In the past two years, he’d been reminded of what an amazing family he had, and how much he loved small towns like Three Rivers, and what having good friendships felt like. He hadn’t had any of those things on the rodeo circuit, and that had gone right down to the woman he’d dated and thought he’d been in love with.
He swiped on his phone and found that he had several messages. Yes, his mother had texted, and he quickly responded to her:I made it home, and I’m in bed. My head is killing me, and you’re right, I probably overdid it.
That would validate her and worry her, and Ty hoped she’d already gone to bed, though her message had only come in a few minutes ago.
He’d gotten a couple messages from Colt about doing the New Year’s Day brunch at the restaurant his friend had built into the apple orchards this past fall. He’d thrown himself into that when his attempts at blind dating had gone terribly. Ty said he could be there at eleven to help out for a couple of hours, and he navigated to Wilder Glover’s text next.
Hey, I meant to grab you at the dance tonight,he said.But something came up with Savannah’s daughter, and we left early. I’m just wondering if you’re bringing a date to Judy and Trooper’s wedding.
Ty sighed and looked away from the brightness of his phone, though he’d put it on dark mode.
“The wedding,” he grumbled to himself.
He tapped back over to Colt’s message and saw that his friend had said,Thanks, brother.
Hey, are you taking anyone to Judy and Trooper’s wedding?Ty sent off quickly.
Colt started to respond, and Ty held his breath. Maybe he and Colt could be each other’s plus-one, the way they’d been before.
While he waited, a pretty brunette paraded into his mind. She wore scrubs, and bright purple shoes, and her dark hair up into a high ponytail.
“You’re not asking Winona,” he muttered to himself.
The very idea was laughable, though she seemed to show up everywhere Ty did in Three Rivers. He had to see her a couple of times per month for their therapy appointments, and since she challenged him to do exercises he didn’t like and use his body in ways he didn’t think he could, he was never very happy to see her—and always glad when she walked away.
He could admit she was beautiful, but only to himself, and only in quiet, exhaustive moments like this. She’d integrated herself into their small-town community far quicker and easier than Ty ever could or would.
In every way she was his opposite, so why she’d come into his mind when thinking about a date for a wedding, he had no idea.
Yeah,Colt said.I went the safe route and asked Wilder’s sister, because I know she thinks I’m too old for her and she’s not interested. She’ll have to be there anyway, and this way neither one of us have to be alone.
“That’s a pretty good idea,” Ty said, grinning at his phone.Are there any other Glovers that don’t have dates?
Colt sent a couple of laughing emojis.I don’t know, man. Ask Wilder.
He’s asking me about a date,Ty said.
Maybe he’s got someone in mind,Colt said back.
Ty tapped back over to Wilder’s string and said,I don’t have anyone. Do I need someone? Does one of your cousins need a date?
Wilder didn’t respond, and Ty scrolled up to see that he’d texted a couple of hours ago. They’d left early, and Savannah had little girls, so Wilder was probably already home and in bed.
A new text from his momma came in, and Ty’s heart jumped up into his throat.
I’ll bring you some soup tomorrow,she said.Did you take medicine tonight?
Yes,he said.I have to work at the orchards tomorrow from eleven to one. I can stop by your house after for lunch.
Let’s do that,Momma said.I can’t believe you have to work on New Year’s Day.
Colt just asked last minute,he said.I don’t mind.
All right. Love you, buddy.
Love you too, Momma.Ty sighed as he put his phone down on his chest. He did love his mother, and he loved his freedom and living with Jacob here in this apartment.
Yes, he’d been attending the small ranch owners’ meetings for over a year now, and he loved all of his friends there, their wives, and their kids. So when Ty closed his eyes and started thinking about what he lacked in his life, it was definitely a wife and children.
