Page 3 of Never Really Over

I head inside, crack open a beer, and start the spiral.

I’m only twenty-two years old and I have an entire lifetime ahead of me that doesn’t include Layla Belk. Something tells me, though, that when it comes to Layla and me? It’s never really over.

Chapter One

Colt – Twelve Years Later

CountOn Me

I look downat the newborn sleeping soundly then to my sister when she says, “He’s perfect.”

I nod. “I know. I can’t stop staring. His adorable little nose. And he smells so damn good.”

My sister Natalie wrinkles her nose. “I’ve never understood that. How can a cow smell good?”

I give her a look and point to the little guy. “They just do. I don’t judge you for how you smell.” I wrinkle my nose, mimicking her, teasing.

She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “You’re such a jerk. I’m not the one who’s covered in newborn calf goo.”

I wink, offering up a cheeky grin because I could care less if she thinks I stink after helping this little calf make his way into the world, then reach over, grabbing my nine-month old niece from her arms, despite the fact that I’m covered in newborn calf goo, as my sister called it. “Did you hear that, Tootsie Pop? Your mama’s callin’ your favorite guy mean names.”

My niece Poppy reacts by slapping me in the cheeks and squealing in happiness. Not exactly the reaction I was hoping for, but then again, she’s nine months old. I don’t expect a whole lot more out of her.

“Her father might argue with you about the whole favorite guy thing.”

“Oh, please,” I scoff. “He knows what’s up.” I shift my focus to Poppy and coo. “Isn’t that right, Tootsie Pop? Your dada is just dreaming if he thinks you like him more than me.”

Poppy giggles and plants a wet kiss on the apple of my cheek. Not sure if she was aiming for my eye or nose but she definitely slobbered all over me. It’s weird that I don’t care, even though it’s pretty gross.

“See?”

Natalie shakes her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

I offer her a beaming smile in response and let the new mama and baby calf do their thing, guiding Natalie and Poppy out of the barn. “Let’s get you some of your mama’s milk like the new calf,” I tell her as she leans her head on my shoulder. I look at my sister behind me and she gives me a soft smile.

Once we’re back inside my house, the house I grew up in and bought from my parents’ when Dad retired from farming and moved to Texas, I hand Poppy back over to Natalie and she settles in the oversized chair, drapes a blanket over her chest, and begins to nurse Poppy. While she does that, I fill a glass for each of us with ice water and grab a box of crackers and some cheese slices.

“Brought a snack for you, too,” I joke.

“Thank goodness. I’m seriously famished,” Natalie sighs. “I don’t remember the last time I ate.”

Frowning, I hand her the plate of cheese and box of crackers, setting the water on the end table next to her.

“Why?”

She looks down at Poppy and back up at me, adjusting the blanket to make sure I don’t see any of her breast. A woman nursing doesn’t bother me, but seeing my sister’s bare breast is a little more than I want to deal with etched into my memories. “Nursing is wiping me out. She eats a lot of regular food, too, obviously, but, I don’t know… I’m just tired.”

“Mason’s not helping?” I ask about my brother-in-law, a scowl etched on my face.

She takes a drink of her water and places it back on the table. “He is, but he isn’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’m the one who has to feed her so there’s no sense in both of us waking up in the middle of the night if she does happen to wake up. But she sleeps through the night mostly anyway.”

“Middle of the night feedings isn’t the only thing you have going on, though. There’s more to parenting than feeding her.”

She nods. “I know. I guess it’s been a little tough in other ways, too.”

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