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“He’s got to get out of there,” Ted argued. “Maybe he can come here.” He looked at Nate with pure hope shining in his soul. “Petition the judge that his wife abandoned the children, and he can get them, and come here.”
“Teddy.” Nate shook his head. “You’re here, and Ginger can’t have more than one inmate in the program.”
“I could go back in.”
Nate shook his head. “Nope. I see you, Teddy. I knew you’d react exactly this way. And no. I worked dang hard to get you here, and just because you don’t like working from sunup to sundown doesn’t mean you can get Dallas to trade places with you.” He grinned and nodded his cowboy hat in the general direction of the West Wing. “Besides, what are you going to tell your girlfriend? Hey, I’m—”
“First off,” Ted said, his voice way too loud under this night sky. “She isnotmy girlfriend.” He lowered his voice and glanced around, as if there might be reporters there, waiting to pounce on this juicy story.
“You knew who I was talking about,” Nate said.
“Duh,” Ted hissed. He turned back to the house and strode away from Nate, his heart pounding now for some unknown reason. “We’ll go to Family Weekend,” he said. “And I’m going to try to call Dallas tomorrow.”
“Come on,” Nate said behind him, but Ted pulled open the door and went inside. Air conditioning drifted over his face and arms, relaxing him, and the scent of something brown and roasted filled his nose.
Jack stood at the stove, turning as Ted and Nate’s boots hit the hard floor. “Carne asada tacos,” he said.
“Bless you,” Ted said as his stomach growled. Not only would he get fed, but he wouldn’t have to continue the conversation about his “girlfriend” with Nate.
* * *
The next morning,Ted woke as the first rays of sunshine lit his window. He’d had a very hard time falling asleep, his anticipation keeping him mentally awake long after his body had collapsed into bed.
His mother was coming today. In fact, she’d be on the ranch in a few hours.
Excitement mingled with nervous energy, and he got up and into the shower. Afterward, with a towel tucked around his waist, he looked at himself in the mirror. Emma’s words circled through his mind, and he reached for his razor.
After making sure his beard was exactly right, he brushed his teeth and actually plucked a few errant hairs from his eyebrows. Nate knocked on the other door, calling, “Connor needs to use the bathroom.”
Ted opened the door, and the little boy streaked inside. “Hey,” he said to Nate, the two of them eye-to-eye in height. “Would you cut my hair this morning?”
“You already showered.”
“I’ll shower again,” he said. He didn’t need to say he wanted to look good for his mother. He didn’t need to ever tell Nate he was going to present himself perfectly and pretend he was happy.
Hewashappy.
Happier than he’d been in years and years. Hope Eternal Ranch was far superior to the River Bay FCI, and Ted merely needed to smooth over his nerves with a smile and clean-cut look.
That was all.
“Sure thing,” Nate said. “Let me get the kit. Meet you in the kitchen after you get dressed?”
Ted swallowed as he nodded, and the two separated. Ted didn’t bother with what he was actually going to wear that day; he simply put on gym shorts and went into the kitchen. Nate snapped the drape around his neck and got to work.
Ten minutes later, Nate brushed Ted’s shoulders and proclaimed, “You’re done.”
“Thanks, brother,” Ted said as Nate unsnapped the drape. Ted turned toward Nate, and their eyes met.
“I’m sorry about what I said last night,” Nate said.
“I’m sorry I got mad about it.”
“Oh, you weren’t mad.” Nate grinned, and Ted grabbed onto him and clapped him on the shoulders.
“I wasn’t mad,” Ted said, holding onto his brother and best friend. “I just don’t know what’s going on with Emma.”
“I know,” Nate whispered. He stepped back and cleared his throat. “I know, but you’ll figure it out.”
