“Hey, how’s it going?” I asked Cody as I dismounted and took off Trixie’s bridle so she could graze while I waited for John to finish his call.
Cody stared at me for a moment before he nodded. “Hey, Jeri. You and Sean live here together now, right?”
I nodded and sat on the tailgate, opening the cooler that was always filled with water. I’d forgotten my canteen when I left the barn. It was too fucking hot not to have access to cold water.
“We sure do. His office is in DC, but he’s staying here full-time until September. After that he’ll go back to the office three days a week and spend weekends here at home. Will you have timeto work here when school starts? You’ve done a great job for us, and I’d like to keep you on if I can.”
I followed Cody’s gaze to see him staring at his father. He glanced at the prairie grass swaying in the hot summer breeze before he turned back to me. “Do you have a need for someone else to work here too? He’s a friend of mine, and we’re trying to save money to get a place together after we graduate.”
“Are you planning to go to college?” College hadn’t been for me, but maybe Cody was a good student and would get a scholarship?
He grinned. “No college for me. I’m not a brain like my best friend, Pinky. I’m going to apprentice with his dad. He’s a plumber, and he’s agreed to let me learn on the job. Pinky’s still trying to figure out what he wants to do for a career, but if we can make enough money to get our own place, I’ll be able to support him by working as a plumber if his parents pay for his college tuition.”
“Why do you call him Pinky?”
Cody’s face turned a little pink, ironically. “He dyes his hair pink. It’s his favorite color, and it looks good on him. He’s been my best friend since grade school. So, you got a spot for him?”
I had the feeling there was more to his relationship with Pinky, but Cody didn’t volunteer anything, and I didn’t feel right prying into his business, even though his father had asked if I’d answer any questions he had.
“A plumber, huh? I hear they make good money. What’s your father say about you not wanting to follow him into the construction business?”
“He says it’s smart because his business can be lean at times. Dad says everybody needs a shitter and running water.” We both laughed. John Langer had a damn good sense of humor.
“Tell your friend to come out. I’ve always got work if he doesn’t mind getting a little dirty. What’s his given name?” I didn’t see myself calling the young manPinky.
“Riley. Riley Singer.” His face flushed again.
The way he said the guy’s name gave away his affection, and it was sweet. Kinda the way I said Sean’s name. It was easy to tell Cody was in love. I hoped Pinky returned his feelings.
“Okay. Give me your phone, and I’ll give you my number. I’ll wait for his call.”
Cody grinned and grabbed his phone from the truck bed to hand it to me. I made a contact for myself and gave him my number. “By the way, Cody, if you ever wanna talk about anything, you can use this number too. It can be hard to be a young guy, and maybe you don’t wanna talk to your parents about everything, but if you have any questions or just want to bitch about something, I’m just a phone call away.” That was all I could do.
He stared at me for a moment before taking his phone and extending his right hand for me to shake. “Thank you, Jericho. I’ll keep that in mind.”
John was headed in our direction, so I took a drink of water. Cody looked as though he had something more to say, so I waited.
“You think you and Sean will ever get married?”
I smirked. “If I’m lucky, maybe someday.” And I meant it.
Epilogue
Sean
“Babe, can I talk you into taking a ride on Trixie? I’ve got something I wanna show you.”
I glanced up from reviewing the briefing books Mrs. Lambert had delivered the previous day for my upcoming Tuesday meeting with a new Republican senator sworn in over the break. It would be the first official day of Congress being back in session after being off all August, and I was a little nervous because I was having trouble finding common ground with the woman.
Spencer Brady was going with me to meet Senator Debra Peters from Wyoming. I hoped his charm could win her over because I already didn’t like the woman, based on some of the shit she’d said during her campaign.
“Oh, what do you want to show me? Can’t you show me right here in the dining room?” I waggled my eyebrows at him because I loved teasing him.
The man had a voracious appetite when it came to sex, and I was a happy man to learn that little perk in our relationship. Not many could keep up with me when it came to getting off. Fucking or blowing Jeri or whatever he had on his mind was never an issue for me, regardless of how tired I might be.
For me, hopping on top of a four-legged wild animal that could run off with me or throw me or paw me to death after it threw me was an issue. I liked petting, bathing, and brushing horses, which I did to help Jeri out when Cody wasn’t working. At no time over the summer had I been tempted to climb on the back of one of those majestic creatures for it to take me anywhere.
“I did something as a surprise for you, and it’s finally ready. Please come with me so I can show you.”
