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Me: So, when do you want to do our official date?
Casey: Today was our date. Wasn’t it?
Me: You’re not understanding. I want us to have an actual, proper date.
I watch the three little dots appear and disappear for a few minutes.
Casey: You should know that I’m not much fun.
Me: ??
Casey: I mean, I’m not the kind of woman you’re used to. I don’t…put out on the first date.
Me: I wouldn’t expect that of you.
Casey: Seeing as you are going back on the rodeo circuit in a matter of days, you can see how I would assume you are down for casual sex.
Me: I don’t sleep around despite what my persona implies. I just want to spend time with you and see where it leads.
Casey: As long as you don’t expect this to lead to sex, mister.
Me: I hope it will lead to good conversation, friendship, and maybe more. What do I expect? I expect nothing.
Casey: Fair enough. See you tomorrow night.
Me: If not sooner.
Casey: What does that mean?
Me: That’s for me to know and you to find out.
Casey: You are impossible.
I let her have the last word because she likes to have the last word, and it doesn’t matter to me either way.
The only thing that matters is spending as much time as possible with Casey before returning to the rodeo life — the life I’m starting to dread.
ChapterSeven
Casey
I wake up the following morning to someone knocking insistently on my front door.
Joy is off today, so I’m alone. I carefully reach for my baseball bat in case I need to scare somebody off. I don’t get visitors at five AM. When I open the door, I instantly clutch my robe closed. On my front step is Tanner, looking bright-eyed and holding two large coffee cups and a bag from the bakery. He thrusts one of the coffees out to me.
“Tanner, what are you doing here?”
“I came to work.”
“Are you stuck in Groundhog Day? That was yesterday,” I say.
“Are you going to let me in, or do I drink both?”
I can’t argue with anyone before I’ve had my coffee, so I open the door and let him in.
“Joy’s off today, so you’ll have to fend for yourself for breakfast.”
Tanner sets down his coffee and the bag in the kitchen.
