“Reed, you feel so good.”
“What do you want me to do, Court?” he whispered in my ear.
“Please…move, Reed…God, please move,” I begged.
Reed pulled out some and then slammed back in, causing me to let out a moan so loud that I was sure everyone within a mile could hear it.
“I’d do anything for you,” Reed said as he fucked me hard and fast against the tree.
I never wanted this moment to end. Being with Reed was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. I loved it more than anything when he made sweet, passionate love to me, but when he made love to me like this—fast and hard, like he just couldn’t get deep enough inside me—it drove me insane with desire.
I began to feel my orgasm building, and I couldn’t hold back when it hit.
“Reed…I’m coming.” I could hardly breathe. Every inch of my body felt like it was pulsing. “Holy shit! I can’t…oh God…oh God!” This had to be the longest orgasm in the history of orgasms.
I could feel myself squeezing Reed, and the way he was saying my name over and over was more than I could take. Right as I started coming down, I felt him getting bigger.
He pulled out and slammed into me again as he cried out with his release. “Courtney…oh God, baby, I’m coming. Feels…so…fucking…good.”
“Yes,” was all I could manage to get out.
I wasn’t sure how long we stood up against that tree. I could feel him twitching inside me as I held him closer to me. Nothing felt as amazing as having Reed inside me. Each time after we’d made love and he had pulled out, I would feel like I was missing a part of me.
“Don’t move. Please…I just want to stay like this forever,” I whispered.
“I love you so damn much, Courtney. That felt…”
We both said at the same time, “Amazing.”
I giggled and pulled back to look at him. “Will it always be like this? This incredible, this hot?”
He smiled as he nodded. “I’ll do everything in my power to always make it this way. Being with you, Courtney…” He shook his head and grinned bigger. “I just don’t even know the words to say how it feels when I’m making love to you.”
I closed my eyes to keep the tears back. I opened them and looked into his eyes. “I feel the same way, Reed. I hate that we wasted so much time by being so stubborn and fighting our feelings for each other. If we had only known how we would lead each other out of the dark…”
Reed pushed a piece of hair behind my ear and whispered, “And into the brightest light ever where there is nothing but love and hope for the rest of lives.”
I choked back my sob and said, “I’ve never felt so whole in my life.”
“Marry me, Courtney.”
I chortled and said, “Nothing would make me happier than to be your wife, and I’m pretty sure I already said yes.”
Reed leaned his forehead against mine, and I could almost feel all of the guilt, anger, hurt, and fear leaving his body.
He slowly pulled out of me, leaving me with that familiar empty feeling. “We better head back.”
As we started to make our way back, I had the most remarkable feeling wash over my whole body.
For the first time since I was sixteen years old, I was finally walking toward the light.
I pulled my truck up and parked behind Layton’s. He had called me this morning, asking me to meet him, because he had something he had to do and didn’t want to be alone for it.
As I walked into the barn, I saw Layton in Blazin’ Dreams’s stall. “Hey, dude. How’s he doing?”
Layton turned and looked at me with the biggest shit-eating grin ever. “I think this big guy is going to make some serious money. Lucky just brought him back this morning. His first race is in a month.”
I walked up to the horse and smiled. “He sure is one beautiful boy, isn’t he?”
Layton nodded his head as he gave the horse a few pats on the side, and then he began walking out of the stall. He ran his hand through his hair and reached down into a cooler to grab a beer. “Want one?”
“Sure, I’ll take one.”
Layton tossed me one and sat down on a bench.
I opened up the beer and took a quick drink before sitting down next to him. We sat there for a good two minutes in silence.
“Talk to me, Layton.”
He reached into his back pocket, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to me. I took one look at it and knew what it was.
“The letter?” I asked as I looked over at him.
“Yep. He asked that I not read it until I found out I was going to be a father. I guess that means I have to read it now.”
“You haven’t read it yet?” I asked as I watched the pain fill his eyes. I hadn’t seen that in his eyes for some time now, and it gutted me to see it there again. I glanced down at the letter in my hands. Shit. What in the world did his father write to him?
“Nope, I can’t bring myself to read it, Reed. I can’t. I need you to read it to me.”
I snapped my head over at him and dropped my mouth open. “Huh? You want me to read it to you? Layton…I’m not sure…”
Layton stood up and downed his beer. “I’m well on my way to getting drunk, Reed. I was short with Whitley this morning, and I ended up walking out after a fight. I have been in this damn barn ever since. I had Lucky bring me a couple of twelve packs of beer. I can’t do this alone. I can’t read it.”
When I saw the tears filling his eyes, I jumped up and walked over to him. “Layton, you’re married to the woman you’re going to spend the rest of your life with. You’re going to be a father, and you and I both know that you will be a damn good dad. Nothing in this letter will change any of that. Do you understand that?”
He slowly nodded his head and gave me a weak smile. “This is why you’re my best friend. I need you to do it though. I need to know what he wanted to say to me and why he felt like he had to wait until I was going to be a father.”
I turned and sat back down on the bench as I began to open the letter. I took a deep breath and looked up at Layton. “You ready?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
I cleared my throat and began to read the words Layton’s father had written down on paper.
