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“ G rape jelly meatballs are so a thing.” Trent had a whole Crock-Pot of them, in fact. It was his granny’s recipe, and they were a huge hit.

“That’s gross, Uncle Trent.” Amelia had that nine going on forty-five thing happening.

“Are not. Ask Silas. He’ll tell you. You going to get dressed here or take your costume over to the house?”

“At the house. I don’t want to get all wrinkly.”

“I don’t know. I’m skeptical, but I’ve learned I don’t know much around here so I’ll be trying them. They smell good,” Fox said.

One thing Trent had to say about Fox was that he would, in fact, try anything.

“They are good. So, I’ve packed the beer, the ice, the Sprites. I have the meatballs—what else?” Jude and Rope were over there decorating the hell out of the house, and he was going to help by holding his godgirl.

“I think that’s—oh! The marshmallows.”

“I’ll get them!” Amelia ran off and returned with three bags of them.

“Now we’re good.” Fox nodded to him and moved ahead of him to open up his truck.

“Perfect.” They had a pile of folks coming out to Rope’s, including a passel of cowboys who had been at the state finals in Waco, and a couple of guys from the league. It was going to be a great party.

They drove over with their goodies, and there were already cars in the driveway—Rope’s mom was in Texas from now until Christmas, leasing her condo out in Orlando, and the parents of some local friends of Silas along with every one of their neighbors were in attendance.

“Looks like a party.”

Amelia’s eyes were wide.

“Wow. Look at all of this.” Fox was almost as wide-eyed as Amelia.

“So many trucks!” Amelia stared out the window. “There’s Tasha! And Madison and Kate.”

“Yep. You can go on, if it’s cool with your daddy. There’s gonna be a lot of candy and bobbing for apples, even a hayride.” Trent loved this—it wasn’t the trick-or-treating of the suburbs, but it was a party out in the sticks, for sure.

“Daddy?” Amelia looked hopeful.

“Of course. Go have fun. Put your costume on.”

“Okay!” Amelia was out of the truck as soon as he put it in park. Silas met her in the front yard, and they were gone.

“Come on, darlin’. Let’s go be social, shall we?” He leaned over and kissed Fox’s cheek. “We can sit in the backyard and rock the baby.”

He knew Fox got… nervy in crowds.

Fox reached over and gave his thigh a squeeze. “Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks.”

Jude met them at the front steps with hugs. “Hey, guys. Welcome. Happy Halloween!”

“Happy Halloween! I brought meatballs!” He was so proud of that recipe. It was his potluck to go.

Sometimes, he wanted to be fancier than chips and dip.

“Come in, I have a place with a plug for you.” Jude led them through the house to Rope’s amazing outdoor kitchen and patted a spot on a long table covered in food. “I’ll take the marshmallows. I’m hiding desserts in the kitchen for now.”

“Like there won’t be a million pieces of candy.” Trent teased. “Fox wanted s’mores.”

Fox actually blushed a little. “Rope likes to grill. Grills call for s’mores.”

Jude smiled fondly at Fox, like old friends did. “They absolutely do. Trent, go rescue your girl from Rope.”

“I’m on it. I have a godgirl calling my name!” He wandered through the house, giving man hugs and pats and kisses on the way to little Faith.

Fox trailed along behind him, smiling and nodding at people, saying hello when he was introduced, acting like all of this chaos was right up his alley. The man even took finger-food off of trays and ate everything that was offered to him. He seemed relieved though when they found Rope standing on the back patio with baby Faith all wrapped up in his arms.

“We’re here to do our godfatherly duty and let you go mingle and deal with hyped-up youngsters.” He grinned and took his little Faith, who was dressed as a little fairy and the cuteness hurt his heart. “Have fun!”

Rope chuckled. “Bull. You just want the baby. I know you.”

“Can you blame him?” Fox stepped out of Rope’s way. “Have fun.”

“Come on, darlin’. Let’s park it. We can see everything, but we’re out of the crowd a little bit.” Trent knew folks would be coming by, but hopefully only in dribs and drabs.

“Sound good.” Fox held a chair for him. “She is so cute.”

