Page 81 of Ropers Can't Tie Knots
From the corner of my eye, I see him shake his head with a grin. “You’re forgiven, asshole. Let it go and enjoy life. You deserve it.” He slaps me on the back, and I finally turn to him. His smile is genuine, and I know he’s telling the truth.
“Thank you, Alec. For everything.” I swipe at my eyes. “Jesus Christ, I’m not sure I like all this emotion shit. Makes my eyes water too much.”
He laughs and elbows me as we walk back towards the barn. “Good to know the old ticker isn’t all dried up then.” With myhand on the door, he places his hand over mine and I turn to him. “You’ve always been a good person. Don’t be afraid to show it more often. Now introduce me properly to your husband.” He shakes his head. “Fuck, that sounds weird out loud.”
I shove him off the door with my best scowl. But the scowl doesn’t last.
“It does sound weird, but I love saying it. Come on. I want to formally introduce you to the man who stole my heart…my husband, Gabe.”
Alec finally meets Gabe, and they hit it off immediately, as I knew they would. Gabe was the one who encouraged me to invite him, and it’s just one more thing I can thank this man for.
Zane also welcomes Gabe, and those two would run amok out here if I let them. Thick as thieves, laughing and sharing stories long after most of the guests have left.
With the sun closer to waking up than the moon is to going to sleep, we finally end one of the most amazing days of my life. We’re exhausted, but I’ve never felt the kind of contentment that sits in my chest right now.
Gabe, fresh from our shared shower, his cheeks still pink from the warmth of the water, slides into bed next to me.
“Today was perfect, Hunter. I’m biased, but it really was.”
Smoothing the hair back from his forehead, I place a kiss there. “It was…husband.”
“That word feels different now, don’t you think?” Gabe’s hands slide into my hair, and he nuzzles his nose next to mine.
“It does. I feel like it finally fits.”
“You know what else fits?” His words carry the exhaustion of a long day, and he snuggles closer. “You. Right here in my arms. Tailor-made for me.”
He forces himself lower, tucking his chin under mine. He drapes one arm around me and slides a leg between mine. My husband wedges himself into a position I’d normally find uncomfortable. Gabe really does fit like he was tailor-made for me.
His lips meet my skin, and he mumbles, “I’m too tired for the whole wedding sex thing. Wake me up with your dick somewhere on me and we’ll do it in the morning. That’s not a lack of romance either. It’s a lack of my dick not being awake even pressed up against you.”
My body shakes with quiet laughter as his breathing evens out. A soft snore sounds less than a minute later, and I grin into the dark bedroom.
Gabe’s arm twitches and tightens around me, and I press a kiss to the top of his head. His arms around me are the safe place I’ve always needed, and even in sleep, he responds like he knows I need him there.
“Sweet dreams, counsellor. I love you.”
twenty-four
Epilogue
Two years later
Gabe
“Hi fellas!” I hop out of the truck and wave at the cowboys here, attending the latest session of Jackson and Hunter’s rodeo skills school. Most of them are fresh young men in their twenties with the baby face to match. They wave with a laugh and knowing glances, so I immediately change my path to meet their group.
“How did the school go today?”
Levi, Hunter’s new roping partner, presses his lips together to remain quiet, but it doesn’t last long.
“Hunter lost a bet,” Levi blurts, and the guys all start laughing.
“Okayyy…”
Mike, one of the bull riders Hunter knew from his younger days, steps up next to me. He’s a nice guy. Quiet for a rodeo cowboy, but he’s polite and steady and helps keep the younger ones in line. He’s been so much help as Hunter and I transition into running multiple businesses, his rodeo tour and, well, just taking the time we need to enjoy our relationship.
Since we got married, it’s not all been rainbows, but when cloudy moments come, we’ve handled it well.
