Chapter Ten
West
It’s almost five whenI leave Daisy’s, so I head straight to Mama’s for dinner.The entire family sits around the table, and seven sets of eyes follow me as I wipe off my boots and hang my hat on the hook by the door.
“We were wondering if we’d see you tonight,” Mama says in a tone that’s equal parts rebuke and suspicion.“Since you missed dinner, breakfast, and lunch.”
“Hi, Mama.”I lean in and kiss her cheek.
“Yeah, West.”Wyatt taunts.“Where you been?”
“I know where he wasn’t.Spending the weekend with the date I set him up on.Poor Lainey is currently nursing another broken heart and is ready to swear off men all together.”
“I’m sure Lainey was real broken hearted after the ten minutes of scintillating conversation we had.”
“Well, maybe if you hadn’t jumped right to, ‘This isn’t going anywhere but the bedroom’ you’d have learned that she is a gorgeous human being who loves to read Romantasy, looks like a Victoria’s Secret Angel, and has a degree in Early Childcare Education and Development.”
“Well, like I said already,” I pick up the mashed potatoes and pile a heap on my plate, then I grab the fried chicken and collard greens, slapping too much of everything on there just to avoid looking my sister in the eyes.“Why don’t you date her if you like her so much?”
“No offence, Lemonade,” Colt says patting her hand on the table.“But I am getting the vibe that you might want to date her.”
“And here I thought I was the only gay on the ranch.”Wyatt grins, setting his fork down and leaning back in his chair.
“Shut up, Wyatt,” Lemon and I say at the same time.
“Maybe you should introduce Lainey to me?”Wade says.“I mean, am I chopped freaking liver here?”
“Lainey isn’t the type for your shenanigans, Wade.She’s sophisticated, and she just moved from London.Cohabitating with the livestock is hardly her thing.”
“Wait, why is West being setup at all?Isn’t he all hot and heavy for Daisy-Mae?”Cash asks, as if I’m not even here.“He sure spends a bunch of time there.”
Mama’s eyes light up.Uh-oh.“Daisy-Mae?As in our employee who runs the B&B?Is that where you’ve been spending all your time, West?”
I kick Cash’s boot under the table and whisper, “Nice one, dumbass.”Then I turn and attempt to stifle that spark of joy in my mama’s eye.“Yeah, Mama.That Daisy-Mae.And there’s nothing going on between us.We’re just friends.But speaking of lovers, how’s Carla doing these days, Cash?”
He sucks his teeth and focuses on his plate.
“How is Carla?It’s been a long time since she’s stopped by for dinner.”Mama asks, turning her attention on Cash.Colt chuckles, because my best friend doesn’t miss a trick, but Lemonade is still giving me the evil eye.
“Carla’s ...er ...we broke up, ma’am.She’s happier back in LA.”Cash scowls at me.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Mama says.“I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Me too.”Cash bows his head, and yeah, that was a low blow on my behalf because I know how much it broke his heart to watch her leave, but I had to take the heat off of me.He meets my glower across the table, and the smallest hint of a smile plays at the corner of his lips.“You know who I ran into earlier at the Buttermilk?Zadie.She had a lot to say about what’s keeping Daisy-Mae busy these days, and a certain red truck occupying her driveway for the last few nights.”
“Zadie is the town gossip,” I say spitefully.“And it wouldn’t be ‘running into her’ if you didn’t go straight to the source.”
“Come to think of it, Zadie did mention you two spending a lot of time together,” Wade agrees, his head bobbing manically.
“West, how serious are you about Daisy?”Mama’s expression has turned from delighted to concerned.This does not bode well for me.
I shovel an unhealthy amount of fried chicken in my mouth.“I told you, it ain’t like that, Mama.Besides, she’s pregnant with another man’s child.”
Wade says, “So, it’s not like you wanted one of your own.”
“Wade Winchester.Just because a man doesn’t contribute DNA, doesn’t mean he can’t love a baby like his own.”Mama tells him to hush up.“West is a good boy, and he wouldn’t put a single mother’s heart on the line for a quick roll in the hay.”
Everyone laughs at mama saying ‘roll in the hay’, but I’m suddenly not so hungry anymore, so I excuse myself from the table.I kiss mama goodnight, grab my hat and boots, and head outside.I’m closing the door of my truck when Colt appears.
