I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants. “Let’s just go home. I need to get some things together before we head into Austin. ”
“Is Reed going? God, please tell me he isn’t going, too. ”
“Um…Layton mentioned both Reed and Kevin, and he did say it was a guys’ night out, so I’m sure Reed will be with him. ”
“Ugh, shit! He gets on my nerves. He has no damn sense of humor. ”
“Court, I think he’s just never met anyone like you before. I mean, did you see his face when you said Blow Pops were your favorite lollipop? I thought he was going to pass out!”
We both started laughing again.
Court started saying all this shit about Reed, and I couldn’t stop laughing.
“Oh shit! I think I might have just peed in my pants!”
Courtney hit the brakes, and I was slammed back into my seat by the seat belt.
Fuck! My ribs were still killing me from when Roger had kicked them.
“What in the hell, Court!”
“Get out!”
I looked at her, shocked. “What?”
“Get the hell out of my truck, pissy-pants. ”
“Oh my God, you freak! I didn’t really piss in my pants. You’re insane, do you know that?”
“Sorry, I might have panicked just a little. ”
“A little, Court? More like a lot!”
We drove the rest of the way home almost in silence. I could tell she was deep in thought—about what, I didn’t know. I thought back to my short ride with Layton on the horses. I wasn’t sure what it was that had me thinking about him, but I couldn’t get him out of my mind.
Maybe I shouldn’t go to dinner with him?
Every time I was around him, I needed to remind myself that we were only friends.
Friends. Just friends. Nothing more…ever.
Chapter Ten: Layton
I sat at my kitchen island and listened to Kevin and Reed talking. My mind kept drifting back to the horse race with Whitley. I hadn’t been the least bit surprised she could ride as well as she had. I knew deep down inside she had a bit of a country girl in her. I smiled, thinking of the look on her face when I’d called her cowgirl and how she’d clearly enjoyed it.
“Layton? Hello? Earth to Layton?” Reed was snapping his damn fingers in my face.
I pushed his hands away and stood.
“What in the hell are you thinking about?” Reed asked.
“It’s more like, who are you thinking about?” Kevin asked with a smile.
“I’m thinking about the horse Lucky talked to me about earlier. Looks like I’m going to Kentucky to buy me a new racehorse. ”
“Shit. I wish I were out of the corps. I’d totally go with you. That was the one thing I loved about Mike being…” Kevin stopped talking as he looked away and then back at me.
I smiled. “Kev, you can talk about him. I want to talk about him. He’ll always be a part of our lives. ”