Page 26 of Keepsakes and Kismet

Up close, his brother’s a couple inches shorter than Callum. Groomed hair and stockier, with beefy muscles in his arms. Callum certainly isn’t lean, but he’s long.

I laugh. “I’m not sure about crushed, but it was fun! Thanks.”

His brother shakes his head. “Nah, you looked great up there.”

Callum throws him a glare, but his brother’s smile grows wider in response.

“I’m Carter. And you are…”

“Peyton. Nice to meet you.” I grab my jacket from the table near the attendant and put it on.

I could tell Carter was staring at me earlier, his eyes wide. I just couldn’t tell if it was because he was interested in me, or if he was interested in his brother’s reaction to me. Now that I’m standing in front of him, I think it was the latter.

Carter tilts his head. “You know my brother?”

I shrug. “In the grand scheme of things, other than being acutely aware of his two biggest passions in life, I know very little about your brother. I’ve just seen him around, mostly.”

Amused delight floods Carter’s expression. “You know Cal’s two biggest passions in life?”

I nod solemnly. “Yep.”

“What are they?”

“Temperature zones and Sailor Moon.”

Carter bursts out laughing, clutching his stomach. I laugh, too, then turn to Callum to see if he’s in on the joke. Sure enough, a small grin appears on his face.

“Fuck you guys,” Callum mutters.

Carter points at me. “Oh, I like you. Do you work out?”

I bristle at his question. Ick. Maybe I was wrong about his lack of interest earlier.

Callum stares at my discomfort for a moment in confusion before his neck flushes scarlet. “Carter owns a gym. He’s asking because he owns a gym,” he sputters.

My shoulders relax. “Oh. Um, I don’t really work out on purpose. I mostly just walk around town.”

“Well, if you ever end up wanting to purposefully exercise, you should come to my gym. It’s just past Waterton city limits in Greyhouse. This guy shows up every morning at four thirty. You’re welcome to join us.”

The freckles on Callum’s face blend into the flush spreading across his cheekbones. “Carter…”

I shudder. I’m a morning person. Not an asscrack of dawn person.

“Absolutely not, sorry. But if you happen to change the time to eight and the location to a coffee house, let me know.”

Carter smirks. “Will do. Well, I’m gonna go get another drink, so I’ll leave you both to it, then.” He sets off to the bar, and the loud music starts to feel a bit quieter now that it’s just me and Callum.

Callum pushes his hair back from his forehead, teeming with nervous energy. “I don’t know what he meant by that, but⁠—”

“Hey, Peyton.” Eric appears next to me, and my posture straightens. “I thought you could say something into the microphone—wish the next rider luck. I’m going to get their name for you.”

“Howdy, Eric! Absolutely. I’d just love to wish’em well. Give ‘em that Texas charm.”

He nods and turns toward the operator to speak with the first rider in line. When I look back at Callum, he looks a shade away from bewildered. Oh, this is going to get him all worked up.

Callum squints. “Why are you talking like a country pirate?”

I fold my arms. “A pirate? For your information, it’s a skilled, niche southern accent that’s been very near and dear to my heart for the last thirty-six minutes.”