A Life Where We Work Out - Flatland Calvary

-

COLT

-

It felt as if seeing Charlie at Knox's was a dream. After that, I hadn't seen much of her, as she spent her weekend with her friends and Brooke.

I was curious what her friends had to say about me and if they hated me. Brooke didn't hate me much, but maybe Knox told her good things about me.

I had spent the past few weeks looking at farms for sale near home. Rodeo season officially ended, and the kids were out for summer break. I was officially Buck's handyman full-time, and I was fucking sick of coming to unclog his toilet.

Plus, going home made me almost happy again. Coming back after made me homesick ever since. I realized I couldn't hide anymore and needed to get back out there. If I was going to own a farm, I needed to make money to pay for it. I would have to start riding again.

When I stepped off that airplane, I planned to buy a new truck and trailer. I had a realtor named Miranda looking at places for me, sending me photos and videos of numerous houses. I don't need anything too large—just some acres of peace and quiet, along with a barn and a home. Maybe a small arena, but that can always be built later.

The realtor found me a new construction farmhouse with a wrap-around porch with a few bedrooms with rolling hills around it. There was a small horse barn and three large pastures on ten acres. I already was coming up with an area to place a pen and an arena to practice in.

I wanted someone to design it for me, so I thought of the first person I could think of: Charlie. She doesn't know she's designing my house, and I told Miranda not to tell her my name. I didn't give her any details of my request, just that I didn't talk to her.

I have a feeling that once she finds out it's me, she will yell at me. I figure she could use the practice anyway. I told Miranda all my ideas and color schemes I liked and told her to tell Charlie to go crazy, no matter the cost.

This was all a few weeks ago. Now, I will see the house for the first time as its owner. It was completely furnished now, and I was meeting Charlie at the house to thank her. I signed all the papers online, which felt way too easy.

I had just left the truck dealership with a new blacked-out GMC Sierra 2500 and would pick up my new trailer in a couple of days. This was all thanks to the idiot drunk driver who killed my horse and wrecked my life.

I had all my clothes and the rest of my belongings mailed to the house, and my mom was shipping more things to the house. She was excited about my new chapter. She couldn't wait to see it either. Buck thought I was a fool, but at least I don't live in Wyoming anymore.

My hands got clammy as I turned onto the street where the house was off of. I see the familiar archway I saw online and slowly pull down the gravel driveway.

No one else had arrived yet, so I could check the place out myself. I first wandered into the house using the key they had mailed me in the paperwork.

There are two rocking chairs when you walk up onto the wooden porch. Me and who? Hopefully her. I opened the door and walked into the foyer. A study was on the right and a dining room on the left. If you kept walking, you'd reach the living room with a kitchen to the right. There were brown leather chairs and a couch, with everything matching perfectly. The primary bedroom was behind the kitchen, hidden in a doorway. I let her do a accent wall because she told me once that they were her favorite. She did a wooden pallet board wall, like the one in her bedroom. Everything she designed looked like something she would havehave liked, which I wanted.

I didn't bother walking upstairs since the realtor's car pulled in. I greeted her on the porch with a huge smile, "Miranda, it's lovely."

"Colton, I'm glad you like it. Lots of room to grow." She stepped inside, "did you have a look around?"

I nod, "She did an amazing job furnishing it." She truly did. I could never thank her enough, and I'm sure the commission she got from it was well worth the while.

"Miss Charlie sure does have an eye for this."

I clear my throat, "I'm gotta tell you she's my ex-girlfriend. So, when she sees me, it may be a little awkward."

She smiles, crossing her arms, "I see. You did all of this for her?"

I slowly nod. I did do this for her whether I wanted to or not. I can't hide anymore here. She's going to be everywhere. "I hope she doesn't kill me."

I see her familiar Jeep pull down the drive, and start to get nervous. She won't know it's me until she walks through the front door. It made me feel uneasy.

I watch from the window as she steps out of the car in a floral sundress. She looked beautiful. My dick immediately twitched at the amount of skin exposed. It was summer. It's not like she would wear a jacket. Miranda greets her at the door while I stay in the kitchen and give myself a pep talk.

"Miss Charlie, he is in the kitchen." I hear Miranda down the hall.

I stared at the butcher block countertop, waiting for them to walk in. When I feel her staring at me, I look up. She gasped and covered her mouth. Miranda looked at me, telling me she would walk away for a minute. "Colt," she steps closer, staying on the other side of the kitchen island. "You bought this?" I nod, and she continues, "You moved to Ellijay?"

I suck on my bottom lip, thinking of the words to say. I breathe, looking down and back at her again, "I didn't buy this to win you back. I just felt like when I was here, it felt like home. I just happened to need a person to design my home and thought of you."

She smiles, and I debate whether to hug her or not. Fuck it. I walked around so I was standing in front of her. I decided to grab her hand instead of hugging her, "You truly did a wonderful job. I love it."

Her eyes water, "you chose everything I would have chosen."

"Don't you remember when I told you we were just alike?" I realize I'm still holding her hand. Do I drop it? If she looks down, I'll drop it. She doesn't. She stares into my eyes with what I'm assuming is hope. "I figured I owed your brother big time anyway."

She is the one who steps in closer to hug me. She wraps her arms around me, and I fall into her touch, hugging her back. I hadn't been hugged in forever, and the contact made me weak to the knees. "You're here," she mumbled into my shirt.

"I'm here," I tell her as I press my lips to her hair. It may be a step too soon, but her head falling on my chest is all I needed to know.

I eventually let go so I don't fall too quickly, "did you happen to go grocery shopping for me too?"

She laughs, "Unfortunately that was not in my contract."

Do I invite her for dinner? Is it too soon? "I guess I'll order a pizza. You are welcome to stay and have some."

She smiles, biting her lip, "I'd love to."