Me:>
Reeces Pieces:Oh my God! Did you finally get the cabin you’ve been waiting for?!
Me:Sure did. Moved in three days ago. Wanted to get it all set up for you to come home on break. Now we actually get to hang out like real adults instead of in the shed.
Reeces Pieces:I don’t know. I’m a little partial to the shed. Plus I really like s’mores.
Me:Don’t worry I know how to make s’mores inside and I already have a fire pit. We just don’t have to share it or ride a horse to get there.
Reeces Pieces:I could tell my parents I’m not coming home for a few days…
Me:They’d see your truck. But it is a two bedroom so you could stay here if you wanted to instead of with your parents.
Reeces Pieces:A second bedroom is just for appearances right?
Me:>
Reeces Pieces:Right. Obviously. Eeek! I can’t wait! SLEEPOVER! Peanut butter and oreos ready for me?
Me:Oh God. Is it too late to renege this deal?
You will never get me to admit that I like her weird combination of snacks. Ever. But I might sneak them while she’s gone.
Reeces Pieces:Double Stuf?
Me:Obviously. This isn’t my first rodeo.
Reeces Pieces:Yay! Leaving now! See you soooooonnnnnn.
I catch myself smiling as I put my phone on the island next to her revised rules. I pull out the pizza dough from the refrigerator to let it rise while she drives. She goes to college about two hours away from the ranch, so I have plenty of time to get somechores done, like putting on the new sheets my mama brought by earlier. She said that she refuses to let me live like Dad did before they got married.
No bachelor life for me. Which is fine by me, I’ve had enough bachelor living in the bunkhouses. I’d be happy to never live that way again.
I just slid the pizza into the oven and Reece is reading over the new rules I wrote.
“So. What do you think?” I ask her, dropping the kitchen towel on the counter before I turn back to face her.
She’s sitting, staring at me with her mouth wide open. “I… uh… number six is interesting.”
“Is it?” I slip into the chair next to her.
“Your girlfriend?” She stares at me and my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest. I didn’t think through her rejecting me to my face.
“Yes, Reece. My girlfriend. I’ve thought about it. And I don’t want to hide how I feel about you anymore. You’ve been my best friend for a majority of my life and over the last six months those feelings have grown into something different. So if you want me to take this all the way with you, I want it all in return.”
She continues to stare at me, not saying anything. I start to fidget in my chair, tapping my foot against the bar on the chair. “I’m sorry. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact thatyou,the man who could have any woman he wants, wantsmeto be his girlfriend.”
“But, you’re the one who came up with rule number five. So I figured I was going out on a limb here. You’re really making a guy sweat it out.” I wring my clammy hands.
“I made rule number five to protect myself. If I convinced myself this had no feelings then I wouldn’t wonder if you had any.” She continues to keep looking back at my revised rules.
“So, um, where does that leave you on the status of rule six?” I stand, waiting to see what her answer is before I get the pizza.
Her arms wrap around my middle and pull me into her. “I accept all your conditions, Jaycob Adler.”
“Thank fucking God.” I tip her head up to mine, capturing her lips with mine. Before I can take it further than I intended to, the oven timer goes off. I release her before going to pull the pizza out of the oven. Placing it on the counter in between the two of us, I pull out the pizza cutter. “This doesn’t change the timeline. We’re still taking it slow.”
Even if I have no desire to go slow after that kiss.
