Page 107 of Rainbow Rodeo

“Jesus, Dalton. He needs to get kicked out.” Tank was riled, but now he thought it wasn’t at him.

He knew, but he had no idea how to do that. It was bad enough that Deb and Dustin knew….

“I can run him off.” The offer was gentle.

“I’m so embarrassed. I just want to go home.”

“Okay. You want me to tell your folks?” Tank slid one hand down his arm to take his hand.

“Nope. Bubba will. He knows how I feel.”

“I’ll text him, though.” Tank tugged him out the front side of his parents’ house so they didn’t have to see anyone. “He can blame my leg if he needs to.”

“He’ll do whatever.” Bubba had his back.

“Okay.” They walked to the truck hand in hand, Tank falling quiet.

“I’m sorry.” God, he was going home and drinking himself under the table.

“About what?” Tank opened the door for him, brushing against him.

“That he’s a fuck.”

“I am too, baby.” Tank climbed up in the driver’s side but didn’t start the truck right off. “I’m gonna say something, and I don’t want you to get mad at me.”

“I’ll do my dead-level best.”

A grin curled the corner of Tank’s lips. “We got to learn to tell each other the hard stuff if we’re gonna do this.”

“I know.” He knew, but…. He wasn’t even sure how to explain.

“I mean me too. I should have told you how bad I was hurting. You don’t need my ex texting you.”

“Why… why did y’all break up?”

Tank headed down the driveway, toward home, and every yard they moved away from Rocket made Dalton feel better.

“Me and Buick? Because we were friends with benefits. We weren’t serious.”

“You sure he knows y’all weren’t serious?” Dalton teased.

“I think so. We used to travel together. Before we slept together, I mean. I think he misses me.” Tank chuckled. “He’s a good guy.”

Dalton nodded. He got that. Tank was the most interesting son of a bitch he knew.

“Anyway, I want us to be able to tell each other anything.” Tank finally looked over at him, face serious. “I know we got a ways to go, though, and I’m sorry I snapped.”

“I just… I’m…. God, I’m so embarrassed.”

Tank got them moving at a faster clip, as if he knew it would be easier to talk while Tank had to look at the road. “I can imagine way worse than reality, I bet.”

“He never harmed me. Not, like, physically.”

“Well, I reckon I would have to beat him down if he did.” Tank reached over to touch his leg.

“He says….” Dalton sighed and shook his head. “He just made me feel… I don’t know.”

“What did he bitch about the most?”

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