“Yes.”
“How many times?”
“Once or twice.”
“I bet that shit ain’t bigger than mine.”
I looked him dead in his face. “Yes, Marlon. Yours is bigger.”
He grabbed the fabric of my pants and pulled me in.“Good. But don’t think I didn’t catch that slick shit.”
I laughed, trying to push him off.
He was grinning now as his hands went to my sides, fingers digging in. “You think it’s funny?”
“No! No, I don’t!”
“Then why you laughing?”
I couldn’t stop, twisting away from him, and ending up on the ground trying to break free.
“Stop! Stop!”
“Tap out.”
“I tap! I tap!”
“Bosses?”
Marlon stopped instantly, and I used the chance to stumble away, breathless and laughing.
Patch stood a few feet away, holding Chewy in one hand with Spades’ reins in the other as the horse stood beside him, both of them covered in dirt.
“Am I interrupting something?” Patch tilted his head at us.
“Nah. Nah.” Marlon cleared his throat, stepping back. “What’s up?”
“These two got into the new soil we turned up. Dug it right up.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
I walked over quickly, scooping Chewy up.
“Chew Toy! I can’t take yo ass anywhere!”
Marlon grabbed Spades’ reins, shaking his head. Spades shifted under Marlon’s hold, still restless from the mess he and Chewy had just made.
“Y’all need a hose off.”
“They ain’t the only ones.” Patch gestured between Marlon and I, both of us covered in dirt from rolling around.
Marlon glanced down at himself, then back at me.
“Yeah.” He nodded toward the path back. “We better ride up. Come on.”
Marlon clicked his tongue lightly and tightened his grip on the reins. He swung up first then reached a hand down toward me without looking, like he didn’t care if I took it or not.