“She’s the most beautiful baby I’ve ever held.”

“Are bull riders like Presidents? Have you held a lot of babies?”

“Nope. Not hardly any.” What did that matter?

Fox grinned. “So she’s the most beautiful—and only baby you’ve ever held?”

“Maybe the third, but she’s still beautiful. She’s going to be amazing like Amelia.” Trent had no doubt. His girls were amazing.

Fox settled deeper into his chair, gaze focused far off toward the back fields. “Did you ever want one of your own?”

“Never thought about it. That’s a harsh disappointment, to know that no one’s going to give you a baby.”

Fox glanced at him. “You don’t know that.”

“I don’t.” But he had, and that took money he didn’t have. He wasn’t broke, but having a surrogate was pricey.

Fox nodded. “One day. I’d like to one day.”

“Yeah? With me?” God, had he just asked that? That was presumptuous as all get-out.

Fox raised an eyebrow, but there was a little sarcastic grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Do you still think this is temporary? You’re stuck with me, cowboy.”

“No. I mean, I hoped it wasn’t a little while thing. I want… you know. Forever.” Damn, it was hard to say that, but it was true.

Fox rested a hand on his knee. “I think I’m available pretty much forever.”

“Oh, well, turns out I am too, so… go team us.” Trent leaned over, offering Fox a little, chaste kiss.

Fox kissed him back, and it maybe felt a little less chaste, but it was quick all the same. “We’re yours, Trent. Me and Amelia, we’re yours now. We’re your family. We can make one of those if you want to.” Fox pointed to baby Faith. “Yours this time, if you want.”

“If we do it together, it’ll be mine, no matter the DNA.”

“Of course. You just look so happy holding a baby.”

“I am.” He nuzzled little Faith, and she cooed, that sound echoing inside him.

“Hey, Trent. Who you got there? Is that my granddaughter?” Deidre climbed the steps from the backyard.

“It is.” He grinned, taking his hug easily, careful not to jostle Faith. “Hey, lady. Have you met Fox? He’s my guy, and Miss Amelia is his little one.”

“Oh! I haven’t yet.” She went right to Fox and gave him a big hug. Fox blinked at him over her shoulder, grinning. “I’ve heard so much.”

“Same. It’s great to meet you.”

“Imagine. Our Trent. I’m so happy for you both.”

“Thanks, lady. Did you get to see the bike path?” It went from their ranch, to Rope’s, and to the Whiteheads’ on the other side, so that no one on the west side of the road had to cross.

“Oh, yes. It’s a wonderful morning walk too. I’ve been exploring. Did you do that all by yourself?”

“Fox and I did half, and once we knew it worked the way we wanted?” Trent chuckled, bumping shoulders with Fox. “It didn’t take the six of us any time to finish the other half.”

Fox winked back at him. “We got the job done, and it’s great for the kids. Amelia sneaks over here all the time.”

Diedre pulled up a chair. “She and Silas are good friends. She seems to have settled in well.”

“She loves it, and she likes having Silas as a go-between sometimes, I think. It’s a big difference, living here and living there.” Trent thought Ames was happy, but nothing was perfect, after all. Some things were just hard.

Fox nodded his agreement. “Silas has been great. He did this already and has been able to help Amelia adjust.”

“Well, Silas is an amazing grandson. He’s going to come out to Florida next summer for a few weeks and explore Disney.” Deidre beamed, obviously so pleased by the thought.

“That will be nice for him, spending some time with you down there.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Deidre pulled her phone out and looked at it, then stood. “Oh. Jude is looking for me in the kitchen. Very good to meet you, Fox.”

“You too. Very nice.”

“You be good to my little girl now, Trent.” Deidre kissed the top of his head like she was his own mother.

“I will, lady. Promise.” He waved at her. “She’s amazing.”

“Of course she is. She’s my granddaughter!” Deidre laughed and disappeared into the house.

“She’s a nice?—”

“Trent! Dude, you’re not wearing a brace for once!”

“Is that a baby?”

“What’s wrong now, did you hit your head?”

