Page 65 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

By the time I catch up to Hunter, he has his horse unsaddled, and he’s brushing her while she eats.

“Do you want to head home tonight?”

Hunter glances my way. “Yeah. You’re gonna be all mopey if you don’t get back, anyway.”

Disappointment drips from his words, and it’s hard not to take it personally.

“I can’t be perfect every time, Hunter. Cut me some slack.”

He opens his mouth and snaps it shut before opening it again. With a heavy breath, he hangs his head. “I’m sorry, Jack. That wasunfair. I’m just…the shit with the ranch is weighing on me and the extra money would help.”

“Hunter…I can loan you—”

“No.” His eyes flash like it’s the most offensive thing I could offer. “I’m sorry I snapped but I still want to get home if you’re good with it.”

“Yeah, man. Let’s go home.”

Hunter pulls into his ranch yard at 2 A.M. We unload the horses and get them into their stalls for the night before he heads for the ranch house and I hop in my truck with a promise to be back in the morning.

The drive to my place is short. I’m barely ten minutes away from Hunter’s, but I drive past my place and straight into town to Riley’s. I shouldn’t be doing this. It’s probably weird and stalker-ish, but I have the elevator code to his floor and he gave me the entry combo for his place.

I won’t be able to relax until I know he’s okay, and he hasn’t changed his mind about us. Yeah, that’s kind of selfish, but I only just got to kiss him. That can’t be the only chance I get.

After parking in the visitor space, I’m relieved to see his car in its spot, and without stopping, I take the elevator to his floor. My hands itch to hold him and my gut keeps telling me something is definitely not okay. Pausing at his door, I knock softly. When there’s no answer, I knock louder before entering the code and stepping into his condo.

A soft glow from the kitchen lights up enough of the open floor plan for me to notice he’s not out here.

“Riley? Are you home?”

His laptop is on the kitchen island, so he has to be here. He takes that thing everywhere. I pad softly down the hall towards his room and let my eyes adjust to the darkness. There’s a form under the covers and a smile finds its way to my face.

“Hey, Rye. Sweetheart, it’s me.” Leaning down to kiss him on the cheek, I pause. This cheek isn’t Riley’s. It’s a short beard and Riley is clean-shaven. What the actual fuck?

Not caring anymore if I wake anyone up, I reach back and flick on the lamp next to the bed. Riley is here all right…with another man.

I don’t know what to say or do. Riley stirs as the strange man rubs his eyes.

“Don’t fly off the handle, buddy. It’s not what you think.”

“Jackson?” Riley lifts his head. “Jackson!” He flings the blankets back and throws himself at me, clinging so hard I can barely breathe.

“You’re not supposed to be home until tomorrow.”

“We came back early because we were both in shitty moods and had a bad time.”

Riley steps back and the sleep lines on his face are too adorable. But his eyes aren’t right. My gaze flicks to the other man, who now sits up and places a pair of glasses on his face.

“This isn’t how I should be meeting you, but I’m Gabe. Riley’s best friend, so please don’t throw a punch.”

Riley reaches up to dust his fingers across the bruise on my face.

“How come you had a bad score? Your face?”

“No. Because I didn’t hear from you after you got home. You didn’t answer my texts or calls. I thought…I thought you might have had a change of heart.”

Riley’s lips part with an inhale as he shakes his head.

“Oh, Jackson. No. I’m already shit at this. No change of heart.” He runs a hand up my chest, leaving it to rest in the centre. “I didn’t want to bother you. I assumed as an athlete, outside distractions should be minimized. My problems shouldn’t become yours.”

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