AllFreeNovel
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Theo: No. I’ll do better.
Laney: The wedding video went viral thanks to you.
Theo: Crushing it. Proud of you.
Laney: US. It wouldn’t be the same without you.
Pause…
Theo: You’re only an hour and a half away. I can come home early.
Laney: You can’t, your parents’ anniversary party is this weekend. And your sisters keep threatening to come down. Give them a good dose of you so they won’t threaten you anymore.
Theo: You can come here.
Laney: Can’t leave Momma alone. It’s our first real holiday without Gran. We’re going to Black Friday in a few hours.
Theo: I just shed a tear for your mother. Like a real one.
Theo sent a photo.
Laney: Stop. I just totally got sad.
Theo: Adulting can suck it.
Laney: I miss you, too.
Theo: Happy Thanksgiving, Laney
Laney: Happy Thanksgiving, Houseman. (blows kiss emoji)
#turkeyday #stuffed #facetimeselfie #livingourrealestlife #imalittlebitcountryhesawholelotrockandroll
Theo
Yell night. Another Grand tradition. The band’s required to show up to the pre-game pep rally and I must admit with my new nighttime distraction, I’m finding it harder and harder not to skip out. I have a thousand other things I’d rather be doing than playing for half a stadium full of die-hard Ranger fans. Like spelling the alphabet between Laney’s legs while she begs for mercy. While Troy and the rest of his team stand on the field facing the bleachers next to the ring leaders, I sit with Zach and the rest of the band at the top row of our section, belting out old chants in between playing fight songs to gear up for one of the last games of the season.
The Rangers had a good run but missed a shot at a championship due to their last few losses. And as much as I hate to admit it, I’m happy about it because it means I get to spend more time with Laney, rather than the next few weeks practicing day and night for a college bowl half-time show.
When I had texted h
er earlier, she told me she was shopping tonight for a red Toyota, and so I hadn’t asked her to come. I know she needs the money, and I could never guilt her for paying her own way just to fulfill the tradition of a midnight kiss. I’m not at all comfortable with the dangerous part of her job, but I know if I try to say anything at this point, it will pose the question of what rights I have, or if I have any say at all. I’m not about to stick my head under that guillotine, yet. We’re way too new. Still, I hate it. My first instinct has always been to protect her, even though she’d refuse it.
Though her schedule is insane, she’s attended most of the home games to support me, with or without Devin, which I know is a big step for her. More often than not, we skip the parties or crowds of any kind to spend all of our time together, alone.
No part of me feels like I’ve been missing out on anything.
Except for tonight, when the lights go out.
The top of the hour is fast approaching, as I face facts that this will be yet another Yell night that I don’t have anyone to kiss when the clock strikes midnight. The time when we’re granted with a full minute to put our relationship status on public display. Some part of me is dying to claim her, but I know better than to back her into that corner, not when dealing with a gypsy heart.
This is one Grand tradition that can make a lone Ranger feel like a bag of dicks, which has always been the case for me. Nora never bothered to come to a single Yell night, her Friday nights with her girls far too important to miss than a show of devotion for me.
But the truth of the matter is, I’m not alone. And I don’t need to take part in this tradition to know it. I’ve got a pint-sized terrorist in boots who is constantly reminding me we’re in, whatever it is we have going, together.
Zach blows warm breath in his hands as we freeze our balls off in wait for another cue to play.
“Lindsey here tonight?”
