I hadn't actually thought that far. In truth, I was stuck at the telling Faith point. Until that happened, there was no other future for me, because if my daughter wouldn't live with them, then I really couldn't either. That was the downside of being a dad. My decisions were no longer just about what I wanted. They had to be good for both of us. Well, to a point.
"What about you?" I asked him. "I know you're into the idea, but Ash said he doesn't care. Gonna talk him into it?"
Cy chuckled. "Like I said, those two are a matched set. Maybe we'll just get married and let them be the odd ones out. I mean, unless you're changing your mind about that too?"
"Nah. I was raised that marriage is what we do, and never thought otherwise," I admitted. "I built my dreams for old age on the idea of a wife beside me and a herd of kids and grandkids around us. I've modified that a bit in my head, but it's still there."
"So what does your dream look like now?" he asked.
I chuckled. "A herd of kids in the cabins, a pair of men getting real bitchy when the weather changes, and Violet still looking like a model when she's eighty."
"Mm, I like that," he agreed. "You know we made out in her office the other night, right?"
"Yep," I said. "She told me. May have gone for round two in the shower when she came upstairs." I paused. "Cy, I've never done a threesome, let alone four."
"It'll happen," he promised.
"And I'm going to be the idiot all over again."
He just laughed. "Kiss what you can reach, use lube inanyone'sass, and fuck until you come. Pretty much it." Then he reached down to adjust himself. "Starting to think this tractor's like a real big vibrator, though."
"Uh..." I had to blink twice, because that was not at all what I'd expected him to say.
So Cy laughed harder. "Right, in your world, toys are just for women. Yeah, gonna have to shove one of those up your ass. You will come like a freight train, Luke." Then he paused, his brow creasing for a split second. "Got a vibrating cock ring. Might let you use that with Violet. Just know that your O-face will be real damned stupid."
I lifted his hand to my lips and kissed the back. "Who knew I've been missing out on all the good stuff. Thanks, Cy. For being cool about all of this. For not treating me like an idiot. Just... All of it, I guess?"
"Thanks for showing me that being lovers doesn't mean we can't be friends." And his fingers tightened around mine. "I kinda need that because I'm stupid about some things too, and you help more than you know."
Chapter Fifty
Monday, the boys cut hay. Tuesday, it wasn't dry, but the contractors for the cabins were finally making progress. Then the rep for the ductless air conditioners showed up. Cy tried to handle most of that for me, but the guy in charge was adamant that he had to talk to me before anything would be delivered. I got a text, headed out, and ended up writing a check. That seemed to work.
By Wednesday, Southwind was starting to get a little busy. Luke and Cy swapped out turning the hay so the other side could dry. With the weather finally starting to cool down, it meant the hay would take just a bit longer to get ready, but that was ok. We had two weeks of clear skies in the forecast. Thank you, Texas weather.
But just before three that afternoon, Luke came jogging into the house, looking like he was in a hurry. I was in the kitchen getting a drink, so I paused to see what was going on. He grabbed his keys, swung past me to steal a kiss, and then headed for the door.
Just before he reached it, he paused. "Faith sent me a message. She wants to bring Zeke over to ride horses with her. I'm trying to be a good dad, so I'm going to pick up the kids. Emily's good with it."
Hearing a woman's name on his lips made a flare of jealousy hit, and then I remembered that was the name of Zeke's mom. Well, I hadn't expected that. Laughing half at myself and half at him, I lifted a hand, and Luke was gone. Naturally, I headed to Ash's office to warn him that we had company coming.
That meant we were all outside by the time they got back. Cy was still on the tractor, but Ash and I were casually hanging out in the barn. Maybe it was a little too casual, but I honestly didn't care. I heard the crunch of the gravel as the truck pulled into Luke's regular spot, then three different doors opened and closed. Faith's laughter proved it was them.
Beside me, Ash pulled up his phone and sent a text. "Cy," he explained.
I just nodded as the whole crew came around the corner and into the barn. The kids were in front, but Luke was following behind, looking like he was completely ok with this. The moment he saw us, he smiled.
"Faith, introduce your friend," he told her.
"Oh!" she said, pointing to me first. "That's Violet, Dad's girlfriend, and this is Ash. This is Zeke, and sorry, Ash, but he's kinda my best friend now."
"Oh, replaced," Ash groaned.
But the boy was looking at Ash with a strange little smile on his lips. A crush, I realized, and the kid was trying hard not to show it. Faith didn't even seem to notice, but Zeke's cheeks were getting darker.
"Hi," he tried, his voice breaking on the word.
Ash smiled at him. "Nice eyeliner."
