KnockinBoots: Maybe I own a cattle sanctuary. What’s your guess gonna be, baby?
FireInMyVeins: You being vegan is a lie… and if I’m right, I’m intrigued—and impressed—by the tattoo.
KnockinBoots: Guess you’ll just have to wait and see. *wink emoji*
Six
Hollis
“Get ready to have your ass kicked tonight, Holli-boy,” Remi drawls, humor dancing in his gaze as he chalks his pool cue.
I snort. “You fuckin’ wish.” Taking a drag from the Marlboro between my teeth, I finish racking the balls.
With a shake of his head, he chuckles, placing the cue ball on the felt table before flashing me a cocky grin. “I canfeelit in my bones. Tonight’s the night you pay our tab, motherfucker.” Leaning into position, Remi makes the break shot, sending the cluster of numbered balls in every which direction. As a solid blue one sinks into the pocket closest to me, he stands tall and points a finger at me from across the table, barking out a laugh that has a couple of people turning to look at us. “You were sayin’?”
I laugh, finishing off the rest of my cigarette while he takes his next shot. “Careful, don’t get too cocky, too early.”
“Here you fellas go,” our bartender announces, a sweetsmile on her face as she sets our beers down. “Let me know if ya need anythin’ else.”
“Thank ya, ma’am.” I tip my chin as my gaze drops to the name tag on her tight, white, V-neck shirt.Emily. She must be new because I don’t recall seeing her here before.
“Alright, well, y’all have fun.” Before she leaves, Emily throws one last flirty look in Remi’s direction, her full, glossy bottom lip tucked between her straight white teeth as she winks at him. I watch her walk away, the black shorts she’s wearing barely covering her round ass as they show off her long, tan legs.
Shaking my head, I scrub a hand over the smile spreading across my face.If only that poor girl knew she was barking up the wrong tree.She’s a very attractive woman, but the long, blonde hair and perky tits spilling out from her shirt couldn’t be further from my best friend’s type.
Well, that and the vagina she most likely has between her legs.
Remi and I are similar in many ways—it’s one of the reasons we’re as close as we are—but he couldn’t be more my opposite in this department. See, where I’m bisexual and have always been more of anequal opportunistwhen it comes to who warms my bed, Remi’s preferences have always been a bit more…defined.He likes them tall, rugged, and all man. It’s why I’ve never been able to tell if he’s fucking with me as a twisted form of payback for his high school job when it comes to the weird little “crush” he has on my dad or if he’s serious. As disturbing as it is, Gentry Moore is definitely Remi’s type. I’ve always leaned more toward the former, though, mostly because the latter icks me out if I think about it for too long.
The Rusty Spur is a dive bar in town, and it’s one Remi and I frequent at least once a week. This place opened yearsback, when we first bought our Harley’s and started riding. Coming here after a ride has become somewhat of a tradition for us. We have a long-standing deal that whoever loses at pool that night pays the tab, which is why Remi’s so hellbent on me losing. The place is mostly empty tonight, save for us and the handful of regulars that are always here, but that’s not surprising given that it’s barely eight o’clock on a Wednesday night. A mix of country and classic rock music plays from the Jukebox in the back corner and the compact space is lit by the neon lights, basking the room in a calm, relaxed feel.
It’s the perfect setting to wind down after a long, hard day on the ranch.
Since we’re approaching breeding season, things have been busy while we make sure the cattle are ready. Finn, August, and I spent most of today vaccinating the herd and performing check-ups on all of them. It’s a hefty task to complete in one day. Add in how unusually warm it is for this time of year, and I was exhausted and ready to toss back a few cold ones by the time noon rolled around. Thankfully, Remi’s off today and tomorrow, so it worked out perfectly.
“Cap seems to be settling in nicely at the cabin,” Remi murmurs when it’s my turn to shoot.
“Haven’t seen him a whole lot,” I drawl, lining up my pool cue with the ball. It’s been a week since we helped Ford move. I’ve been meaning to beneighborlyand drop off some beer or something as a housewarming gift, but with our schedules, it hasn’t worked out in my favor. I sink two striped balls, my smirk wide as I peer over at my now-scowling friend.
“I’ve been tryin’ to convince him to get back out there,” Remi says before taking a swig of his beer.
Arching a brow, I ask, “Meanin’ sex?”
“Meanin’ datin’,” he corrects. “I think seein’ what’s out there could be good for him.”
“I think hot, meaningless sex would be a better route.”
Remi scoffs, and I can’t help but chuckle. “Not everybody is afraid of feelings like you are.”
“I’m notafraidof feelings,” I explain. “I just prefer to keep them out of my sex life.”
“Right, keep tellin’ yourself that.” Finishing what’s left of his beer, he holds up the glass and meets my gaze, brow lifting questioningly. “Want another?”
Nodding, I swallow down what’s left in mine before handing the empty glass to him. “Thanks, man.”
As soon as Remi walks away, I grab my phone from the breast pocket on my leather riding vest. I scan several notifications waiting for me, a grin curling my lips when I spot one from somebody who’s been on my mind more than I’d like to admit.
FireInMyVeins: Since we already talked about my dating history before, it only seems fair if you share a little bit about yours…
