Fucking dick.
“Ugh. It’s just going to be the cutest baby though. I’m so ready to be the cool aunt.”
The buzz around the new baby hasn’t died off at all since we came out about everything. Everyone is over the moon.
But no one more than Luke.
When we sat down and told him, he cried happy tears. And so did I. The bridge of my nose tingles just thinking about the way my life has changed again so quickly. So unexpectedly.
It’s a fucking theme for me at this point.
“Dude.” Willa punches my brother in the shoulder. “Read between the lines here. Stop dicking around and make it so that our kids can grow up as best friends.”
Rhett’s face turns serious, and he shakes his head solemnly—but I see that shit-disturber twitch of his lips. Same one that was a dead giveaway as a child too.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Willa. We keep practicing and practicing, and practicing, and nothing ever happens. It’s exhausting, you know? I have to wonder if it’s all the birth control we’re using?”
“Eat a dick, kid.” I take my turn, knocking a hand against my little brother’s chest.
“No, babe,” Summer pipes up, “it’s just that you don’t have a breeding kink.” She can’t even get the words out without snorting and wheezing.
“I’m never gonna fucking live that down.” I grind my teeth to keep from smiling.
What I hear back is a chorus of “nevers” from every single person in my truck. But I also feel Willa’s hand slide over my shoulder to give me a little squeeze. I reach up and lay a hand over hers, knowing that, jokes aside, we’re both excited about this.
We’re surprised and a little unprepared, but happy. So damn happy. Going with the flow has never felt better. Cheesy as it sounds, I’ve never felt more at peace.
I spent years feeling jilted. Feeling angry. Feeling like everyone around me had everything going for them and I was just stuck in a rut of responsibility.
And then Hurricane Willa blew into town and turned everything upside down in the best fucking way.
I squeeze her hand and pull it to my lips, pressing a kiss to the knuckles of the woman I chose—the life I chose.
“Jesus. Who even are you?” Rhett asks, looking a little shocked.
Now it’s Summer’s turn to slap the top of his head. “Stop picking on them. It’s sweet.”
“Why the fuck is everyone hitting me?”
I chuckle as Summer responds with, “Because you deserve it.”
With that sentiment, we pull into the rodeo grounds and the chaos of the Canadian Championship Rodeo swallows us all.
Competing here is a dream that’s been long forgotten. Long shut away as a missed opportunity, something I was too old for—too busy for.
Until Willa sat in that hot tub and dared me to take a shot. Turns out our runs were good enough to qualify us for the finals.
Which means I’m not going to let the fact that my fingers aren’t completely healed stop me.
Blueberry is taking everything in stride from where I sit on her back. Her prickly personality won’t let her be spooked. Every time another horse walks past, she flattens her ears at them, which makes me smile. She’s not a warm-and-fuzzy type of mare, but she’s good at what she does.
We’re kindred that way.
My dad has Luke out in the stands, and the rest of our group is standing beside me in the staging area.
“Are you nervous?” Willa squeezes my leg and peers up at me. The way she glows makes my throat constrict. Her hair is all curled. Her new boots are fuck-me hot and are going to look so good wrapped around my waist later. She’s not showing much yet, but her jeans are extra tight around her ass, and I keep getting busted checking her out.
“Nah,” I reply, smoothing my hand over her hair.
“I love it when you pet me.” She sighs and closes her eyes with a low chuckle.
“Y’all are fuckin’ weird,” Rhett quips from beside us, arm slung over Summer’s shoulders, with a cocky smirk on his face. “I’d tell you not to worry about the buckle bunnies, Willa, but apparently Cade is so into PDA now that he practically broadcasts how taken he is.”
Willa stares back at my brother blankly. “What are you talking about, Rhett? I am a buckle bunny.” She puts her fingers in the shape of a heart and frames the view through them around my face.
“Cade? Lance? Josh?” The ring steward calls our team’s names, and with a quick wink down at my girl, we’re gone.