Page 146 of Take My Love

“Wow, look at you all grown up,” Posey quips.

“I am, thank you for noticin’.”

Bellamy snorts. “You sleep on dinosaur sheets.”

“You gave ’em to me for Christmas!” Bodie points out.

“As a joke! Just like I gave Posey goat slippers.”

“Hey, those are my favorite!” Posey scowls.

“Mine too.” I wink at her, still needing to find a pair of my own.

“Well, we already know Bellamy ain’t ever gettin’ married, and Colt…” Posey smirks at him. “He has a thing for single moms.”

Everyone’s gaze including mine snaps toward him because that’s news to me.

“Single moms, huh?” I taunt. “Why’s that?”

“Have you ever dated a MILF?” he exclaims, then sticks out his fingers to count. “They’re experienced, bossy, and always have snacks in their purse. Triple-win, honestly.”

Laughter ensues and it feels great to be with Posey’s family and not hide our relationship. Bellamy already knew and wassupportive, but Bodie and Colton didn’t give me too much of a hard time. Basically said if I fucked it up, they’d kick my ass.

“I have some older friends,” Ellie offers. “But you’d gotta be willin’ to move to Sugarland Creek and travel with the rodeo since most of ’em are barrel racers.”

“That’d be so fuckin’ cool!” he exclaims. “Gonna rope me a cowgirl.”

Landen snickers. “Be careful what you wish for, man. They’re feisty as shit.”

It’s almost midnight when Posey snuggles under the blankets wearing her favorite goat-printed shorts and tank set. She clings to me, freshly showered and smelling like lavender sugar scrub. She’s been catching up on goat soap orders for the upcoming holiday season for the past couple weeks and stayed late so she could have the long Thanksgiving weekend off.

After more goat yoga videos with me and her went viral, she started using them to promote Langston Soapworks and her website blew up. Even though she and Amaya post videos of their process, it was the ones of me shirtless in a cowboy hat that got the most views and orders. Eventually, they made a soap scent after me: Cowboy Goat Yogi. It’s made with vanilla, leather, and sandalwood.

Instead of getting stopped at the grocery store to ask for a selfie, they ask to smell me instead.

But I don’t mind. Posey loves it as long as everyone knows I’m hers.

And I have no problem reminding them of it, too.

Goat yoga is done for the season since it’s late November, but they’ll have to find some other tatted, muscular guy to replace me next spring since I’ll be much busier, but it was fun to do with Posey while it lasted.

They already replaced mine and Ian’s positions at the goat farm, so they didn’t have to go long being short-staffed. Luckily, we haven’t heard from him since the night he came over to confess his love for her and she fired him.

Ever since Mr. Langston gave me that loan two months ago, I’ve been working almost every day between managing the childcare center project and getting everything for my new business set up—including a more reliable truck for when I drive out to job sites or to meet with clients and contractors.

It’s not a manual, so I let Posey use it once in a while.

I’ve already put in five other bids for upcoming projects throughout the state so I have consistent work for the next year. It’s been a nice change of pace from working for someone else to working for myself. For the first time in my life, I’m in charge of my schedule and what jobs I do. I’m beyond grateful for her family’s support and believing in me enough to give me the chance to prove I can do this.

I wouldn’t be here without them.

Even my mom and sisters are passing out my business cards like candy on Halloween night. Making them proud as the youngest sibling and no longer fumbling through life feels good.

Of course the only two people who want me to fail are Aundrea and her dad. He doesn’t like the competition in oursmall town and she’s jealous I moved on without her, then got her arrested.

Her dad begged us to drop the charges, but we refused. He hired a sleazy defense lawyer, who filed a motion to reduce her aggravated burglary felony charge to a trespassing misdemeanor since she didn’t steal anything or vandalize the property.

Aundrea pled no contest and started her thirty days in jail last week. The judge granted Posey and me long-term restraining orders so she can’t harass us once she’s out or will risk going back behind bars.