Page 89 of Lassoed Love

With a shake of his head, he saunters off back inside, leaving me to mull over the strained conversation. The knowledge that my mother supports us brings a small sense of relief, but I can’t shake the frustration that lingers in the pit of my stomach.

“Good chat,” I mutter to myself, a wry smile playing on my lips. Just as I turn to head back towards the lively bonfire, Harrison spots me from where he sits beside the fire with Bradley and Michael. He raises his hand and whistles sharply, beckoning me over with a sly grin.

I lock eyes with Isla and she shoots me a look—her lips curling into a playful smile. I can’t help but smirk back. There’s a twinge of defiance bubbling up inside me, echoing against the old man’s warnings. Sure, relationships have their baggage, but I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge. As I walk towards the guys, I feel a newfound determination settling in. Whatever hurdles come our way, I’m all in, and I’ll stand by Isla’s side, no matter what is thrown at us.

As I settle into a seat beside the crackling fire, the laughter of the girls under the gazebo drifts across the night air. The guys break intoa random conversation, topics bouncing from work escapades to the latest sports highlights. Michael leans forward, eyes sparkling with the excitement of a recent sports event.

“Did you guys catch that NRL game the other night? Our team played like they were attempting to set a record for the most fumbles. It was painful to watch.”

Harrison lets out an exaggerated groan, his frustration apparent. “Don’t remind me. I swear, I almost launched the remote at the TV. How do they manage to mess up such a straightforward play?”

The collective disappointment over the game lingers. Harrison then glances over at Bradley, curiosity evident in his eyes. “Bradley, how’s work going?”

Bradley, always stoic, responds with a clipped, “Good. No news here.”

Harrison interjects, “You’re a braver soul than I am, Bradley. I can’t imagine dealing with all that you do. I’d rather stick to fixing cars. At least when something goes wrong, I don’t have to read anyone their rights. I just tell them their transmission’s fucked, and that's it.”

Bradley smirks, leaning back slightly. “We’re not in America—we don’t read their rights out. You just tell them why they’re under arrest.”

Michael shakes his head, a playful exasperation in his expression. “You’re an idiot, I swear. Sometimes I forget that you’re the older one.” We burst into laughter, but not Harrison, who in mock offence, just sticks the finger up at his brother.

My gaze lingers back on Isla, and I can’t help but admire her from afar. I’ve got it bad. Bradley nudges me, bringing me back to the present as my eyes keep gravitating toward Isla.

“You, uh, planning on staring a hole through Isla or what?” he teases, a mischievous glint in his eyes that doesn’t go unnoticed by the others. I roll my eyes at him.

There’s a brief pause, and then, almost nonchalantly, I find myself saying, “I think I’m falling for her.” The words hang in the air, blending with the crackling of the fire.

“Seriously?” Bradley asks, raising an eyebrow.

I nod, my tone casual despite the weight of the admission. “Yeah, seriously. It’s just—I don’t know, man...” my voice trails off.

“About time you admitted it,” Michael chimes in.

Harrison, taking a sip of his drink, spits it out dramatically, choking and sputtering. Michael just laughs. I shoot them both a glare, the vulnerability I’ve just laid bare now floating in the air.

Smirking, Michael adds, “As if we didn’t already know that with the way you gawk at her all the time, and thatkissbefore—c’mon man.”

“Wait, you’re going to have to repeat that—I think my brain just shat itself,” Harrison exclaims, with amusement written all over his face.

I roll my eyes again. “Oh, fuck off. You’re the two idiots that always say I need to open up more. I’m not repeating myself.”

The guys exchange glances, a mix of surprise and amusement on their faces. Bradley wears a smirk, and Michael raises an eyebrow,clearly enjoying the revelation. Harrison, still recovering from his dramatic sip, grins widely.

Before any of them can say more, the laughter of the girls under the gazebo catches our attention. Isla, Olivia, and Amelia start making their way over to us, their curiosity evident. Isla’s eyes meet mine, a playful glint in them, as if she senses something has transpired during our absence.

As the girls join us, Isla takes a seat beside me, her presence comforting. On the other side, Amelia and Olivia settle down on either side of Bradley, who looks pleasantly surprised by the turn of events. Imogen, however, seems to be left without a seat.

Harrison, always ready with a quip, takes the opportunity to tease her. “You can sit on my lap, sugar. It’s nice and toasty from the fire.” We all share a laugh, anticipating Imogen’s response.

Imogen glares at Harrison, not amused. Bradley, being the gentleman, stands up, ready to offer his seat. But before he can say anything, I watch as Imogen holds up her hand, “It’s okay, thank you,” and boldly plonks herself right onto Harrison’s lap. I can’t help but smirk at her boldness, finding amusement in the situation.

She turns to look behind and issues a playful threat, “If you put your hands on me, I’ll elbow you in the face. Got it?”

Harrison smirks before nodding. “Yes, ma’am.”

Leaning back in my seat, Buddy contentedly sitting at my feet, I listen silently as the others share about their day.

Harrison, taking a swig of his drink, grins. “Same old, same old at the shop. Just another day of dodging wrenches and pretending toknow what I’m doing.”

---