UNDER MY SKIN

twenty-one. pillows

Tyler pulled his hat from his head as he reached Sam's door, he'd been outside putting up the new mailbox he'd bought Cathy – after all, he'd been the one to run it over.

A smile tugged at his lips as he stepped into the room to see Sam sitting on her bed, the cover pulled up over her chest, even though she wore a shirt. And both dogs were on either side of her.

“Hey, baby,” he hummed as he hung his hand on one of the many hooks on her wall. Then he made his way over to her and leaned down, pressing a kiss to her lips, his eyebrows pinched when she held the cover in place. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I'm great.” She nodded, her smile wide, but he was suspicious.

“Okay,” he mumbled skeptically as he stood up and made his way over to his bag. “I'm gonna jump in the shower, then we can take the dogs for a walk.”

“Or…” she trailed off, sitting up a little straighter, keeping the cover in place. “I was gonna wait, but I'm impatient.”

“What are you…” he asked, only to trail off as she dropped the cover and his eyes dropped to the shirt she wore. It was white and tight and cropped, the thin fabric stretched over her chest so much that he could tell that she didn't have a bra on.

But his favorite part… was the words that were splayed across her perfect chest… cowboy pillows.

She grinned, her smile so wide her cheeks ached as she watched him. He was frozen in place for a few seconds, then his eyes met hers and she laughed, she couldn't help it. The look on his face was priceless, he looked stunned, turned on, and like a deer in headlights all at the same time.

“You like?”

He nodded, still seemingly in a trance. He shook his head a little, blinking a few times as he shook himself out of the gutter. “That's my new favorite shirt.”

“I'd thought you'd like it,” she hummed as he made his way towards her. Then he climbed into the bed, making her laugh. “Ty, I thought you wanted to take a shower.”

He shook his head as he situated himself between her legs, “too tired, must use pillows.” He laid down, his head on her chest and she giggled as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He closed his eyes and let his body rest against hers, though there was nothing sexual about it, it was sweet. “Great pillows.”

He closed his eyes, wedging his arms under her so he could wrap her up completely and she smiled as she kissed the top of his head.

She brushed her fingers through his hair, lightly scratched at his scalp and he hummed in appreciation. And he was more than content to fall asleep right then and there, even though he had yet to take off his boots.

They stayed like that for a while, in almost complete silence as they held onto each other. Both dogs were curled into the covers, both with their eyes closed. The cowboy had even dozed off for a few minutes, but they eventually got up and took the dogs out one last time.

Tyler had taken a shower and after some convincing, Sam had agreed to join him. Which led to what he could call the best shower of his life. They were in there so long the water had turned cold before she could even wash her hair properly.

But she didn't mind too much.

Then the couple settled in for the night, Sam wearing Tyler's new favorite shirt and his head right where the words were stretched across her chest.

She couldn't resist reaching for her phone, then she snapped a picture of the position they were in. Though it was mostly on the side of his head, his cheek squished against her chest and a small smile tugging at his lips. She quickly made it her lock screen, then she shut her phone off, kissed the top of Tyler's head and closed her eyes.

It was the most comfortable she had been in, well, ever. Even if her full sized bed was a bit crowded with a six-foot cowboy and two dogs that had no sense of personal space.

It was the happiest she had ever been.

>>>>> • <<<<<

The next morning, Tyler and Sam were packing up to leave… and Kate was joining them, much to Sam's excitement. It'd be great to spend more time with her sister before they went their separate ways.

While Tyler tossed his and Sam's bag into the backseat he held his phone to ear, closing the door.

“Hey, Lily. Yeah, I couldn't get Boone. – No, we're gonna meet you guys for something. – No, no, we'll come to you. – Alright.”

Sam squeezed Cathy, her smile wide as her mama patted her back, “you give that boy hell.”

Sam chuckled, “I promise.”

They pulled back and Cathy placed her hand on Sam's cheek, her smile soft, “you found a good one. Hold on to him.”

Sam’s eyes watered a little, “always.” They shared another hug before they pulled back and Sam made her way over to Tyler as Kate hugged Cathy.

“You get Boone on the phone?”

“No, had to call Lily.” He told her, wrapped his arm around her.

Sam giggled, “I can't believe you left him. You know he has separation anxiety.”

Tyler rolled his eyes, but he did feel bad for leaving his best friend without so much as a goodbye, “he’ll be fine. Especially when he hears about these new rockets.”

The couple laughed amongst themselves, and when Kate stepped away from Cathy, Tyler mumbled a quick give me a sec then he stepped away from Sam and towards Cathy.

Kate stopped next to Sam, both girls leaning against the side of the truck. Without a word Sam held her closer fist up, ready for a round of rock-paper-scissors, Kate chuckled but shook her head.

“Just take it.”

Sam grinned and turned, pulling her door open, “come on, Buck.” She clicked her tongue and the dog jumped onto the seat before moving over the console and into the driver's seat. “Up, Grizzly,” she patted the seat and he followed after the chocolate lab.

Tyler smiled nervously as he stood in front of Cathy, he anxiously toyed with the fabric in his hand as he pulled his small velvet box from his pocket. He glanced back to make sure Sam didn't see, luckily she was too busy playing with Grizzly to notice.

But Kate saw the small box, though she couldn't see what was inside. She had a guess, she just didn't know how right she was.

