“Alright, all the time.” I pulled back, looking at her. “Is that a crime?”
“No,” she admitted, her smile still wide and beautiful as ever. “It’s quite the opposite actually.”
“Good. Because I like being able to kiss you whenever, no matter where we are.”
She raised a brow. “Just kiss me?”
My smile took on a devilish glint. “Don’t tempt me, Sage McKinley.”
But something told me she’d be doing that without even trying.
33
Callan
The soles of my boots brushed against the jute doormat as I stomped the dirt off. I’d moved all my lessons for this Saturday into the week so I could take that day off for Avery’s birthday party. My week was packed because of it, but I wouldn’t miss her party or her birthday dinner for anything.
As much as admitting it scared me, I was growing attached to Avery. Her mother and I were already set in stone, but earning that little girl's trust and love was important.
I found my mom in the kitchen prepping pie crusts for Avery’s party this weekend. Though there would be cake, Avery had apparently talked her into making three different kinds of pies for her party as well.
“Good day?” Mom asked as she rolled out the dough.
“Been doing lessons back to back since seven a.m., so it’s been a day to say the least.” Some of the local kids were homeschooled, which made their schedules a bit more flexible. I’d fit them in during the hours I’d typically be helping Dad out with the cows, which meant he’d been alone with Bailey most of the day.
Leaning my hands against the counter, I saw the smile on Mom’s face.
“What?”
She shook her head. “You really like them.”
I wasn’t sure if ‘like’ covered it anymore.
I reached up to take my hat off, my other hand running through my hair. “I just moved some things around so I could make it this weekend. It’s nothing big.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, pausing her rolling. “You’ve never changed your schedule for a woman.”
I knew she was referencing my ex and my inability to take on less clients just to spend more time with her. Back then, I hadn’t wanted to. But with Sage, it didn’t seem all that terrible of an idea.
It was a wonder how feelings could be swayed because of one person.
“It’s not just for her. I don’t want to disappoint Avery,” I told her.
She set the rolling pin on the counter next to the dough and brushed her hands off. “You’re not fooling me.”
I could feel the blush crawling up my neck. Talking to my mom came easy, but if it was about girls, I couldn’t get the words out to anyone. Some part of talking about the person you liked felt vulnerable, like you were giving people the ability to hurt you by opening up that way. And if more people knew about my feelings for Sage, the more official it became. It wouldn’t just be between me and her anymore. It’d be public, and I wanted to be one hundred percent sure that was what she wanted.
“You can’t avoid things because you think they’ll end badly,” Mom said. “What if it ends up amazing?”
“I’m not saying it wouldn’t.” Hell, it already was amazing. She’d called me her boyfriend, and while it had come as a bit of a shock in the moment, I didn’t want to be anything else.
“But you’re not talking about it, and that tells me you’re scared.”
She knew me too damn well.
“I don’t want to mess this up with her and her daughter. They’ve got their own things going on, and I don’t want to overwhelm them with this. I’m happy with whatever Sage wants us to be at the moment, and I’ll move at her pace.”
Mom stared at me, not a hint of her thoughts showing on her face. “That’s what love is, Callan. Going through this life with whatever is thrown at you, together. Their things become yours and vice versa.”
I’d already let her problems become my own, and I wanted it that way. Sage didn’t deserve to go through any of this alone, and if I had to guess, she felt the same way about me.
“I’ll try to open up,” I said.
Mom picked up the roller again. “You can take on the world's burdens, but let the world take some of yours, too.”
My brows pulled together. “Is there something you’re trying to hint at here?”
She drew in a deep breath, looking down at the dough. She studied it for a moment, then said, “Beckham is coming home.”
My blood went cold with the thought of what that might mean. “Is he hurt?”
She shook her head, moving her gaze to me again. “No. God, no. He’s okay. He’s taking a break from rodeo.”
“Can he even do that?” I wasn’t sure what all the rules were, but he had to be bound by some kind of contract.
She gave an inch of a shrug. “I guess so. He didn’t go into much detail, but I’m sure he will when he gets here.”
If she said he wasn’t hurt, then I believed her, but not knowing the reason he was taking a break worried me all the more.
