Page 18 of Double XL Mountain Men
The twins nod and turn to me again, their blue eyes piercing.
“But it’s a good example of why I don’t think anyone cares about our personal lives. Shedeur and Coach Prime are the ones who will be in the spotlight, and the cameras aren’t going to be on us more than a second. So yeah, we’d love to have you at the draft, Cindy,” Brent says. “It’d mean a lot to us.”
“Besides, it’s time you met our dad,” his brother adds in a serious tone. “And there’s no need to panic because Barrett would never judge us for being in a threesome. He’s in his own menage, remember? I think we’ve mentioned it before. It’s some serious shit with a baby too, so he knows how these relationships work.”
I nod, my mind whirling as I consider the possibilities. Oh my god, the twins want us to go public, and not only that, but on draft day! Am I ready for prime time?
But then, Brandon smiles at me, so handsome that my heart melts.
“You don’t have to answer now, sweetheart. Take some time to think about it if you like, but just know that it would mean the world to us for you to be there. But okay, that’s enough talk about us. We always blab on about our football careers, but what about you, sweetheart? What are you looking to do? I know you want to be a livestock vet, but tell us more about that.”
I laugh while tucking a wisp of blonde hair behind my ear.
“Well, what do you want to know?”
Brent grins while popping a juicy slice of tomato into his mouth.
“How did you get into it?” he asks. “What drew you to veterinary science?”
“Well,” I say in a slow tone. “You know I’m a first generation college attendee, right? No one else in my family’s ever progressed beyond high school.”
The handsome twins nod, their bronzed features serious.
“Yes, and we’re very proud of you for that, sweetheart,” Brandon says in a low voice. “You’re succeeding just by being here.”
I nod.
“And I’m lucky too because I’ve had a lot of support along the way. When I was little, there was a 4-H club in our neighborhood, but my family couldn’t afford the fees, much less the expense associated with raising animals. But I had a neighbor take an interest in me, and together, me and Mrs. Lovelace raised goats, sheep and rabbits to show at different 4-H fairs. It was an amazing experience, and piqued my interest in animals and becoming a livestock veterinarian.”
Brent nods, his blue eyes gleaming.
“That’s amazing, sweetheart,” he says. “Do you still have any of the animals?”
“No, of course not!” I laugh helplessly. “They’re long gone because livestock don’t generally have very long lifespans. Most goats and sheep only live ten to twelve years, and the ewes and does generally begin declining at six or seven. Sadly, there are often soundness issues relating to their teeth and udders, so they’re often slaughtered early because of the expense required to maintain them.”
The twins stare at me.
“So your 4-H animals were slaughtered?”
I tilt my head to the side before nodding.
“Sometimes, yes. It’s just the way things are. I mean, I get it – the slaughter can be tough for kids because we treat some of the livestock like they’re pets, like a dog or a cat that lives at home and sleeps under your bed. But the slaughterispart of the experience, if not the most important part, because these animals arenotpets. They’re bred to serve people, and the processing of their meat is crucial to the experience.”
The twins shake their heads, their expressions amazed.
“Holy fuck. That sounds ten times harder than football,” Brent marvels.
“And a hundred times more fucked up,” Brandon adds. “I can’t even imagine killing my dog. What the fuck?”
“No, that’s not the right comparison,” I say in a mild tone. “Again, sheep and goats aren’t pets, and the slaughter is part of the learning process. The experience teaches participants about animal husbandry, the cycle of life, and the market value of livestock. It’s an important lesson, and while emotionally difficult, this is what real life is about. It’s not about dating apps, influencers, and cost per clicks. It’s about death and renewal, and being responsible and respectful to an animal that gives up its life for you.”
The men are silent, their forks down as they stare at me with wonder and awe in their eyes.
“Fuck baby, you’re amazing,” Brent finally says.
“We don’t deserve you,” Brandon adds. “The other women we’ve dated were all about filters, Facetune, and the number of likes they get on their posts. You’re a thousand times more ... I don’tknow,deep,sweetheart. You’re real. Impressive. And downright amazing, Cindy.”
I blush, my heart expanding in my chest.
