Page 28 of Always My Comfort

Jax

Are you always this hard to please?

Logan

I like pizza.

Jax

Then, it’s a date.

Logan

Thought we were friends?

Fuck, I said no dating. There I went, putting my foot in my damn mouth like a fool.

Jax

Not that kind. A friend date.

Logan

Whatever you say, cowboy.

Jax

Night, sweetheart.

Logan

Goodnight, Jaxon.

Falling asleep with a big grin on my face, I thought about our friendship date and wondered if I was making a mistake by insisting on friendship.

* * *

Rising early the next morning,I helped Dad on the ranch. Then, I rode over to Archer and Kenna’s ranch, taking a worn trail. Dante was there brushing a mare with Alice, his adopted daughter. He spoke calmly to the horse, his voice steady as he brushed through the tangles in her mane.

“You talk to Brook like that, too?” Alice turned to look at me and squealed, dropping her brush to bolt toward me, scaring the mare Dante was working with. He got her under control as I dismounted from my stallion and swung Alice into my arms.

“Ali! What have I told you about screamin’ near the horses, honey?” Her face fell, and her bottom lip trembled.

“I’m sorry, Daddy. I got so excited to see Uncle Jax.” She wrapped her small arms around my neck and squeezed with all her might. He sighed but smiled at the little girl who had stolen all of our hearts.

“Don’t be such a buzzkill, Daddy,” I mocked him, to which he rolled his eyes.

“Your turn is comin’. Just you wait.” He brought the mare back into the barn and then came out, arms crossed. “I heard from Arch you were in town. Congrats on the contract. How did Dad react?” I set Alice down, and she ran off to go play.

“He hugged me.” I scratched the back of my neck and looked up at Dante, a little uncomfortable. His jaw went slack.

“Our dad?” I nodded, walking my horse over to a pail of water. “The man is getting’ soft,” Dante said, shaking his head.

He told me about the school he was running, and then about Brooklyn, his wife, and their almost one-year-old, Sawyer.

“Can’t believe you’re a girl dad.” He laughed, looking over at Alice, who was playing with King.

“I thought the same thin’, but they’re great. I’m their hero, and they are my everythin’.”

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