I looked up at Layton and had to catch my breath. He was leaning against a stall…crying. I quickly wiped away the tear slowly making its way down my face. I waited a few minutes before I said anything.
“Layton? You okay?” I asked as I stood up.
He looked at me and slowly smiled as he nodded his head. “Yeah, I’m more than okay. That’s all I ever wanted, Reed. I only wanted him to say he was sorry and that he loved us.” He looked down and kicked the dirt. “That’s all I ever wanted,” he whispered again.
I walked up to him, grabbed him, and pulled him in for a hug. “I love you like a brother, Layton. I’m always here for you.”
“I know, Reed. Thank you for always being there for me. It means more to me than you know. You know I love you like a brother, too.”
“Am I interrupting some bonding time here with you two pussies?” Kevin said from behind us.
After slapping each other’s backs harder than we needed to, Layton and I stepped back and shook hands as we smiled at each other.
“Fuck off, Kevin,” I said as I handed Layton the letter.
He pushed it into his back pocket and started laughing. “You want a beer, Kevin?” Layton asked as he reached into the cooler and pulled one out.
“Hell yeah, I do. So, what’s going on? I got your text, Layton, saying you had something to tell me. I rushed over, but I’m not so sure I want to know what it is after walking in on the two of you…sharing a moment.” He rolled his eyes and then let out a chuckle.
I laughed as I sat down on the bench and downed my beer. I glanced up, and the smile on Layton’s face had me smiling. I knew exactly what he was going to tell Kevin—Whitley was pregnant.
“I’ve got some good news, dude, bu
t you can’t tell Whit that I told you,” Layton said.
I started laughing. He’s worse than a girl.
“Oh, hell no. I don’t want that girl getting mad at me. You just keep your secret to yourself until the girl says you can spill the beans on whatever it is.”
Layton shrugged his shoulders and sat down next to me. “Okay, but Reed knows.”
Kevin was about to take a drink of his beer but stopped right at his lips. “Reed knows the secret you’re not supposed to be telling?”
I nodded my head and laughed. “Yep, I sure do. It’s a good one, too.”
Kevin dropped his head back and let out a sigh before looking back at Layton. “Shit. I promise not to tell Whitley you told me. What’s the damn secret?”
Layton smiled bigger, if that were even possible, and said, “Whit is pregnant.”
Kevin slapped his leg, jumped, and yelled out, “Damn, I knew it! When I just saw her, she looked different! She looked so happy. Ah hell, Layton.”
He walked over toward Layton as he stood up. They shook hands and then hugged quickly before Kevin pushed Layton back. Layton threw his head back and laughed.
“Congratulations, dude. You must be over the moon,” Kevin said.
“Oh, man, you have no idea. I’ve never been this happy before in my life. I honestly don’t think I could be any happier,” Layton said with a goofy-ass grin on his face.
“This is the best news. Y’all, we need to celebrate this shit!” Kevin said.
“Celebrate what?”
All three of us turned to see Whitley and Courtney standing there. The moment I saw Courtney, my stomach did that same damn funny thing it had been doing for the last year.
This girl drives me crazy.
“Uh…” Layton said as he looked at me and then at Kevin, willing one of us to help him out.
I glanced over toward Whitley, who now had her hands on her hips with her head tilted, giving Layton a look. Courtney was trying to hold in her laughter as she looked everywhere but at us.
“Layton, did you tell them? You promised,” Whitley said with a little bit of a whiny voice.
“You told Courtney,” Layton said.
I closed my eyes and waited.
“Reed Nickolas Moore, you weren’t supposed to say anything!” Courtney said.
I peeked over at Courtney, only to see Whitley staring at her now.
“You told Reed?” Whitley asked Courtney.
“Um…wait, this is not about me. This is about Layton telling all of his friends and planning a party to celebrate,” Court said as she pointed to Layton.
“Hey!” Layton said as he pointed to Kevin. “The party was his idea.”
Kevin began laughing as he walked over to Whitley. He grabbed her and spun her around. “Girl, congratulations. Now, let’s get down to business. We have a damn party to plan.”
Whitley smiled and then looked at me and winked. “We have more than one reason to celebrate.”
Kevin stepped back and looked around at everyone, stopping at Courtney. “Is someone else pregs?”
Courtney and I both said, “No!”
Whitley grabbed Courtney’s hand and held it up, showing the engagement ring. Court and I had decided not to tell anyone at the barbeque yesterday.
“Holy shit.” Kevin turned and looked at me with a stunned expression on his face. His mouth dropped open. “Reed, you’re getting married to my girl?”
Courtney started laughing as she made her way over to me.
I grabbed her and pulled her next to me. “I’m afraid I am, dude. You moved too slow.”
Kevin looked down at Courtney and then back at me. He shook his head and stuck out his hand. “Damn, y’all. It’s about fucking time.”
I reached for his hand, and he pulled me in for a hug.
