Page 57 of Untamed

“Oh, it’s a promise.” She gives me a few gentle slaps on the cheek. “Now, let me go. I gotta go earn some tips.”

I finally let her go and kneel in front of her when she sits down on the bench to put her boots back on. Being the gentleman that I am, I help her put them on, taking my time as I lace them up and tie them tightly. These combat boots are her favorite, and they’ve definitely seen better days.

“I don’t know how to tie my shoes either.” Wade walks through the living room to stand next to us. “It’s complicated, and Daddy says since I wear my cowboy boots everywhere that it doesn’t really matter.” His little shoulders shrug as he watches me tie the final knot.

“No shame in that, my man,” I tell him. “River is almost thirty and still can’t do it.”

River smacks me on the side of the head.

“Will you be at Uncle Hayes’ in the morning?” Wade asks her.

“Possibly. Why? What’s up?” She stands and collects her things.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Grammy always lets us bring everyone breakfast on Sunday mornin’s. She says y’all need somethin’ in your stomachs.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning, then. That’s very sweet of you.” River leans down and gives him a quick kiss on the head, then gives me the same treatment on my cheek. “See you later.”

“Bye, darlin’.” I smack her on her ass as she walks out the door.

On Sunday morning, the kids and Katherine brought us breakfast. So, so much breakfast. They pulled up in one of their side-by-sides and pulled out two huge to-go plates of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and a pitcher of orange juice. I was eating until my stomach was too full to move.

The rest of the day was spent lying around with Hayes, watching our favorite movies and eating junk food. I baked cookies for him, and he gave me a massage that didn’t lead to sex. Well, right away anyway.

And then Monday, I walked into Dr. Martinez’s office and accepted her offer. I also asked her about Evie helping me out, and she was all for it as long as we could find replacements for both of us at the vet’s office.

They’re slated to break ground on the new place within the next couple of weeks, which means I’ll have a brand-new job by Thanksgiving. It finally feels like everything is falling into place, and I can suddenly breathe again. I’m honestly just waiting for the other shoe to drop because between Hayes, my job, and loving my life in this little town again, it’s all too good to be true.

Which reminds me, I still haven’t told Hayes about me coming back for Addie’s funeral. I keep waking up thinking that today is the day, and then he turns over and pulls me into his chest, holding me tight while we both slowly wake up together, and I just can’t do it.

So I tell myself I’ll do it after work, when we’re eating dinner or sitting outside on the porch. But then I feel like we’re so happy, and we’ve both had long days. That’s not the time to do it either. And Poppy keeps pestering me about it. Every day I show up to see Betty, and Poppy will ask me if I’ve told him yet, like holding out on him is my one fatal flaw.

Which, maybe it is. But it’s like the longer I go without telling him, the more I think maybe I don’t have to. Or I just can’t. It’s like when I was in school and I knew I had a paper due. We would know weeks in advance that the research paper had to be done, but I would think I had plenty of time. So a few days would go by, and then a week, and then another.

And I just kept thinking it would be fine. No biggie. I procrastinate all the time, so surely I had enough time to finish the paper. But then we’d get a reminder three days out, and I would have to literally cram weeks’ worth of research and writing into seventy-two hours.

Which is what I’m doing here. I keep putting it off and putting it off. And there’s going to be a day where it comes up or he brings it up, and I’m going to have to admit this horrible thing I’ve done to him. Then, because I’ve waited so long, it’s going to be even worse. He’s going to blow up about how long I’ve been hiding this from him, and it’ll be so, so much worse.

I take a deep breath. I’m spiraling, and it’s gotta stop.

Leaning back against the outside of the bar, I wait for Hayes and his family to get here. I’m working tonight, but it’s slower than a weekend, so I’m able to take longer breaks. And Bill knows that Hayes and I are friends, which means he’ll let me watch the gig and slack off a little tonight to support him.

A couple of trucks pull in, and the gravel crunches as they make their way over to the front of the bar. The entire family pours out, all smiles and excited energy. I’ve missed this family so much, and I feel like I’ve fit back into my old spot with ease. Katherine and Clyde treat me like a daughter again, and Rhett and Wells have taken to teasing me just like they used to.

And Poppy has become a really good friend, and I kind of hope we can be sisters someday. Once she and Rhett tie the knot, maybe Hayes and I will, too, eventually.

Speak of the devil. There’s my man, walking across the parking lot with his guitar slung over his back and his baseball cap on backward, causing his hair to stick out the sides. He never used to keep it this long, but I love it. I like giving those soft stands a good tug when he’s between my thighs.

“Hey there, darlin’.” The ghost of a dimple appears on his cheek, and I can feel my heart kick up a beat.

“Hi.” He leans down and kisses me. “Nervous?”

“A bit.” He shrugs. “But mostly excited.”

“We’ll go in and get a table, son,” Clyde says, giving him a rough squeeze on the shoulder. He turns to me and winks. “You help him calm down so he doesn’t blow it up there.”

“But don’t blow him,” Wells whispers as he walks past, following the rest of his family inside. “We’re in public.”

“Wells!” I cry out, slapping him hard on the arm and sending him stumbling to the side. “Watch your mouth.”

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