Fox glanced at him, then back at the approaching cowboys.

Trent winked at Fox, then arched one eyebrow, hiding his smile. “Y’all best be respectful. This here’s my Faith. Watch your damn mouths.”

“Kiss my hairy butt, old man.” Jesse Odell stuck his tongue out at him, while Guillherme Baca came over, smiling at the baby.

“Um bebe tao lindo, sim?”

“She’s gorgeous.” He knew just enough Portuguese to get in trouble. “Perfeito?”

“Perfeita, sim. Bom. Bom.”

Fox stood to greet them, offering a hand to shake. “Hey. I’m Fox.”

“I’m Jesse, this here’s Guillherme, and Mr. Shy and Stupid is Vic.”

Fox shook all around. “Are you… bull riders?”

“Me and Gill are, yeah. Vic’s still learning to grow in his pussy-tickler…”

“Language, Jess. There are little ones.”

And Jude didn’t hold with cussing around them.

“Don’t rush a good thing, Vic.” Fox gave the kid a wink. “It’s good to meet some friends of Trent’s.”

Jess just kept talking. “So how are things, man? Arm is good?”

“You know it. I’m still stiff, but I’m working out my muscles. I want to throw some loops by next spring.” He wasn’t going to do pro roping, but he was a cowboy.

“Cool, cool.” Jess looked at Fox. “Is this your baby?”

Fox snorted. “No. My daughter is around somewhere, but she’s a lot bigger. That’s Rope and Jude’s daughter.”

Jess’s eyes went wide. “Rope had a baby?”

“Yep. All by himself.” Trent kept a straight himself. “It was a miracle.”

Fox just nodded. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Her name is Faith,” Vic said from the back of the pack.

Jess twisted around to look at Vic. “What? How do you know that?”

Vic shrugged. “I pay attention. I have goals.”

“Baby goals?”

“Baby goals. Ranch goals.”

“Sounds like Vic’s planning to make some money to me.” Fox sounded like he approved.

“Vic’s balls haven’t dropped yet.”

“Don’t make me kick your ass,” Vic snarled, and Trent casually handed the baby to Fox.

He didn’t want to have to beat these boys down, but he knew how.

Fox took Faith and stood, picking right up on his vibe and pacing a couple of steps away. “Hey, baby. Aren’t you a good girl?” Fox threw him a worried look.

Gill picked up on it too, uncrossing his arms and taking a wide stance.

Jess sighed. “Oh, come on. Can’t nobody take a joke no more?”

Vic’s cheeks went hot, but he held up his hands. “Sure. Sure. You want a beer, Jess?”

“Totally. Thanks, man. Let’s go find the good stuff.” Jess held out one hand, and Vic’s cheeks went even redder.

Gill rolled his eyes. “Adoro essa estupidez.”

Vic took Jess’s hand shyly. “You think Rope has Shiner?”

“I bet he does. Come on… baby.”

Oh, good lord and butter. He shook his head, but he had to smile.

Gill chuckled and waved, then followed along behind them.

“That was—interesting.” Fox snorted.

He shook his head. “Gay cowboy mating call. Hey, bay-bee!”

Damn fools. They needed to chill out and fuck.

Fox raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t know gay cowboys were so complicated. I’m glad you didn’t make it that difficult.”

“You were gay. I was gay. No one had to prove anything, right? I could just be… yours.” There was no ass kicking necessary.

“Good thing because I sure wasn’t up to proving anything.”

“You did prove yourself. You let me… have a space to fall in love with you.” He was being an idiot, because he didn’t have all the words.

“You didn’t expect anything, it was easy to just… be. With you.”

He grinned, shrugged. “That’s good. You needed a little easy, some taking care of.”

Fox brought Faith back to him and put her in his arms. “Taking care of, huh?”

“Yes. You seemed so damn sad, darlin’. I just wanted to make y’all smile.” And to give Fox all he needed.

“Mission accomplished.” Fox stroked Faith’s cheek before stepping back. “Should we put her down? She’s out.”

“Yeah. Let me text Rope and see whether he wants her put in her bed or what.” He wasn’t sure what her daddy would want.