He leaned in toward my ear and whispered, “I’m so happy for you, Reed.” He slapped me on the back and stepped back, and then he looked down at Courtney. Kevin pulled her into a hug and said, “Damn, girl, I thought we had something. I guess I’ll let you go, but only because I love this guy like a brother. I’m happy the two of you finally got your shit together.”
Laughing, Courtney punched him in the stomach.
“So,” Kevin said, looking around at everyone, “pontoon party?”
Layton started laughing. “Babe, you feel up to it?”
Whitley smiled and nodded her head. “Why not? We have a lot to celebrate.”
Courtney jumped up and down, kissed me quickly on the cheek, and headed back to the house with Whitley.
Kevin slapped me on the back again, and then he reached for Layton and pulled him over to us. “All right, my brothers, let’s make this the best damn pontoon party ever.”
I smiled as I looked at Layton. He seemed happy, really happy, and I was glad that his father had given him what he finally needed to completely move on.
As we were about to make our way out of the barn, Layton pulled me back. “Hey, Kev, I’m gonna talk to Reed for just a couple of minutes. We’ll meet you back up at the house.”
“Sure thing. I’ll start making some calls,” Kevin said as he turned and walked out of the barn.
I peered over at Layton, who now had a serious look on his face.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
I smiled and nodded my head. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You and Courtney just started dating, Reed. You don’t think y’all are moving too fast with the engagement?”
For some reason, Layton asking me that instantly pissed me off. “I’ve been in love with her for much longer than a few months, Layton. No, I don’t think we are moving too fast. I’d marry her tomorrow if I thought she would.”
The smile that spread across his face caused me to smile.
“That’s all I needed to hear. You know I love you like a brother, and I love Court like a sister. I just want y’all both to be happy.” He looked down and then back up at me as he kicked the ground. “You doing okay after running into your dad? Wesley told me that it kind of threw you for a loop.”
I rolled my eyes and silently cursed my sister. She always ran to Layton anytime she thought I was having a rough go of things. I knew she’d had a thing for Layton years ago, and she had used it as an excuse to talk to him more than anything, but now, this running-to-him shit was getting old.
I shrugged my shoulders and quickly looked away. I thought back to what Courtney had said to me, and I grinned slightly. I looked back up at Layton. “I’m good. I’ll admit that some things from my past crept up on me, but I talked to Courtney, and”—I let out a small chuckle—“we worked everything out. It just hit me, Layton. It was the right time to ask her.”
Layton nodded his head. “It’s just that you talked about asking her at Christmas, so this sudden engagement came as a surprise. I’m happy for you though, Reed. You know I am.”
I nodded and slapped him on the back. “Layton, I’ve never been so sure of something in my entire life. Courtney is my entire world. I don’t even want to imagine my life without her in it.”
The smile that spread across Layton’s face told me he knew exactly how I felt.
“Let’s go throw the best damn pontoon party ever. I’m going to be a father. Holy shit,” Layton said as he shook his head and laughed.
“God help the future generation of girls if you have a boy.”
As we walked toward the house, a strange feeling hit me. It was almost a panicked feeling that something bad was going to happen.
Courtney walked up to me with that beautiful smile of hers. “Are you all right?” she asked as she tilted her head and looked at me.
“Yeah, I’ve never been better. Ready to tell everyone that you’re mine and officially off the market?”
She jumped up and down and let out a little squeal. “Hell yeah, I am!”
I picked her up and swung her around in a circle before setting her down. I kissed the tip of her nose and then said, “Let’s go make it o
fficial.”
I looked around and let out a sigh. I could not believe how many people were at this party.
“Gesh, when these boys throw a party, I think the whole damn countryside shows up,” I said as I glanced over at Whitley, who was looking out at the makeshift dance floor.
I turned, and the first thing I saw was Kevin holding Kate while he was dancing with Jen. “You know what I think? I think Kevin and Jen would make a cute couple. What do you think?” I asked Whitley.
I looked back at Whitley. She was still peering out at the dance floor, but this time, she had a very pissed-off look on her face. My heart started pounding, and I was wondering who she was looking at.
Olivia? Maybe even Anna?
I didn’t want to look, but I followed Whit’s eyes, only to find Layton dancing with Wesley, Reed’s sister. They were both laughing about something, but the way Wesley was looking at Layton seemed a little off to me. It was almost like she—oh shit.
I walked and stood in front of Whitley, breaking her eye contact with them. “Earth to Whitley. Did you hear what I said about Kevin and Jen? Don’t you think they would make a cute couple?”
Whitley peeked around my shoulder and whispered, “That bitch.”
I quickly turned to see Wesley embracing Layton a little too close. Layton quickly moved back, creating more distance between the two of them.
“Whitley…” I said with that motherly tone my mother would use on me right before I was ready to lose my shit on someone.
Whitley quickly looked into my eyes. “Spill it,” she said.
I gave her a confused look. “Spill what?”
Placing her hands on her hips, she tilted her head and gave me that you-know-what-I-mean look. “Wesley and Layton—did anything ever happen between the two of them?”
My mouth dropped open, and I just stood there for a second. “Well, how in the hell would I know that?”
“You’re engaged to her brother,” Whitley said, like that meant I should know everything about Wesley’s sex life, present and past.
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