Page 53 of Bull Riders Don't Swoon

“Yeah. Okay. You can come.”

Griff closes his eyes, and I lean in closer to kiss him. He kisses me back, easy and lazy, and it’s so perfect my chest warms with a longing to make this my life. To always have this man adore me just as much as I adore him. For lazy morning kisses and random road trips that bring those excited smiles to his face.

To hold his hand through the hard stuff we’re about to walk into.

Fuck, I want all that.

“Get some more sleep, babe.”

Griff says nothing more and snuggles back into me, and I hold him.

Because holding him has never felt so right.

seventeen

Griff

“Hey, Griff!”

Jackson leans in for a hug, and I accept it. He steps aside and lets me into his home. His two dogs snuffle and jump for attention and don’t leave me alone until I give them each a peanut butter pretzel from my pocket.

“Riley just had to run into town for a few things to make dinner.” He offers me a glass of lemonade before pouring one for himself and motioning to the living room. “He figured you wanted to talk to just me first. Is that right?”

Jackson settles on the sofa, and his dog Tramp flops at his feet with a loud sigh.

“Yeah, that’s right. I mean, I would have been fine with him here, too, but I need to talk to you.”

Jackson absently pets the dog with his foot and leans back. He’s always been comfortable with his subdued ways, but today in his home, he’s so content with his lot in life, and it strikes me how much he has in common with Jamieson, but also how different they both are.

Jackson’s parents are amazing, and Jackson is a lot like them. He wants to make everything better and everyone happy. He always has, and it’s why I went to him first with my Jamieson issues.

“Um…so I kissed Jamie.”

Jackson raises his eyebrows, and I laugh.

“Oh?”

“Yeah.” I can’t keep the goofy smile off my face. “It was awesome. We, uh…we’re together.”

“Are you happy?”

“Yeah. I’m elated, you know? Like, I’ve loved him forever. I didn't even realize how much and once I kissed him, and he kissed me back, it was…” Swallowing, I remember how Jamieson pulled me closer and kissed me like he meant it. “It was everything I ever wanted.”

Jackson’s smile is one that tells me he knows exactly what I mean.

“I’m happy for you, Griff. You deserve this, but what do you really want to talk about? A kiss and telling me you two are giving it a go is not what brought you here.”

He’s right about that, too. I sip my lemonade, my throat suddenly far too dry to get the words out. But it’s what I’m here for.

“You’re right. I guess I’m searching for guidance. You know I’ve always looked up to you, and I don’t have anyone to really talk to about this.” Jackson dips his head and bends to pet Tramp. “He asked to meet my dad and to help me, and I’m…I guess I’m afraid of how that might go.”

“Your dad? I thought you said he was okay with your sexuality?”

“He is. When he remembers. But he’s…” Fuck, just say it. Lots of people have parents worse than mine. “He’s an alcoholic. He’s not well and I…” My throat constricts, and I takea moment to breathe and swallow while I push away the panic of two people knowing about my dad now. “Nobody important to me has met him.”

Jackson seems unfazed by this and simply cuts to the point.

“Are you afraid Jamieson is going to run? Is that it?”

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