Page 88 of Kyle

ME: I NEED YOU TO GET A VEST THAT’LL FIT SUTTON AND A PROPERTY PATCH TO GO WITH IT.

TJ: WOW. THAT WAS FAST.

ME: WHEN YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW

TJ: YOU SURE ABOUT THIS, BRO? THAT’S A BIG STEP. HUGE.

ME: WERE YOU SURE ABOUT GIGI?

TJ: TOUCHE

ME: WE’VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER. WE’VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE WANT OUR FUTURE TO BE. I KNOW HER LIKE I’VE NEVERREALLY KNOWN A WOMAN BEFORE. SHE’S THE ONE, TJ. I FEEL IT IN MY BONES.

TJ: I’M HAPPY FOR YOU, KYLE. REALLY HAPPY.

ME: THANKS

TJ: I’LL TAKE CARE OF IT. WHEN YOU GONNA DO IT?

ME: AFTER CHURCH TONIGHT IF YOU CAN GET IT DONE.

TJ: YOU DON’T ASK FOR MUCH, DO YA?

ME: SORRY

TJ: I’LL DO MY BEST. WE’VE GOT THAT LADY WHO MAKES ALL OUR PATCHES. I’LL TELL HER IT’S FOR A LOVE SICK FOOL.

ME: TELL HER WHATEVER YOU NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE. TELL HER THERE’S A HUNDRED BUCKS IN IT FOR HER IF SHE FINISHES IT BY SUNSET.

TJ: ANYTHING ELSE, TASKMASTER?

ME: THINK YOU CAN MAKE SURE ALL THE OL’ LADIES ARE PRESENT TONIGHT?

TJ: SHOULDN’T BE TOO HARD. YOU WANT ME TO CALL YOUR MA?

ME: NO. I’LL DO THAT

TJ: HAVE YOU TALKED TO RAFE YET?

ME: I’M GONNA TAKE A RIDE OVER TO HIS PLACE IN A BIT.

TJ: OKAY. SEE YOU TONIGHT.

I shove my phone in my hip pocket and grab a cup of coffee. When I carry it in the bedroom, Sutton’s eyes pop open.

“I wondered where you’d gone,” she murmurs.

Setting the mug down, I plant two fists on the mattress and lean to kiss her gently on the mouth. “Mornin’, babe.”

“Good morning.” She stretches like a cat—a well-satisfied cat.

“You sleep well?”

“I slept great.” Her stomach rumbles.

“Sounds like I need to feed my woman.”

“I am starved.”

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