Jagger leans against a stall door with his arms crossed, scowling. Mason, Sebastian, and Alexander have similar stances.
Jagger drawls, "Well, look at that. Bull-riding bad boy's got a new specialty in grade A manure."
Mason adds, "Got some under the snow in the corral that needs to be picked up after this."
Wyatt doesn't react to their taunts. He keeps working, jaw set tight, eyes locked on the pile he's shoveling.
Unlike Wyatt, anger explodes from me. I shout, "Enough!"
My four brothers freeze. Even the horses' restless shuffling goes silent.
I storm forward, planting myself between Wyatt and my brothers.
Wyatt looks at me, ordering, "Go back inside the house, Willow."
I place my hands on my hips. I clear my throat and demand, "Stop being dicks. This is the new reality. Wyatt and I are together. We're adults, so deal with it."
"You weren't an adult when he took advantage of you," Jagger snarls.
"This again? You've got to be kidding me!" I exclaim.
"You were fifteen!" Jagger roars.
"You're such a hypocrite! You lost your virginity to Camile Henderson when you were thirteen!" I point out.
His eyes widen in shock.
My other brothers snicker.
"Yeah. Don't think I didn't know like the rest of the school! So don't you dare act like Wyatt forced me to do anything I didn't want to do."
"Willow—" Wyatt starts, but I cut him off.
"No! Let's get this over with once and for all." I point at my other brothers. "Do you have anything you want to get off your chest? Because I don't have to discuss my personal life with any of you. But this is your one chance to say whatever you want. After you're done having your temper tantrum, this is over. You're going to accept that Wyatt and I are together, and things are resuming as normal."
"Normal isn't you with him," Jagger seethes.
"Get over yourself!" I hurl, crossing my arms and glowering at him.
Silence falls over us. A horse neighs, breaking the tension for a moment, then it resumes.
I turn to Wyatt and point to a pile of manure. "You missed a spot."
The corner of his mouth lifts into a crooked grin. He replies, "Guess I need to get that." He scoops the pitchfork under the pile and tosses it in the wheelbarrow.
I grab another pitchfork and step next to him.
"What are you doing, sugar?" he asks.
"Showing you I've still got skills," I tease.
Jagger groans. "Yuck."
"What's yuck?" I snap.
He wrinkles his nose. "You two flirting."
"Get over it," I order, then I toss the pitchfork aside, step in front of Wyatt, and throw my arms around his shoulders, saying, "I think you forgot my kiss."