He sent a text over, and Rope appeared like magic.

“I’ll take her to our room. I want to be able to hear her if she cries.”

Fox took his hand as Rope left. “Did you get your baby fix? Was it good?”

“So good. Did we get a picture of Amelia in her costume? We need one.” He wanted to see if she was having fun.

“Oh. No, we need to do that. I haven’t even seen her in it yet. I’m hungry, anyway.”

“Let’s go explore, then. I heard there’s brisket and chili both, and I’m hoping to con Ames into a meatball.” He knew they were good. He knew it.

“I need to try one too.”

“Have you been relieved of baby-duty?” Jude headed for a cooler. “Beer? Coke?”

“Beer, please.” He took the bottle Jude offered over. “She’s sound asleep, so Rope put her down in y’all’s room.”

Fox took a beer as well. “How’s the party going?”

“Great. Amelia looks adorable. She’s running around with her friend and some of the boys. Did Jess find you?”

“He did. He’s, uh… with Vic.” Like biblically.

Jude glanced at him. “Yes. And a hot Brazilian guy I haven’t met before.”

“Guillherme. He’s a stud.” Trent glanced over at Fox. “He does three hundred crunches, twice a day. It’s ridiculous, but hot? Sure.”

“I will never be that ambitious.” Fox winked at him. “I’ve got enough work to keep me busy.” Fox loved being outdoors. He would go for a run down their bike path every so often, but mostly, they got their exercise working with the animals or on the house and the barns.

“I said it was pretty, darlin’. I know whose belly I intend to be watching, long-term.” He wasn’t what anyone would call sexy—he was a plain old cowboy, but he had what it took to make his man hard and happy.

Fox blushed and Jude caught it, chuckling softly. “I’m so happy for you guys. I can’t think of two people I was more worried about, and now I don’t have to worry about either of you. It’s so great. Rope too, he’s just over the moon.”

“I’ve got his back. Don’t you worry. I will protect him.”

Fox glanced at him, still blushing, but this time, the look was curious and kind.

Jude gave Trent a nod. “Thank you.”

“I’m okay, you guys. Really, I’m good.” Fox took a swig of his beer.

“Let’s get our food. I’m craving a bowl of chili, huh?” He grinned at his lover. “With cheese and onions and Fritos.”

“I am so in. Thanks for the beer, Jude.”

“You know it. Come back for more, later.”

Fox nodded and took Trent’s hand. “We just might. But first, chili! And we have to find our kid.”

“I think she’s out in the pasture with the others, trying to scare each other.”

“Sounds right up her alley.” Fox squeezed his hand. “Whose chili are we having?”

“Momma Canutt. Hers is amazing—not enough to give a man an ulcer, but hot enough that you know it’s chili.”

“Sounds great. Bring it on.” Fox handed him a bowl.

Trent grinned. “We’ll have burning kisses.”

“We have those already. We might set each other on fire.” Fox raised an eyebrow. “I mean—metaphorically, not—you know what I mean.”

Trent snorted, tickled as all get-out. “Kaboom, baby?”

“Hell, yeah.” Fox grinned at him, then spooned up some chili and tried it. At first, there were yummy noises, but then Fox’s eyes went wide as he swallowed. “Mm. Hot. Oh, man. So good though. But hot .”

Fox took a swig of his beer, but it didn’t seem to help.

“Let me get you some milk…” Lord have mercy. He forgot that Texas mild and Yankee mild were different.

“No, no. I got it.” Fox took another bite and grinned as he chewed. “It’s fine if I just keep eating.”

“Add sour cream,” Jude suggested. “And cheese. A lot of cheese.”

“Mm. Cheese.” Fox was a little pink in the face as he added cheese and sour cream. “It’s yummy though.”

“Yeah. Texans.” Jude winked at him, and Trent stuck his tongue out at Jude, checking first to make sure no kiddos were watching.

“I’ll get used to it. I’ve gotten used to the heat and yak breath. I’m going to be an honorary Texan soon.”

