Page 46 of Road to a Cowboy

“Getting back to the Norway thing,” Cal said. “Everything you just said is why you should take the job.”

Austin pushed the orzo around again, this time piling it onto his fork and popping it into his mouth. “What do you mean?”

“You said, and I quote, ‘If we want something, there’s no time like the present to grab it.’”

Austin didn’t look pleased to have his words parroted back at him. “That’s not the same thing.”

“It’s exactly the same thing. You want the job, Austin. Take it.”

Blowing out an audible breath through his nose, Austin ran a hand through his hair. “Hedda invited me to visit the school so she can introduce me to some of the faculty, the students, and the town.”

“When are you going?” Cal asked, not bothering to ask if he was going. The desire was written all over Austin’s face.

“I don’t have any workshops scheduled for the week of the Fourth of July.”

So in about a week, then.

“You’ll miss Windsor Ranch’s annual Fourth of July party,” Cal pointed out.

Austin snorted a laugh. “Considering how many people flock to the ranch for it, I doubt anyone will miss me.”

“I will,” Cal said quietly.

Austin’s gaze snapped to his. He swallowed visibly and his lips quirked in the tiniest of pleased smiles that made Cal’s breath catch. “Come with me to Norway.”

“Christ.” Cal groaned, wishing for perhaps the first time in his life that he had a normal nine-to-five job and could take off for a week without too much trouble. “I’m sorry, Austin. I wish I could.”

“Yeah. I figured.” Austin didn’t look disappointed, more resigned, like he’d known Cal’s answer before he’d even asked. “Couldn’t hurt to ask though.” He waved his fork at Cal. “Speaking of reasons you can’t take a week off on short notice, how was your day?”

They chatted through the rest of dinner, about their days, their weeks, and about Cal’s mom, who of course Cal made time in his day to help. He’d felt guilty as hell, so instead of sending her the link to The Mountain Peak Diner’s app like he’d said he would, he’d arrived early the day after her fall to prep two days’ worth of lunch and dinners. That way he wouldn’t have to see her every day, just every other day when he went back to meal prep for the next two days. He was lucky he hadn’t been asked to do her laundry or change her bedsheets or take the garbage out, but those summons likely weren’t too far off. And they’d arrive, as was habit for Barbara, in the middle of his workday because it has to be done now, Cal. I expect you in the next twenty minutes.

Maybe, someday, Cal would get a thank-you for his troubles. A tiny bit of acknowledgment that his support was appreciated.

“Why not prep breakfast too?” Austin asked as they cleaned up after dinner.

“How hard is it to pop bread in the toaster?”

He expected Austin to laugh. Instead, he was bent over the Tupperware drawer, muttering to himself about whether Cal’s leftovers should go in a glass container or plastic and “Should I make extra orzo? We ate most of it. I can’t send you home with just chicken. Then it’s just chicken. Not an orzo chicken skillet.”

“Uh...”

“I should definitely make more.” He closed the drawer, then opened the cupboard next to it, extracting a pot. “Can you grab the bag of orzo out of the pantry?”

Cal squinted at him, noting the jerky movements, rapid-fire speech, and uncharacteristic rambling. “Austin?”

“Hm?”

“Why are you nervous?”

“Because!” Austin kicked the cupboard closed. “I don’t know what I’m doing. Dinner’s done and... what now? Do I take you to bed? Do we watch a movie? Do I offer you dessert, or do I offer you dessert? Should we go for a walk? Should we sit outside with a beer?”

“You could walk me home,” Cal interrupted before Austin could work himself up further.

The disappointment that swept over Austin’s features and left his shoulders drooping came on so fast that it left Cal momentarily stunned. “Oh. Home. Right. Sure. I can?—”

“Isn’t that how first dates normally go? One person takes the other home, walks them to their door, and they share a first-date goodnight kiss?”

Austin blinked once, the light coming back into his eyes. “Yes. Yes. That is absolutely how every first date goes.” He gently slapped Cal across the chest with the back of his hand as he marched past him to the door. “Let’s go, Calvin.”

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