Trailer We Call Home - Whiskey Myers

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CHARLIE

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I wouldn't admit it to him, but I knew it was Colt's house the entire time. I had seen the contract for the home that my company built. His signature was on the bottom of the paper. He tried so hard to keep it from me, which is why I won't tell him.

He looked so excited when I walked through that door. I was truly stunned that he had moved to Ellijay, Georgia. My reaction was real. He moved for me, though he said it was because he liked the city. I want to think it was because I was his home. I talked to my mom about it for the past few weeks, and she was more than excited about it.

The pizza arrived, and we ate on the back porch overlooking Ellijay's mountains. It felt so natural being with him again. I was beginning to open up to him again. "What animals are you gonna have here?"

"I've got a load of cows coming, only about ten. Im hoping somebody's got a bull for sale I can practice on. I've got a few horses I've been looking at to buy. Maybe some goats and shit too. I don't know; I may go crazy."

I smile, "Please get some baby goats. I'd come and play with them every day." Yeah, Colt, you hear me. I'd come over every day if you let me. I wonder if he would want a dog—someone to keep him company during the lonely nights.

"I'll remember that," he winks at me, almost making me choke on the pizza. I wanted to crawl in his lap and kiss him for hours.

We sit there until the sun goes down and are left with darkness. "I guess I should head home," I tell him, standing up from the chair.

He stands up, leading me to the front door and my car. It was pitch black out here, and that's how people liked it. We hated light. I climb into my car, wanting to kiss him goodbye. He leans against my car, staring at me. "Well, I guess I'll see you when I get a goat."

I laugh, "Maybe sooner than that," I wink at him, and he bites his lip in response. I wonder genuinely what is on that boy's mind.

"Good night, Charlie."

"Good night, neighbor." And with that, I drive home to my parent's house and call to tell Brooke everything. He wasn't my neighbor, but he lived just down the street. It was about a five-minute drive, which was very convenient.

I tell my mother about Colts plans, and she thinks getting him a dog would be a perfect welcome gift. "I will go up to the shelter tomorrow," I tell her, returning to my room. I stare at my car as I walk through the garage, debating to drive back to his house. I head up the stairs and take a bath, unable to wipe the smile off my face.

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I head to the shelter the next day as soon as I wake up and prepare for the day. I sit there for hours and love every dog in the shelter. I fell in love with a black lab puppy. Which is the one I decided to bring home to Colt.

I filled the paperwork out, and soon enough, we were on the way to Colt's. I don't tell him I'm coming over, and I do not know if he will even be here. I mean, where else would he go?

When I pull into the driveway, he is out in the yard, cutting the grass with no shirt on. I stare at him a little too long as he can't see into my car very well. He smiles when he sees me, turning the lawnmower off and walking towards me.

He was even more toned, if possible. The sweat glistening on his skin made my mouth water, and I wanted to lick it off him.

I step out of the car in the cute white-laced backless dress and brown cowgirl boots. He looks at me hungrily, and I want him to slide his hand underneath the dress. "Hey, you." He says, standing far from me, afraid to get too close.

"I got you a surprise," I tell him, "open the back door."

He steps around me, opening the back door. The puppy sits quietly on a fluffy bed I had gotten him. "You got me a puppy?" He asks, picking him up and setting him in his arms. The puppy slowly sniffs him, licking him, and then yawns in his arms.

I smile, petting him and looking up at Colt, "I didn't want to have to wait to come over for a goat." He shakes his head, smiling, letting the puppy onto the ground so he could sniff around. "You'll have to pick a name for him."

"Thank you. I'd hug you, but I'm sweaty." I bit my lip as I stared at his rock-hard body.

"Please continue to finish your yard work. I just wanted to bring you a welcome home gift."

We watch the puppy walk into the grass and lay down—tired little baby. "Stay. I won't be long. Plus, you have to babysit." He said, pointing to the dog who was now on a mission to explore the farm.

I smile, running after him before he gets too far, "I'll show him around."

Colt returns to the mower, determined to finish cutting the grass as quickly as possible. I hope he's only doing the front yard because it'll be forever if he cuts the pastures.

I grabbed the leash and collar I bought at the store and slipped it over the puppy's head. He seemed confused by the weight on his neck, itching to get it off. I click my tongue, "Come on, buddy. Let's explore." He follows my voice, and I walk him towards the barn, which I have yet to see. I didn't want to snoop around while setting the house up. He had asked us to get him yard equipment and a few other things for the farm, which were stored in the shed instead of the barn. I had only seen the pictures. Not that Colt would have cared if I looked around.

I slide the doors to the barn open to the smell of fresh wood and paint. It was a six-stall barn with a vast storage area. It was pristine and clean, as no one had come in here after they built it. I wondered if he would get horses or if he was just saying that. I know it would be hard for him to move on.

The puppy explores each stall, leaving his mark in one of them, which I scooped into the forest with a shovel. I show him the outside of the house before bringing him inside. I take the leash off when I close the door, and he immediately gets the zoomies as he touches the hardwood floors. I laugh as he crashes on the rug in the living room, falling into a slumber sprawled out on the floor.

I grab the rest of the stuff I bought him at the store and bring it inside while he sleeps, letting out little snores now and then. I'm unsure where Colt will want everything, so I leave it in the living room for him to decide.

I grab a seat on the couch and make myself home while waiting for Colt to finish in the yard. I turn the Braves game on while I wait for him.

When he comes inside, he is only in his boxers, and my eyes widen at the view. "Sorry, I didn't wanna dirty up my house on the second day. Gonna take a shower." I feel my cheeks heat up, so I look away back to the television as if it were the most exciting thing ever.

He returns about ten minutes later, grabbing water from the fridge before joining me on the couch, sitting in the other corner. "You want to stay for dinner? I went to the grocery store earlier. Many old ladies asked if I could help them reach the top shelves."

I roll my eyes, "Of course they did. What are you cooking?"

"I got some steaks to cook on the grill."

"Mhm sounds good. I'll stay." Colt was a great chef, especially when it came to the grill. Of course, I couldn't say no.

He nods, looking down at the puppy, "I thought of a name for him," I turn and look at him, waiting for him to tell me. "Lucky."