Page 61 of Lassoed Love

“What, mate?” I quip, trying to brush off her scrutiny.

“You’re... smiling? Hold on, let me rub my eyes real quick to make sure I’m not delirious,” she says, frantically rubbing her eyes and scrutinising me. I roll my eyes at her dramatics.

“Something is different, Xav. Youneversmile,” she remarks, narrowing her eyes.

Bradley catches on, turning his head to look at me, too. “You’renever here, Liv. How would you know? I smile all the time,” I deadpan. Bradley snorts and returns his attention to the TV.

Mum, chiming in from the kitchen, says, “I noticed, too, Liv. He had a spring in his step this morning.”

Olivia stares at me like I’ve grown two heads.

“If you ask me, I believe it has to do with a certain someone... ashe, perhaps?” Mum suggests with a mischievous grin. I shoot her a glare. My mother is way too perceptive for my liking.

“Get the fuck out! Xav has found himself a girl? Brad, did you know?” Bradley, engrossed in the game, shushes her with his hand.

“You’re both delusional,” I retort, rolling my eyes. Olivia, undeterred, invades my personal space.

“Who is she? Do I know her? What’s her name?” She bombards me with questions. I push her away.

“Back off, would you? It was quiet around here before you came back.”

Olivia’s disbelief hangs in the air, and she tries to pry more information out of me, but I keep my lips sealed. She stands up, defeated, and concedes, "Fine, be mysterious, you grump. But I'll find out eventually. No secrets in this family!" she declares before giving up. I stifle a laugh at her theatrics.

“It’s hot as fuc—” she pauses mid-word, correcting herself, as Mum pins her with a glare, “Fudge. I’m going for a swim. You two knuckleheads are welcome to join. A game of volleyball sounds like a fabulous idea.” I contemplate her words—she’s not entirely wrong.

After she leaves, Bradley and I share a mischievous glance. Thematch has finished anyway, so Bradley decides to join me. He turns off the TV, and I stand up, heading outside with Bradley trailing behind me. The prospect of a swim seems like a good idea to shake off the tension that’s been lingering since the other night with Isla.

The chaos of water and laughter surrounds us in the pool, Olivia and Bradley bickering about fairness in our comically disastrous attempt at volleyball. Olivia, a force of nature, exclaims, “Oi! You two are not fair. Stop hogging the bloody ball, you damn buffoons!” splashing me and Brad in the face.

I chuckle, shaking off the water from my face, the droplets lingering on my skin. With a glance around the pool, I realise we’re short on players. The game needs at least three or four more to turn it into something resembling an actual game. A mischievous idea forms in my mind—it could either be genius or spectacularly dumb.

Swimming over to the poolside ledge, I reach for my towel and phone, the vibrant energy of the game echoing around me. Checking my phone,it reads 3:52pm. Harrison and Michael would be finishing up from the shop anytime soon, perfect timing. As my fingers dance across the screen, I pull up the group chat with Harrison and Michael, ready to introduce a new level of chaos into the mix.

Harrison’s swift response is filled with excitement.

Contemplation brews within me as I consider messaging Isla. The idea sparks a silent battle in my mind—if she joins us, will it set off alarms to the others? We’re friends though, right? Well, friends who’ve now had mind-blowing sex, among other things. But then again, what exactly are we? The uncertainty lingers, leaving me in a moment of internal conflict.

That night, Isla had insisted my hat looked better on her—and damn, she was right. I pushed her to keep it, telling her seeing her in something of mine drove me wild. She resisted, but I eventually persuaded her. After a few moments, she responds.

Fuck—my mind wanders to Isla, covered in soap, bending over, washing the car while sporting my hat and those damn cowboy boots—painting a vivid image in my mind.Fuck me.Now I’m hard.

Another moment passes…

I can sense her apprehension through the phone. She doesn’t reply straight away, so I keep the convo going to avoid her getting stuck in her thoughts.

Fuck, I sounddesperate. ButI am…and I don’t evengive a fuck at this point. I can’t help this urge that I have. I want her here.Needher here. I can’t explain this shit.

Thank fuck.

I waste no time in replying, my fingers flying over the keyboard.

Harrison and Michael are now here, adding more chaos to the mix. Between Liv, Bradley and those fuckers, it’s like a damn circus out here. Not even farm animals cause this much shit—well, except Franklin, our cream-coated five-year-old alpaca. He’s a menace, that one. Only seems to be friendly around Mum and that’s it.

Twenty or so minutes pass before I hear Buddy start barking, running around to the front, signalling that someone is here.Isla.I swim over to the shallow end, drying off my hair before announcing thatI’ll be backto the group. As I make my way back up to the house, I faintly hear Harrison ask, “Who’s here?” and Olivia responds with a casual “Noo idea.”

Jogging up through the house, to the front, I spot Isla and Imogen getting out of her car.

“Ladies,” I drawl, nodding to them both.

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