Chet’s face dropped and he rushed over. “Oh my gahd, Lou, what’s wrong?!”
“I dunno, are you pregnant, darlin’?” Tracy asked, hoping the joke would snap Lou out of it.
Chet went pale. “What?! Not by me she ain’t!”
Lou looked up at him with murder in her eye and a metaphorical dagger on her tongue. Chet looked instantly guilty.
“Sorry, baby, that came out wrong. You know I’d be very happy to have a kid with you—It just wouldn’t be from me, cuz I got myself snipped. So if you were pregnant from me, I’d be callin’ fey bullshit on that.”
“Y-yeah, tha’s fair,” Lou sniffled, putting her head down on her arms, sprawling across the table in her misery.
Chet looked daggers at Tracy for that terrible setup.
Tracy just shrugged. She’d also been off all year. It really felt like they’d lost their lodestone, having Sally be so far away. And then Curly had gone and sold the rodeo to some new dipshit out ofNew York. What didNew Yorkknow about rodeos? Nothing, that’s what!
Tracy sighed heavily.
“I told her I made a profile on the alien datin’ site,” she said quietly to him.
“Aw, shit, Trace.” Chet ran an agitated hand through his hair. “When do y’leave?”
“I ain’t goin’ nowhere! I just opened the dang profile!” Tracy pouted grumpily. “I just wanted to look at hunky guys!”
“WAIT!”
Chet and Tracy both jumped as Lou sat up suddenly.
“I KNOW WHAT TO DO.”
The two exchanged apprehensive glances as Lou continued.
“We areallmiserable here, but we could be miserable togetherwith Sally, so I’m gonna make that happen! I don’t know how yet, but I’m gonna figure it out!”
Lou jumped up and gave Chet a big smackerooney on the lips. He kissed her back, looking confused as she disappeared in the other room. She came back with a rolodex, her laptop, and a notebook.
“Oh no,” he muttered. He looked over at Tracy with a narrowed glance. “I blameyoufor this one.”
Tracy winced. “Yeah, I cain’t argue that.”
“CHET!”
“Aw, fudge.”
“Start plannin’ the weddin’! We’ve gotta get everything we need before we go.” She looked up at him, eyes blazing hazel fire. “WE ARE TAKIN’ THE RODEO…INTO SPACE!”
???
…TO BE CONTINUED.
