“I still can’t believe Reed and Anna are here together! I just saw her today at the jewelry shop.”
“Whatcha doing at the jewelry store, Whitley?” Kate asked as Layton put her back down.
“Well, you see, I know a little girl whose birthday is tomorrow. I had to pick up her present.”
Kate started jumping up and down, and then she saw Reed. She took off running, calling out his name. He jumped up from his seat and bent down to catch her in his arms as she slammed into him.
Layton shook his head. “Poor Anna. Kate has a massive crush on Reed, and I’m sure she’s not going to like the idea of Anna being on a date with him.”
I laughed as I got a glimpse of Courtney and Mitch walking toward us. I waved as she smiled and made her way over to me.
“I’m going to say hi to Court. I’ll be right there.”
Layton stopped and talked to Mitch for a few seconds before he invited Mitch and Courtney to sit over by us. I thought for sure Mitch was going to say no, so I was shocked to see him turn and follow Layton.
Mitch and Reed shook hands, and then Mitch hugged Anna. They all sat down with Mitch sitting on the other side of Layton.
Courtney had watched the whole thing play out. She slowly turned to me and gave me a weak smile. “Looks like we’re sitting with y’all. Um, who’s the girl with Reed?”
“That’s Anna. They all went to high school together. I guess she just moved back to Llano from Dallas. Layton said Reed had a massive crush on her and was devastated when she left for college.”
“Did they date in high school?” Courtney asked as she turned back to look at Reed and Anna.
“I’m not really sure. It doesn’t sound like it though. I got the impression that they both maybe liked each other in school.”
“Huh.” Courtney started looking around. “I’ve had the strangest feeling that someone’s been watching me all day.”
“Oh my God! Me, too, Court. I can’t shake it. Then, to top that off, Layton’s been acting all weird since he picked me up, like he’s freaked out about something.”
“Pesh, that’s normal for Layton.”
I hit Courtney in the arm and laughed. “So, how are things with Mitch? Have you…”
Courtney’s face instantly turned bright red.
“Oh. My. God. You’ve slept with him? When, you bitch? I can’t believe you haven’t told me!”
Courtney laughed. “My God, Whitley. Announce it to the whole damn town. I would have told you, but you’re never home anymore. It just happened last night.”
“Wow. Y’all held out a long time. Was it worth the wait?”
Courtney turned back to look at Mitch before looking back at me. She didn’t even need to answer my question. The smile on her face said it all.
“Holy hell, Whit. He’s amazing. I mean…the things he does with his lips.”
I held my hand up in Courtney’s face. “Ugh! Stop! Oh my God, Court. I won’t ever be able to look at him again.”
“Really? Like I didn’t feel that way when you told me about the little fun you and Layton had with the vibrator at your back-door party.”
Just then, someone cleared their throat, and Courtney and I both looked down at a mom sitting there with her two young daughters.
“Really? Can you take this conversation somewhere else?” she asked as she pointed to her girls.
“I’m so sorry. Please excuse us.” I grabbed Courtney and started making my way up the bleachers toward Layton and Mitch.
I turned and gave Court a dirty look. “Jesus, Courtney! You talk about me being loud.”
Courtney started laughing.
Before we sat down, I leaned toward her ear and said, “I want to hear all about last night though.”
She pulled back and smiled as she nodded. Her smile faded as she looked over at Reed and Anna. I turned to see the two of them snuggled together, and Anna was whispering something into Reed’s ear. My heart instantly dropped.
Is Courtney still hung up on Reed? Shit, I hope not since she just slept with Mitch.
As Courtney and I went to sit down between Mitch and Layton, Reed looked up and smiled at Courtney.
He leaned forward and said, “Courtney, this is Anna MacBeth, a friend of ours from high school. She just moved back to town. Anna, this is Courtney Will, Whitley’s best friend, and Mitch’s, um…”
Courtney forced a smile. “Mitch’s girlfriend.” She glared at Reed before turning toward Anna and smiling. “Hey, Anna. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Hi, Courtney. How are you liking Llano?” Anna asked as she grabbed Reed’s hand.
I looked back at Courtney, who was now looking down at their hands.
Ah shit, this is not looking good.
“I love it. Some things I could do without though,” Court said as she looked directly at Reed.
Reed snapped his head up and looked at Courtney. He laughed and then turned to Anna and said something to her, causing her to laugh.
I leaned over and hit Layton in the leg. He yelled out.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Layton! Is your leg sore?” I asked.
He was rubbing his leg. He glanced over toward Anna and then back at me. “Yeah…I must have hit it on something.”
I leaned up and whispered in his ear, “I think we might have a problem.”
He looked at me with a questioning look. “What?”
“I think Anna might have picked up on the tension between Reed and Court. And, um…Court seems to be slightly jealous even though her and Mitch just slept together last night.”
