Cyan: Nope. Wanna give me a head's up?
Luke: She's being bullied at school, made to feel like she's fat and ugly. Her mom isn't helping, and she's blaming her soon to be stepdad, I think. Says she doesn't like him, but you know how kids are with step parents.
Cyan: Sheesh. Yeah, that's a lot for a kid. 12, right?
Luke: Yeah. You sure you want to deal with this?
Cyan: Believe it or not, I like what I do. So, yeah. Can't promise I'll tell you everything we talk about, but I can promise I'll let you know if there's any concerns you need to worry about. When you want to do this?
Luke: Tomorrow. I'll be over around 11 to get you running that tractor today. We gotta get the hay in or Violet could lose her ag exemption. Between the two of us, we should be able to cut it all, then it'll need to dry tomorrow. Turn it the day after, then bale it. Means tomorrow's basically free.
Cyan: Then I'll be waiting for you in the barn around 11. Stop and pick up sunscreen for me? I'll pay you back when you get here.
Luke: Fucking city boy. I got ya covered.
I was sitting in my bed with a half-hard dick, grinning at my phone. Fuck, but I liked this guy. Of course I did. He was Violet's, and she had the best taste. I just didn't know how she'd feel about me fawning over him. Knowing her, she'd probably think it was cute or some shit. Either way, talking to Luke made me forget all about my own problems, namely Kindle and Ashton.
I eventually got my ass out of bed. That involved a trip down the hall to the bathroom, because, of course, I'd claimed a room without an attached bath. I grabbed a shower to wash the fog off, then made my way back to my room. If I was going to be working outside, I needed something that could take a beating. I went with jeans, the boots I had for riding a motorcycle - since I didn't have any of the cowboy type - and a shirt that already had a few unidentifiable stains, plus a few holes.
By the time eleven o'clock rolled around, I was ready to go, and Violet was still asleep. I stopped to check on her, pleased to see she was actually resting, then headed out. I made it outside just as Luke pulled through the gate. We met at the front of the barn, and the cowboy stepped out of his truck to toss me an aerosol bottle of something.
I caught it, then turned the can, half-expecting bug spray. Instead, it was sunscreen, and with an SPF of 100. "You calling me a pussy?" I asked.
Luke laughed. "No, I'm saying that you clearly aren't used to working in the sun, and it's July in Texas. Just gonna get hotter, and I don't wanna hear you whine." Then he leaned back in his truck to pull out another hat.
This one was straw. The one on his head was black felt. Confused, I watched as he walked right up to me and shoved it on my head, giving it a bit of a tilt down to shade my eyes. Surprisingly, it fit. It also smelled like him, which made it clear where it had come from.
"Trying to make me a cowboy?" I asked.
"Trying to save you from burning your scalp," he said, lifting both hands and stepping back toward the barn. "Wear it. Trust me."
"Yeah?" I asked, spreading my arms for his inspection. "So, think I can pull this off?"
Luke grinned, letting his eyes run across me in the least straight-man way possible. "Looking good, Cy," he promised. "When you need to meet some easy country girl, just lemme know. I'll be your wingman."
"Fuck," I grumbled. "Thanks, but I'll pass on that."
Luke just shrugged. It was supposed to look innocent, but the expression on his face ruined it. "I mean, we could probably find some gay bar in Dallas, if that's more your thing. Don't know any, but I'm man enough to still be your wingman."
"Keep guessing," I told him.
"Aromantic," he said as he turned and headed into the barn, calling behind him. "I looked it up, pretty sure that's not you."
Laughing under my breath, I followed. "So, think you got me pegged, do ya?"
"I'm guessing pansexual," he said. "That one sounded pretty interesting. Demisexual, maybe, since all I know about you is that you checked out Violet's tits and aren't a faggot. Plus, you were engaged, but you're also a shrink, so could be straight with a side of social justice."
"Not straight," I admitted.
He stopped. "No shit?"
"Fiancé was a dude. Caught him making out with another dude." I shifted his hat on my head. "So, you change your mind about showing me how to work this thing?"
"No," he said softly. "I was just thinking that I'm damned glad she kissed you. Um, I wouldn't tell a lot of people that in this town. Folks around here do have guns in their gun racks. Half of them would be willing to use them."
"Trust me, I know. I grew up here, remember?"
Luke nodded slowly, processing that. "You seriously slept with a man?"
