I remember how I felt a few hours ago, holding Quinn by the waist, her lips an inch from mine, excitement in my belly that she’d eat dinner with us. Borrowed excitement, I always knew, since she’s leaving here after this is all done. But still, borrowed excitement is better than nothing.
“Quinn stayed for dinner.” I don’t tell him that I was so preoccupied with this new foreclosure letter that she and Sadie ate alone while I panicked in the office.
Tate doesn’t say anything, but from deep in the house upstairs, there’s a noise. I sip my drink and add, “She put Sadie to bed, too. Sadie begged. I said no, she begged, I couldn’t stop thinking about this, so I gave in.”
Tate still says nothing, so I take another drink of whiskey.
“Quit drinkin’,” he says.
“Shut up.”
He peers up at the ceiling, listening at the shifting noises. When he looks back to me, I can tell I’m in trouble. “Landry, she’s perfect.”
I shake my head. “No. I’m not doing that to that poor girl.”
“Do what? She’s already here. She loves Sadie. She’s makin’ a movie about you, and what would add that personal touch and draw viewers in like nothin’ else?” It’s rhetorical, I know it is, and as much as I don’t want the answer, still, I wait for it.
“If she’s your wife, if the documentary is about your comeback to both the rodeoandlove…” he starts, and I take that moment to refill my glass. My head is growing fuzzy, but even in the boozy haze, I know this is the dumbest idea yet.
While it also does makeperfectsense.
“I don’t know.” I set my glass down, and my eyes catch on those red letters again.FORECLOSURE.
Tate taps the paper. “Think about it. And try to calm down and get some sleep tonight.” He takes the bottle of whiskey with him when he goes, and I sink into a rocking chair on the back porch, letting the setting sun take my focus for now.
The back door hinges sing as Quinn opens it, joining me in a rocking chair on the porch.
“You know,” she says softly. “When you invited me to stay for dinner, I kind of thought you’d be there.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, finding the apology comes easy, because Iamsorry. I wanted nothing but a meal with Quinn and Sadie. Every moment I’m with them, each second I’m with Quinn, I forget my problems a little, rediscover small joys and find a bigger piece of happiness each day. It scares me, because I know it's temporary, but I can’t keep myself from wantin’ more. “I got some bad news and I just… didn’t want Sadie to see me overthinking.”
My eyes drop to her bare toes against the wood porch. I nod. “No pink boots.”
She shakes her head, wiggling her toes, which my groin seems to enjoy. It’s beenthatlong that at this point, the idea ofcute feet around my cock sounds mighty nice. “I’m a barefoot girl at heart. Back home, I hardly ever wear shoes.”
I nod. “Just like Sadie. I can’t keep that girl in boots.”
A few minutes of silence stretch between us, and the pink champagne sky evolves into a light purple, evening giving way to early night.
“Thanks for letting me read to her tonight,” she says, and I turn my head to face her, and both of us stop rocking.
The foreclosure notice flashes behind my eyes, and I think of Sadie’s bare feet in the long grass, her face tipped up to the sky with a sated smile.
I can’t lose this place. I can’t take this from her.
Drunk, confused, and emotional, I follow Tate’s advice.
I sit up, and drag my hat off my head, ruffling a dirty hand through my messy hair. “My late wife’s parents have come for custody of Sadie because they say I’m unfit.”
Her mouth falls apart as a flurry of emotions passes through her expression. First shock and surprise at the news I’m delivering and then a moment later, anger at what she’s hearing. Lastly, curiosity. “I’m so sorry,” she says, her hands tightening around the rocking chair handles as she braces for more.
“I need to prove to a court that I have a stable, happy home. For my girl.”
“You already do that, Landry.” Emotion curls my ribs at her words. She means them, I can see the honesty shining in her eyes.
Quinn swallows, and I find my eyes on her mouth for a hot moment before I fight what the whiskey is doing to me, and continue. “The rodeo being over will definitely help, but until then,” I start, placing my hat on my knee. “I need to show the judge that I’m providin’ the best home life I can for my girl, in all the ways I can. I need there notto be even one tiny little reason for them to take Sadie from me.”
Quinn says nothing, but sits up a little straighter, her blonde hair down, framing the soft lines of her face. Her beauty is so pure, soft freckles, honest eyes, pink cheeks. Still, even with what I’m about to say, I plan to keep all those feelings locked up and entirely separate from this.
