Valencia was gorgeous and I could see her appeal. I was happy that Riggs, Gomez and she had gotten together. They deserved happiness with each other.
“Have fun with them and don’t let them boss you around too much.” I kissed her cheek.
“Bye, call us if you need anything,” she said, waving as I left.
Riggs and Gomez would be out soon, and I didn’t need to stick around. I needed to go home to my empty apartment, have a drink and go to sleep before I called my best friend for the hundredth time or worse just drive in my car to go see him. Having to stay in Denver had been the worst. When we fought, all it took was for me to see him and make him talk because all Jude did was bottle everything up.
Jude is the most selfless person I know and all he does is take care of everyone else. He forgets about himself until he explodes, and right now, I feel like he’s having a hard time, but I can’t go to him and it's killing me. I don’t know how to help him from here.
I walked into my quiet apartment, setting my keys on the entryway table. My apartment was in a high-rise downtown, so I had a great view. The windows let in enough light that I made my way to my room easily enough. I used the restroom, got ready for bed and sat on my bed, setting my phone on the nightstand.
My knee was throbbing as I took off my brace. I should have elevated and iced it, but I just wanted to sleep, so I didn’t have to think anymore. Taking off my pants was a little bit of a struggle, but I managed without falling on my ass. I slid under the covers in just my boxer briefs, adjusting pillows under my knee to at least elevate it.
I leaned back, ignoring my phone and this need I had to call Jude, just to hear his voice even if it was just his voicemail. This man has reduced me to listening to his voicemail, just to hear his voice.What the hell was happening to me?I decided to text him instead. It took me four tries before I decided to hit send.
Me: Just tell me you’re ok. Please, tell me you’re ok.
I stared at my phone, hoping for a text. We usually responded right away, but as the minutes went by, I knew I was not going to get a response. It shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did, but my chest ached, missing him. I had plans to stay in Sterling Ridge until hockey started back up, but maybe that was a bad idea or maybe I just needed to go and make him listen to me. Jude could be a brat sometimes and I had no problem taming a brat.
3
forest
The sun was just over the horizon as I rode my horse, Triton, a little faster than usual. Nothing like a little adrenaline to wake you up and get your blood pumping. I led him back to the stables so Theo, Colt and I could move the herd west today. There were reports of fires out west and that was pushing wildlife toward us. Sighting of wolves, coyotes and mountain lions had us a little nervous and Theo didn’t want to risk the pregnant heifers and the newborns, so we were going to keep them a little closer to home.
It was almost calf season, we were just bringing them home a little sooner and I was excited for all the babies that would soon be born. I loved baby cows. They were adorable, but birthing was rough sometimes. It had been awhile since I had witnessed one or helped and I was sure I wouldn’t be ready for another one. Thankfully, Theo kept his herd small and didn’t have too many pregnant ladies on the ranch.
“How the hell are you already up so early?” Colt grumbled, as I waited for them outside of the stables.
I shrugged. There was something about this place that I had no problem waking up at this hour. It wasn’t the possibility ofseeing someone's brother who said they might come and help us a few days ago. Nope… it definitely wasn’t that.
“Morning.”
I looked back, seeing the man I wanted.
“Mornin’,” I said, tipping my hat as I stared at him for longer than usual because every time I did, he blushed and I lived for it.
He stopped his horse next to mine as we watched the sunrise, waiting on Colt and Theo.
“We might have to move the herd without them,” Jude said.
“Theo’s hard at work. It’s the only way Colt wakes up,” I said, as Jude snorted.
“Don’t tell me you’ve?—”
“Let’s just say sometimes they can’t wait to get home,” I chuckled.
Jude shook his head as he laughed. “You’d think with the four of them they’d be exhausted from all the extra activities.”
“Nope, I think it somehow magnified their sex life,” I grinned.
I was shocked when I found out my boss was not only a queer man, but had boyfriends and a girlfriend.
“Ok, I think that's all I can handle hearing about my brother’s sex life,” Jude grimaced.
I laughed. “You sure? I got some good stories.”
“Gross, no,” he faked gagging.
