Page 107 of Scrape the Barrel
Avery took her seat at the head of the table and I dropped my hand to Sage’s ass, giving it a quick pinch before I slid into my own chair.
She pursed her lips, shooting me a glare as she sat down.
“So, Avery. Do you know the cowboy blessing?” I asked.
“No. What’s that?”
Sage watched the two of us talk as I said, “Well, it’s this saying some people do before dinner.” I didn’t do this all that often, but with Avery’s interest in the ranch, I thought she might like it.
“What’s the saying?”
I set my napkin on my lap. “May your belly never grumble, may your heart never ache. May your horse never stumble, may your cinch never break.”
Her smile grew as I spoke. “Is that what all cowboys say?”
Sage reached forward to grab the spatula so she could dish Avery up a portion.
“Some of them,” I told her.
“Is that what you and my mama are gonna say now?” she asked.
“If I’m here, sure,” I replied.
“Aren’t you dating my mama?”
The enchilada balanced on the spatula toppled on top of the others as Sage’s hand fumbled. “What?” Sage asked, surprised at the question.
“You guys are always touching and doing yucky stuff,” Avery said.
I bit my lip to hide my smile as I looked to Sage on this one. I really wasn’t sure how to tread on this.
“Well, Aves—” Sage started.
“You don’t have to keep it a secret, you know,” Avery stated.
Sage gathered herself and finished dishing Avery’s food up, then glanced at me before saying, “We’re dating.”
Avery used her fork to tear a bite of enchilada off instead of cutting it. “Okay.”
Sage reached over with her fork and knife, cutting her food for her. “Are you okay with that?”
Avery nodded as she chewed.
I braced myself for more, but nothing happened. No questions, no tears. She just watched her mom cut her food, then dug in once she was done. Sage and I stared at her for a minute, both expecting her to say something, but she didn’t.
After a deep inhale, Sage set her fork and knife on the edge of her plate and dished up her own food, then handed me the spatula.
We all ate as Avery told us about all the gifts she hoped to get tomorrow, and as I chewed and drank and listened, it hit me.
They were becoming my family.
And I didn’t want it any other way.
34
Sage
Giggles and conversation flowed through my small backyard as kids ran past mingling parents. Everyone had started arriving early based off Avery’s instruction to get here an hour before the invitation stated, which was unbeknownst to me as I opened the door to the first guest a little over forty-five minutes ago.
