjoying a girl dinner with a glass of wine. Tonight, that isn’t the case. My phone is sitting in front of me, and I’m begging it not to ring. I’d like to at least get a few hours off work before an emergency comes through.
“You girls good?” Lane asks, peeking his head out the door, probably to make sure we aren’t talking about him or other men.
Yeah, right. The last time we were on the phone and Birdie so much as mentioned his brothers, I was hung up on, and she reaped the rewards.
We don’t go into specifics about each other’s sex life, but it’s kind of hard to ignore the obvious when her man grumbles what he’s going to do to her.
As for my sex life, well, as far as she knows, I have none.
No one said I was a great friend. Keeping secrets definitely wasn’t on my bingo card, yet for now, I’m keeping everything off the table.
“We are. I was just telling Tully I hate her job. It’s ruining our girls’ nights.
” Birdie crosses her arms over her chest, pouting.
Lane takes a step out of the house. Rocky, Birdie’s and now Lane’s dog, darts out and comes right to me.
I bend down and pick him up to sit on my lap while he greets me like he didn’t earlier.
“Babe.” Lane gives her a one-word answer. She, of all people, should understand that I need to do this on my own. Birdie is no stranger to being stubborn. The turning point in her life is Lane. Love will do that to a person.
“I know, but can’t you and the ranch hire her instead?
” Oh, how my best friend is laying it on thick.
Ignoring their conversation while rubbing Rocky is what I’ll do.
Dean offered me a similar situation, my parents offered to fund me opening up my own clinic, and Birdie’s idea of opening a mobile vet clinic for large animals is still sizzling in the forefront of my brain.
The only problem with that is I’m still new in town, and some of these ranchers are like the one I had the pleasure of dealing with earlier this week.
They still don’t think I know enough or think a girl can’t perform the same as a man can.
“Tully knows the job is hers whenever she wants. Mom and Dad gave her the go-ahead.” They did, and I muddled the idea around, too. The only problem is I’d only be working with horses and cows.
I clear my throat, ready to change the subject and move on. I’ve heard it entirely too many times lately.
“Fine, fine. I know when I’m being told to shut my mouth.” Rocky jumps off my lap and runs toward Birdie.
“Do you, though?” I tease, unable to hold back my laughter.
“No, I don’t, thank you very much, and Lane likes my mouth when I wrap it around—” I shake my head.
Lane tugs on her ponytail as his lips move to hers, shutting her up.
I avert my eyes. Their public display of affection doesn’t bother me.
Rather it makes me want what they have that much more.
A life with Dean where I don’t have to look over my shoulder or worry about what others would say.
Man, these past couple of days are really turning into a woe-is-me kind of week.
“I’m going to Ry’s. Dean is there working on a few things. I figured I’d help him out for a bit.” Birdie is looking up at her man with stars in her eyes. Same, sister, same. These Johnson brothers sure do know how to make a woman fall for them.
“We’re good. Have fun, and don’t be too long,” she sighs. Lane shakes his head. There’s no mistaking his slight smile, though. He loves to leave my friend breathless.
“I won’t. You need anything before I get home, I’ll have my cell on. Good seeing you again, Tully. Don’t be a stranger.” Lane nods.
“You, too.” I give him a little finger wave. It isn’t until he clears the door, shutting it behind him, that I figure our time is dwindling, and I still haven’t been home long enough to wash the stink off myself.
“You’re not leaving yet. Don’t even try it.
” Birdie points her finger at me, attempting to use the mom voice on me.
I can’t help it. Laughter erupts out of me, deep and throaty.
There’s no holding back. I love her, but there isn’t a mean bone in her body.
I bend at the waist, hand covering my mouth, and still, I can’t calm down my laughter.
Rocky yips, thinking it’s time to play when in all reality, he can’t read the room.
“I think I might get a dog,” I change the subject after I get myself under control. Birdie didn’t find me comical, so now it’s time to switch tactics.
“What? You think I can’t be mean?” she asks. Her face falls from being stern to a smile. “What kind of dog, and who’s going to watch over them when you’re off being Herbert’s pack mule?”
“Great question. I mean, he or she could probably come with me on the clinic days, but the ones where I’m visiting farms and night calls, I may need help.
Want to be an auntie to my future dog and puppysit?
” I lay it on thick. Is it necessary? Nope.
Birdie would do anything for me, and I’d do anything for Birdie.
“Between Mom and Catherine, will I even get to so much as visit with your future dog?”
“True that. Anyways, I’m going to keep my eyes out for a puppy.
We’ll see what happens. Tell me about your work.
” I kick my feet up on the coffee table.
The shower I’d like to have will only bring me back to a too quiet and too lonely house.
I’d much rather sit here and talk to my best friend until I wear out my welcome.