“I was hoping I didn’t miss them,” I said, wondering what the hell was going on.
Were they fucking around with Nash?
“Just in time Iz, we were just going over instructions with Nash,” Forest said, handing Nash a big rubber glove. “We havetwo females in heat and thought it would be the perfect time to show Nash how we do things around here.”
Nash looked at the glove, a little pale.
“Come on, get the glove on and we can get her into position,” Jude said, pushing the cow into a holding pen. “It’s easier if we just get it over with and not let you think too much about it. We’ve all had to do it.”
Nash didn’t move for a while. He looked up at Theo, then Forest, and then at me before sliding the rubber glove on what I assumed was his dominant arm. He took a deep breath, turning towards the cow and I couldn’t help but be impressed. I expected him to complain or try to get out of it, but he had accepted his fate. He swallowed roughly, and moved the cow’s tail. That’s when Forest couldn't contain his laughter anymore.
Everyone laughed with Forest as Nash glared at all of us.
“Fuck you, guys,” Nash said, trying to keep a straight face as he shoved Forest who was laughing the hardest.
“Damn, I should have let you get a hand up there before I started laughing.” Forest slapped Nash’s shoulder.
“That would have been great,” Jude said, wiping his eyes.
“We could have gotten a picture and everything,” Colt chuckled. “Made Nash employee of the month.”
I laughed, catching Nash’s attention. He narrowed his eyes and my brain transported me back to when he walked in on Beau and me. My face flushed from the memory; my body grew hot as I turned around to save myself an embarrassing moment. Nash didn’t need to know that night still affected me.
“Thanks for being a good sport about it,” Theo said.
I looked over my shoulder as my family all gave him shit. They teased him as he gave them shit back, sounding like he fit right in. My chest ached wondering if they would accept him if they knew he was their brother-in-law and why I had done it. Ithink they would be more upset at me for not telling them the truth.
My lip trembled from the insane situation I had put myself in. “Got tired of numbers already?”
Jude, my other older brother, came by me.
“A little, I needed to stretch my legs,” I said, running my hands through Snow White’s mane. “Plus, I hadn’t ridden in a while, and you know I can’t go too long without riding.”
“You sure it isn’t because of a certain someone?”
I glared at my brother, who was smirking, looking really proud of himself. He was the only person I was truly afraid of finding out our secret. Last year, he saw Nash and me fighting at the rodeo and since then he thought something was up. Jude has always been intuitive, knowing my bad luck, he would figure us out sooner than later.
“I wasn't going to miss out on the joke,” I said, shrugging.
Jude chuckled. “You know there’s nothing wrong with you dating him right or just fucking him.”
I grimaced. “Jude let’s not do this, it's weird.”
“Weird? Why is it weird? I’m just saying if you need someone to talk to, I’m here,” he said seriously. “I’m sure it's not easy being with him because he’s out on the road all the time and?—”
“Jude, it's not what you think it is,” I said, needing him to stop talking.
Jude studied me, his eyes lingering longer than I would have liked.
“Iris, you don’t have to tell me anything, but are you ok?” His voice was somber.
“I’m fine,” I lied, hating that I was lying to him, to my family, and for what?
He sighed. The disappointment was clear in his gaze. “I know what it’s like to feel like you have to keep a secret, but there’s no judgement from me.”
My entire lie was on the tip of my tongue, ready to be blurted out.
“Did you come out here just for me, Petal?” Nash walked up to us.
