“I know you named your goat Rita because it sounds like ‘fajita’ and you thought that was hilarious. I know you sing to your chickens when you think no one’s listening. I know you can’t make coffee without spilling it, but you make the best sweet tea in three counties.”
“Those are just facts.”
“I know you’re brave enough to stand up to anyone, but kind enough to help a turtle cross the road. I know you’re smart enough to see through everyone’s BS, but generous enough not to call them on it unless they deserve it. I know you’re the only person who’s ever made me want to break some of the rules I’ve set for myself.”
She looks up at me. “Only some of the rules.”
“Hey, baby steps,” I say, running my fingers through her hair.
She stares at me for a moment, which Rita ruins by trying to steal my wallet from my pocket.
“Rita!” Callie grabs for it, but the goat’s already got her teeth in my driver’s license. “I’m so sorry, she has a thing about government documents.”
“It’s fine,” I say, wrestling my wallet back. “Though explaining to the DMV that a goat ate my license will be interesting.”
“I could write you a note. ‘Please excuse Wyatt’s missing license. Rita was feeling peckish.’”
“I’m sure they’d understand.”
She leans her head on my shoulder, and I wrap an arm around her. Rita, feeling left out, tries to climb into my lap.
“No,” I tell her firmly. “There’s a weight limit on this lap, and you exceed it.”
Rita bleats indignantly.
“Don’t body-shame my goat,” Callie says, but she’s smiling now.
“I’m not shaming her. I’m establishing boundaries.”
“Since when do McCoys respect boundaries?”
“Since Thompson women started crossing them.”
“I crossed them first?”
“You and your goat crossed every boundary the day you crashed into us at the fair.”
“That was Rita’s fault.”
“It’s always Rita’s fault.”
Rita bleats again, and this time it sounds like agreement.
Callie sits up and looks at me seriously. “Are we really doing this? All of us?”
“Looks like it.”
“Your dad’s going to lose his mind.”
“Probably.”
“Mine too.”
“Definitely.”
“The whole town will talk.”
“They’re already talking.”
