Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
The cowboys stroll into the house behind me, stopping only to flick on the lights and I’m again amazed at how handsome Cason and Colt are. Their dark hair gleams in the low lamps, and those bronzed features are harsh. Yet they soften when they look at me in the dim foyer.
“We didn’t want to freak you out,” Cason says.
“We figured you wouldn’t come if you knew,” Colt rasps. “Would you have?”
I think for a moment.
“No, because that was a family event and you can’t just spring that on someone! I genuinely thought we were going to meet up with all the other ranch hands at a community block party. But that was totally a private family thing, seeing that it was your niece’s birthday.”
“And isn’t Josie the cutest thing?” Colt winks while leading me to the kitchen. “Can I get you a drink, darlin’?” he asks while peering into the fridge.
I shake my head before seating myself at the enormous marble island.
“No, because I had so many frozen margaritas that I’m probably up to here with tequila now,” I say, waving my palm at about neck length. “But seriously, Colt and Cason, what was that about? Were you pranking me because I’m the new girl? I think I deserve an answer.”
With that, the twins nod and take seats next to me at the countertop. They have cold Coronas in their hands and are oddly calm, given the magnitude of their boo-boo because what the hell? Why did they parade me around at their niece’s birthday like I was their girlfriend?
But Cason takes a sip of his drink and then grins at me, flashing that movie star smile.
“Well, as you know, my brother and I have particular tastes,” he begins.
“Which include sharing women,” Colt finishes in a smooth tone. “We shared you that night at the Starlight Saloon, and actually, it’s our preferred way of dating. To some people, threesomes are fucked up but it’s what we like, and the women generally love it. The ladies can’t get enough, actually.”
I stare at them.
“Wait a minute, hold on. Are we dating? I know you didn’t specify our relationship to your family, but I thought we were just “friends.” Or more accurately, employer and employee. Okay, what’s going on?” I demand with an exasperated exhale, wisps of golden hair puffing up around my face. “I’m totally lost now, and even more than before.”
The cowboys nod, their eyes going a deeper shade of blue while they take in my features.
“These are good questions, Kiki, and my brother and I have been headed in this direction for a while now,” Colt states in a calm tone. “I’m not sure what you were able to glean from a couple hours with our fam, but the Madewells are conservative. Like deep red state, red-blooded, gun-toting conservatives. As in they are staunchly pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, anti-vax and pro-family values.”
“Okay,” I say, realization dawning in my head. “You’re saying that they’re also one man, one woman folks, aren’t they? And they don’t know about your lifestyle.”
Cason shrugs his broad shoulders.
“They don’t. It’s been two decades now and we’ve never let on because you can imagine the shitshow that would ensue. The Madewells have been preaching that marriage is for one man and one woman for a lifetime now, and you can see how our choices would severely undermine their value system. It would cause a massive rift among our relatives, and likely lead to our ostracization.”
“Your family would do that to you?” I ask incredulously. “They’d never talk to you again because you like to date the same woman?”
Colt shrugs, his expression ineffably sad for a moment.
“It’s not a small thing,” he states in a somber tone. “People have been estranged for less. People have been shut out because their gay partner wanted to appear in the family photo. Or both brides wore white dresses to their City Hall ceremony. Hell, some LGBTQ folks can’t even order wedding cakes because they’re celebrating a queer union.”
I nod slowly.
“Yes, I heard of that case. Masterpiece Cake Shop, right? And I think the bakery won. But still. To ostracize your own sons because they have different dating habits seems draconian.”
Colt smiles sadly again.
“Listen, our mother and father were the ones who decided to build their own float back in the day for the local Fourth of July parade. My mom wore her wedding dress, and our dad wore his wedding suit. You can guess the theme of their appearance: God intended marriage to be between one man and one woman, and the Madewells’ union was created in that image.”
“I see,” I murmur softly. “So your family has a long history of traditional marriage. But let me ask you this: what changed? Why did you decide to bring me around today?”
The twins share a look.