Feeling a little chastised, I nod. “Fine. I’ll give him a fair shot.”
“That’s all I ask,” Trip says, chucking my shoulder.
He’s right, of course. I don’t know much about the guy, save for the fact he’s gay and his dad’s an asshole. Tanner was a freshman when I was a senior, and I graduated a semester early. I went off to college right after and got through my degree as fast as possible, so I never got to hang out with him.
As he exits his sorry excuse of a car, my meandering thoughts go right out the window, and I let out a low whistle.
“See something you like?” Trip asks, elbowing me.
“Tanner Buchanan filled out, lost his acne, and picked up some black eyeliner along the way,” I say out of the corner of my mouth.
Trip tilts his head to the side, giving Tanner the up-down. “It suits him, don’t you think?”
“Hell yeah, it suits him. But what is this look called? Dark Christmas elf? Goth kitten? I mean…is that a pink crop top? Is he going to be good for anything?”
Trip’s affable expression drops, and he pins me with alook. “You don’t think femme guys can accomplish hard things?”
Sam, Trip’s husband, wears makeup and sparkly clothes and is a fucking powerhouse in business. I gulp. “Of course they can. No judging a book by its cover, got it.”
Trip’s pleasant demeanor returns, and he winks. “That’s what I thought. Besides, you’ll be working directly with him to make sure he has the skills he needs to be successful.”
"I am?” I clear my throat. “I mean, yes, I am.”
Tanner approaches us, squaring his shoulders as his pretty blue eyes dart between Trip and me.
Feeling off-balance, I say the first appropriate thing that comes to mind. “Hi, Tanner. I like your hair.”
Awkward, yes, but it’s better than asking if I can lick his pretty abs.
He runs his fingers through his platinum-blond hair and his Adam’s apple bobs. “Uh. Thanks. I, uh, like your boots.”
He winces as he says this because I’m wearing my work boots, which arenotpretty. Trip, in that steady good-natured way of his, rolls his eyes at our mutual awkwardness and starts walking toward the new bunkhouse.
While the old bunkhouse was a revamp of an old barn, this new space—we’re calling it Bunkhouse 2.0—has the same limestone and cedar exterior as the main house. It’s the perfect roommate arrangement with a living room in the middle, two bedrooms, a bathroom off to each side, and a nice big kitchen straight back.
We’re allowed to freely decorate our rooms, but Trip brought over some of his mom’s artwork and Sparrow’s photography for the larger areas.
Wyatt and Desi arrive as we’re settling in. Wyatt is Trip’s dad and Desi used to be his uncle. Maybe he still is his uncle? Long story short, after Trip’s mom died, Wyatt went and fell in love with her brother. Trip seemed to struggle with it at first—hell, we were all surprised to find out Wyatt isn’t straight—but it’s hard to miss how much this family loves each other.
I’m surprised when Sparrow and his mom, Ofelia, show up. They’re both artistic, and I’m hoping this means Ofelia will lend us her skills to paint the storefront windows in holiday motifs.
Some of my high school friends show up, along with a few other folks from Wild Heart Ranch.
Huh. We’ve got alotof queer folks in this small community. I like it.
As everyone’s finding their place, Tanner squeezes in next to Desi and Wyatt. Peter said Tanner used to have a huge crush on Desi, but they became friends after Tanner got kicked out of his house. I’ve been around Desi for years now, and I’d bet my shiny new paycheck that Dez is responsible for helping Tanner find his unique aesthetic.
Hell, he’s the one who told me that my “authentic cowboy style” would have guys eating out of my hand in College Station, and he was one hundred percent right. His tips on keeping my beard, pubes, and cuticles neat while letting my chest be furry for sure kept me elbow-deep in ass while I got my degree in equine science.
Respectfully, of course.
We’re quick about getting through the particulars of the Christmas Cleanup—this is a working ranch, after all—and I’m pleased when Tanner participates and has good ideas.
We end the meeting on a good note, and I remind everyone to send me their assignment preferences so I can draw up the calendar. As people make their way out, my dad pops his head around the front door. I sigh, and Trip snickers next to me. I adore my father, but he shows up here a lot, and sometimes he can be a bit much.
I get up and give him a hug.
“Hey, Dad, what’s up?” I ask, waving to Desi and Wyatt as they take off.
