“It is. I love it. Nothing else like it.”
We approach the cow fence, and Theo gasps again. “Holy shit. There are so many.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, about two hundred head.”
I lead Lucky along a small path next to the fence. I need to get him out more; he’s not being ridden as much since Dad passed.
“Everyone looks good here. We can head back now.”
“Actually,” Theo says, his voice trailing off, so I turn back to him. “Do you think we could stay out a little longer?”
I couldn’t wipe my smile away if I tried. “Course.”
Theowenttohisroom after breakfast, and I ended up feeding Lila by myself. It was nice to have the company this morning, but I also understand things might not be the easiest for him.
Given what he said about his energy levels and how he already wakes up exhausted, it was no surprise that he didn’t join me for the late-morning feed.
I shut the door to my bedroom, ready to crawl into bed and take a nap. Stripping off my jeans and pulling my t-shirt over my head, I crawl between the crisp sheets, my entire body relaxing.
Pulling the blankets up around me, I sink deeper into the mattress, closing my eyes. I’m pretty damn tired, so it’s no surprise when I start drifting off almost immediately. Whatisa surprise is the knock at my door.
I toss the blankets off in that weird state of almost asleep and pad to my door.
Theo is standing on the other side, and when he takes me in, his eyes widen. “Oh. I’m sorry.”
“Everything okay?” I ask, still half out of it.
He nods, eyes falling and then rising quickly, and my cheeks burn when I realize I’m standing here in my boxers. “Uh… Luca invited me to Daisy’s for lunch. Do you want to go with me?”
I rub a hand over my face, highly tempted to decline and climb my ass in bed, when he clears his throat.
“My ex—Damien—that’s, uh, that’s where Austin beat the shit out of him before he died. I’m sure you heard about that in a small town like this. I don’t know if I want to go alone.”
“And you want to go with me?”
He raises an eyebrow. “It’s not like I know Luca any better than I know you. If anything, I actually knowyoubetter.”
Well, shit. That’s fair. “Alright, I’ll go.”
My acceptance seems to shock him. “Really?”
I nod. “Yeah, give me a second to get dressed.”
“Oh.” His eyes fall again, and this time it’shischeeks turning pink. “Alright, yeah. That’s a good point. Okay, I’ll just…”
I can’t help but laugh. “Come on in.”
He steps through the door without even a bit of hesitation, closing it behind him.
“Have a seat,” I say, gesturing toward my bed.
This time he does hesitate, but not for long before he sits down on the end and places his hands in his lap. “Thank you for agreeing to go with me.”
“Mmm.” I step into my closet, pulling out a nice pair of jeans and a button-up shirt. It’s not that the diner is particularly fancy, but Deb is a nice woman, and my momma taught me to show respect.
I step into my jeans, then pull on my shirt and button it up.
“I’m ready when you are,” I say, patting my thighs and glancing at Theo.