“Yak butter on toast!” Trent rolled his eyes. Honestly, yak butter was… ew, but those fancy-assed fine dining restaurants paid top dollar for every ounce.

“They can’t think of anything fancier than toast to put it on?”

Jude rolled his eyes. “I swear, Fox, if I never hear the word yak again that would be okay by me.”

“Daddy! Uncle Trent! Hide me!” Amelia ducked behind him, and he looked up to see a bunch of kids running in their direction.

Trent stood up as tall as he could, hiding her. Fox moved right in next to him and they made a very effective wall.

“How’s your chili?” Fox asked him, casually, as if there were no way this group would figure out Amelia was hiding behind them.

“It’s cool. I think I like the meatballs best, though…” He could keep a straight face.

“Oh, those grape jelly meatballs? They’re going fast. I hear they’re amazing.”

One of the kids stopped short and the whole group came to a halt behind him. “Grape jelly meatballs?”

“Yep. Over there in the slow cooker. Have at.”

“We have to try that, you guys.” The whole group moved away at once.

“Wait.” Amelia ducked out from behind them. “That’s… they’re going to try your meatballs? Hey, wait up!”

“And there she goes.” Fox watched her run off. “We didn’t get a picture.”

“We need one. Especially when she eats one and falls in love.”

“Oh. Good idea.” Grinning, Fox put his food down, pulled out his phone, and followed behind the kids. “I’m going in.”

“What’s up?” Rope asked, peeking around his arm.

“They’re trying my meatballs.” And they were going to love them.

Rope nodded. “Yeah? I can’t believe there are any left. Those things are amazing.”

It looked like maybe they were daring each other to go first, but all it took was one kid to give everyone a wide-eyed nod and everyone else dug in. He watched as Amelia took a hesitant bite of one, then popped the whole thing into her mouth.

Fox took pictures, but they weren’t going to do justice to how he felt when Amelia turned and gave him a huge smile and a thumbs-up.

“It’s always that way, isn’t it?” Rope asked.

“Yeah. It’s just the name that makes them crazy. You say sweet chili sauce meatballs, and it’s fine.”

“You could just say you brought meatballs and leave it at that, but what fun would that be?” Rope smiled as Amelia and Silas came over.

“Uncle Trent, your weird meatballs are so good.”

“Why thank you! I agree.” He bowed deep and got a hug and a kiss on the cheek from Ames.

“Silly Uncle. What am I going to do with you?”

“Love me?” he teased.

Ames rolled her eyes. “I meant what else !”

“Go play with your friends. If you don’t want to watch scary movies, it’s cool, right?”

Ames nodded to him. “Right. And I’m not a baby.”

“No, ma’am. Your eyes. Your choice. Tell them Uncle Trent said so.”

“And you tell Silas Daddy Rope said so too, youngun.” Rope’s voice was sure, strong.

“I will, Daddy Rope!” Ames smiled and ran after her friends.

“Aren’t we all so secure in our masculinity?” Fox barely hid his grin.

Rope rolled his eyes. “Those kids can push, if you give them the room to do it.”

“Of course. They’re kids. They’re supposed to get it all wrong so they can get it right the next time.”

“Is that how it works?” He blinked at Fox. That was a neat way of thinking about it.

“I think so. I remember learning every lesson the hard way. That’s how I figured out my place, you know?” Fox shrugged.

“Trent never learned his…” Rope teased, and Trent snorted.

“Shut up.”

“That’s okay. I’ll teach him.” Fox goosed him.

He clenched his butt cheeks. “I’ll make you kiss it better if you bruised me.”

Fox shrugged. “I am so in.”

“Okay, I’m happy for you both, but I don’t need all the TMI. Gross.” Jude rolled his eyes and headed back to the buffet.

Trent couldn’t stop his shit-eating grin for love or money. “That’s one point for me.”

Rope grinned. “You’d think he’d never kissed my ass.”

That got Fox laughing, and Trent knew where that was headed. Fox was laughing so hard he actually had to put his beer down so he didn’t spill it.

He wanted to cheer and tell the world—that’s my guy. He’s laughing, he’s happy, and he’s home.