Page 85 of Fresh Tracks
After Josie left town to meet up with some friends in Oregon, I’ve finally been able to spend more time alone with Tommy. That night at the hot tub and that night in Seattle were good, but somehow it’s been even better now that we’re not trying to hide. He can’t keep his hands off me and I’m just as bad. I crave how he makes me feel cared for and safe, but alive and desired all at once. He’s every bit the man I thought he was and more.
It’s almost surreal how easy it has been to fall into a comfortable routine with him back in the town I grew up in. Even stopping into Cowgirl Coffee today takes me back to growing up here. Seeing Kelsey who I’d known for years before we moved to Utah just feels like a normal day.
“This storm system has been nuts,” Kelsey says from behind the counter, grabbing a pastry from the case. “I’m so glad I’m off on most Sundays because I’d lose it if I had to miss another powder day tomorrow. The long drive from Victor is bad enough.”
I think to myself just how lucky I am to have a flexible work schedule and a very, very forgiving boss.
Drink and snack in hand, I turn to make my way past everyone in line behind me toward the door. When I pass by a group of girls, I notice one lean into the other whispering. I don’t hear exactly what she says, but I definitely catch one thing. “Can you believe he’s dating her?”
My mind instantly goes to those days back in Utah, worrying that people saw me as something other than my authentic self. Clay’s little sister, the girl that survived the crash. I knew being with Tommy would come with baggage, but I haven’t given a second thought about this part. Does being with him mean being OK with everyone knowing me as Tommy Jacob’s girlfriend? There are certainly worse things I could be known for. I can’t think of a better man to be tied to like that. I’d be proud to be tied to him, but that still doesn’t mean I don’t have reservations about it though.
Distracted by that thought, I turn and nudge open the door with my boot and stop when I bump into someone.
“Oh, sorry about that. I’m kind of a klutz when I have my hands full.” My smile falters when I look up and see Veronica, probably on her way in for her second iced Honey Badger of the day.
The corners of her mouth lift into a genuinely warm, but weary smile.
“Hey, girl!” She wraps her arm around my shoulder in a one armed hug, careful to mind my full hands. We’re almost eye toeye and I remember that she’s nearly as tall as me. “It’s good to see you.”
I enjoy the short hug because I have wanted to see her, especially since we’ve both been back in town. She might be my new sister-in-law, but I’ve known her for practically my entire life since her grandparents were best friends with mine.
“We should get a drink or something soon.” I lean into her embrace and look up just in time to see my brother round the corner.
And there he is, the one thing in Jackson that hasn’t been great lately. He gives me a quick look and walks past us to get in line to order.
Veronica lets go of me and we both watch him walk by. I can see the sad, frustrated look in her eyes. She sighs. “I’ve been trying to work on him.”
I nudge her in the shoulder. “You’re as bad as Tommy. Don’t beat yourself up, it’s not your fault that he’s being an ass. He’ll get over it.”
She quirks a brow at me. “I mean, I did sort of blab to him about the picture on the blog. So, yeah it’s at least a teensy bit my fault.” She holds up her thumb and finger with the tiniest space between them.
“Well, I always wanted a sister so I’ll let that one slide. At least until Lizzy replaces you,” I say, bumping my elbow into hers.
“Thanks.” She smiles warmly back at me and this time I don’t see any of the weariness from before. “So you’re all good then?”
I nod, hardly able to contain my grin that even my moody brother can’t completely put a damper on. “Really good.”
“Well if we can’t get together soon, use the group chat. I know Lizzy and Kayleigh probably have just as many questions as I do. We need details, girl!”
I let out a short laugh. “Yeah. I'll do that.”
She starts to say something before the way too obvious sound of my brother clearing his throat interrupts us. She rolls her eyes. “Well, I better get back to working on him.”
“Just be you. He loves you and he’ll cave if he knows it matters to you.”
I knowVeronica is working on my brother, but that still doesn’t change that I’m annoyed and frustrated. He’s being an even more obnoxious, overly protective version of himself than he was when I was younger. I want him to trust me to take care of myself. I need him to understand that, but I also know I need to let go of feeling like I need his approval.
The only thing worse than that is the pain I feel because I am close with my brothers. I love talking to them and now that they know, all I want to do is share how happy I am with them. Clay has at least been texting me back and called me. Clay and I have always been closer since we’re only a year apart. We moved to Utah with Mom and Dad, but since Tanner is about eight years older, he stayed here in Wyoming.
I would love to be able to talk with Tanner, especially because he and Veronica are here in the same town. I guess that’s the curse of small towns though. There’s no hiding from someone in them, good or bad. I know we’ll eventually sort things out, but running into him today and having him basically ignore me still hurt. For being my oldest brother, he’s the one acting like a baby.
The whole situation has made me restless and I’m dealing with it the best way I know how: using my billionaire boyfriend’s very nice home gym. After finishing my tea and pastry, I went right to the walk-in closet in Tommy’s room, which I’m convinced is the size of my studio apartment in Utah, and changed into some spandex workout shorts and a sports bra.
Since getting back in town, we’ve spent every night in his room, and he let me use the extra space in his giant closet. He hasn’t been pushy about it. Instead, he’s just let things happen naturally and I adore him for it. Whenever he’d spot my laundry, he’d do it for me and put my clothes back away in his closet. Ever since that first night I fell asleep with him on the guesthouse couch watching music videos, I knew there was no place I’d rather be than wrapped in his arms.
When I walk into the gym and find him already there, sitting on the bench and lifting in the squat rack, I can’t control the grin that spreads across my face and the warmth that fills my chest. I slowly walk up behind him, admiring the view of him shirtless and his subtle muscles in all their glory — like I did the first time I found him in here. When I get closer, he looks up in the mirror and his eyes find mine. Even in the middle of his lift, his mouth opens into a boyish, toothy grin, showing off his dimples.
I stand behind him, watching him in the mirror while he finishes his set, practically bouncing on my feet between the restless frustration from dealing with my brother earlier and the electric anticipation I get whenever I’m around Tommy. When he finishes, he sets down his weights and cocks his head to each side, swaying his hair in a far too sexy way as he takes out his earbuds one by one.