Layton pulled his head back and looked at me. “No shit!” he said with a smile on his face.
“Uncle Layton is swearing, and Whitley is telling secrets! I get more ice cream!” Kate called out.
Everyone started laughing.
I couldn’t help but notice Anna glaring at Courtney.
Yep, she certainly noticed something between Reed and Court.
Just then, I felt the hairs on my back stand up. I looked around.
“You okay, babe?” Layton asked.
“Yeah, I’ve just had the strangest feeling that someone has been watching me all day. It’s nothing. I’m being paranoid over nothing.”
We spent the rest of the game laughing, drinking, and buying Kate more ice cream than she needed. I couldn’t believe how much Layton and Reed got into the football game. Reed’s younger brother played on the team, and Anna’s sister was a cheerleader.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if little Anna down there was a cheerleader herself. She looks like the type.”
I looked at Courtney and rolled me eyes.
As the night went on, Reed and Anna were hanging on each other more and more. At one point, I swore Reed has his hand up her shirt.
I glanced at them, and they were kissing each other as Anna was sitting in Reed’s lap. When she pulled away, she moved her ass and lifted her eyebrows.
“Oh, please.” Court rolled her eyes. “I think I’m going to puke. What a slut. I mean, Kate is sitting right next to them. Show a bit of restraint, for fuck’s sake.”
Layton hit Reed on the shoulder and pointed to Kate. Anna got up and moved to sit next to Reed.
“I need a beer or ten.” Courtney got up and made her way down the bleachers.
Reed jumped up and asked, “Does anyone want anything?”
“Ice cream!” Kate yelled.
“No more ice cream, Kate. I think we’re going to be heading out of here shortly,” Layton said as he hugged Kate and looked up at Reed.
Reed made his way down the bleachers and went in the same direction as Court. I glanced over toward Anna, but she was busy talking to Kate.
About fifteen minutes later, Courtney came walking back up the bleachers. I could tell she was upset, and it almost looked like she was about to cry.
When she sat down, I asked, “Hey, are you okay?”
“I hate him so much,” she whispered.
I didn’t even need to ask whom she meant. Reed came walking up and looked directly at Courtney before turning and smiling at Anna. He handed her a Frito pie and a beer.
“Layton, I think I’m ready to leave,” I said.
He jumped up and grabbed Kate’s hand. Clearly, he had been ready to leave for some time now.
“Say good-bye to Reed, Kate. We’re leaving now,” Layton said as he reached and shook Reed’s hand. “I’ll call you tomorrow. I’m gonna need help with the cattle if you’re free.”
Reed nodded. “Yeah. You know I’m always ready when you are.”
Kate gave Reed a long hug good-bye before taking Layton’s hand.
I reached down to hug Courtney good-bye. “Will you be at home this weekend?” I asked with a wink.
She shook her head. “I’ll probably see you out at the ranch. I don’t want to be alone this weekend with this weird feeling I’m having.”
I gave her a weak smile. A part of me thought she just didn’t want to be alone, thinking about Reed with Anna.
“Okay. See ya tomorrow, Lollipop.”
I stood in the kitchen, making pancakes, as Kate went on and on about how she was going to marry Reed when she grew up. She even had their kids’ names picked out.
“Don’t you think Reed might be a little bit too…oh, I don’t know…old for you, Kate? I mean I know you just turned six and all.” I asked with a wink.
She shrugged her shoulders. “Well, until something better comes along, I’m going to marry him.”
I let out a laugh as I flipped her pancake. I glanced up to see a grumpy Layton walking into the kitchen.
“Hey, Uncle Layton! Whitley is making us pancakes for breakfast.”
Layton attempted to smile at Kate before looking up at me. I knew he was pissed at me. I could see it in his eyes. Kate had begged to sleep with us in Layton’s bed last night, and I’d given in and said she could. I knew Layton was disappointed.
“Happy birthday, munchkin,” Layton grumbled.
“Are you a grumpy bug today, Uncle Layton?” Kate asked.
“Yes. Yes, I am, Kate. I’m grumpy because I got no sleep last night. You kept kicking me in your sleep while pulling off my covers and laughing all night.”
I frowned as I glanced down at Kate whose little smile had faded.
Damn it, Layton. You hurt her feelings.
“But I thought—” Kate started to say.
“You know the rules, Kate. You’re not allowed to sleep in any other bed besides your own. Now, your mother is going to be pissed at me because Whitley here gave in to you last night and let you sleep with us.”
My mouth dropped open, and Kate’s little head just hung down.
“Why didn’t you tell me her mother had a rule about that, Layton?”
He spun around and looked at me. “I told you no, Whitley. I told you she couldn’t sleep with us, and you still said she could. I didn’t realize I had to give a full blown-out reason.”
I started to butter Kate’s pancake. I looked at her and smiled.
When I set it in front of her, she shook her head. “I’m not hungry anymore.”