“I want your opinion,” he whispered, not wanting Sam to overhear as he flipped the box open, revealing an engagement ring.

It was simple, beautifully so. It was a 1960s Marquise engagement ring, the thin band was gold, with two small diamonds on either side of the slightly bigger diamond in the center. It sparkled in the early morning light. It was stunning and very much… Sam.

“You think she'll like it?”

“She'll love it,” she nodded. "It's gorgeous."

He smiled, a bit relieved, he was already sure she'd like it but he liked having a second opinion, especially from Sam's mom.

“How did you pick one out so fast?”

“It was my grandmother's, when I told my mom about Sam, she gave it to me. Been carrying it around for two years.”

“Two years?” She asked and he shrugged a little, kind of embarrassed it had been so long since he started carrying it. But even back then, he was sure he was gonna marry her.

Hell, Boone had an old video of Tyler saying he was gonna marry her when he was merely fifteen. She'd just left the chute on a horse that was determined to throw her, but she held on for dear life. Until she slipped from her proper position and the horse threw her to the ground.

She hit hard and rolled a little before pushing herself up, she wore a smile despite not even breaking the top three. She simply picked up her hat and placed it on her head before waving towards the coward that cheered her on.

Tyler couldn't look away, her smile was beautiful and infectious, and when Boone asked what was going through his head, he answered honestly…

He said ‘I’m gonna marry that girl, Boone. I swear it.’  and Boone's response, ‘can I be your best man?’

That was back when Boone was always filming, at the time it was rare that the boy didn't have his camera in hand, especially when they were on the rodeo circuit.

What Tyler didn't know was that Boone still had that tape, it had been an old camera. It was in a box labeled RODEO and underneath it Sam and Tyler ( for the wedding ).

He closed the box and slipped it back into his pocket, making a note to put it safely back into his bag before Sam noticed the bulge in his pocket.

“Oh, and this is for you.” He handed her a shirt, almost having forgotten about it.

She smiled as she took it, meeting his eyes before she glanced over at Sam – who had the truck running and the radio on, “you have any idea what you're getting yourself into?”

He smiled, his eyes moving to the girl as she sang along, her arms around Grizzly before she kissed his forehead, “oh, yeah.”

Cathy unfolded the shirt, raising an eyebrow at the cartoon version of him that was splayed across the front along with the tornado pun, “huh, thanks.”

He just nodded, he wasn't used to that reaction “okay.” he mumbled, turning and making his way back towards the truck.

He opened his door and waved Buck into the backseat, the dog listened and the cowboy pulled himself up onto the truck.

Sam looked over at her mom, who held up the shirt, her eyebrows creased. The blonde rolled down her window, “we can be twins!” and that had both Tyler and Kate laughing.

Cathy chuckled, smiling as she waved them off. Kate smiled and raised her hand in a wave, she couldn't believe she hadn't been back home in five years and she knew she'd never let that long go by again.

Tyler smiled over at Sam as she rolled her window back up before she reached over and laced her fingers through his.

She was completely unaware of the blue, velvet box that sat in his pocket. Kate, on the other hand, knew all about the box and she smiled as she scratched the top of Buck’s head.

>>>>> • <<<<<

They met up with the rest of the Tornado Wranglers at a repair shop close to what seemed to be the hotbed for storms. It also wasn't too far from Sapulpa.

Sam and Tyler neared the group, who all cheered, hootin’ and hollerin’ as the newly official couple approached them.

Sam's cheeks were red as she scrunched her nose up in embarrassment, beside her, Tyler's cheeks had also tinted pink but he just ducked his head, using his hat to hide it.

“Have you seen the comments?” Dani asked, pulling the blonde away from Tyler, who just chuckled and that was when he saw Ben hanging around.

“Ben,” Tyler grinned, shocked he had stuck around, “-you stuck around.”

“Turns out there’s more to this story than I thought,” he shrugged a little, accepting Tyler's hand for a firm shake.

“We got a new ending for ya,” he grinned, smiling as Sam used her hands to cover her face as Dani read the comments that had been left on the post of them on Tyler's Instagram.

“Sam Carter could run me over and I'd say thank you.”

“Oh, God.” Sam groaned, peeking through her fingers.

“This is my favorite ‘bi-panic’.” Lily grinned pointing at the screen as she leaned over Dani’s shoulder.

Tyler chuckled as they continued, each comment getting slightly more unhinged the further they went. And none of them noticed when Kate approached, that is until Dexter saw her leaning over Sam's shoulder.

“Look who it is,” he grinned, drawing the others' attention to her. “City girl.”

“What’s up, Kate?” Lily grinned, nodding her head in approval.

“Finally decided to ditch all those squares, huh? Right on.” Dexter told her, getting a laugh from the girl.

“Let's get back to those comments,” Kate nodded at the screen, she was getting a kick out of Sam's almost entirely red face.

"Sam Carter could-"

“Okay, that's enough.” Sam clicked Dani's phone off, shaking her head a little. She couldn't take any more comments. “Y'all chase any storms?” She changed the subject, her cheeks still flushed.

“Mm-hmm. Yep. Y’all missed a big one. Look.” Lily turned a little, pulling out her table as Dani went to find the owner of the shop.

“Wow,” Kate mumbled, watching the footage. “Hey, can you- can you rig that drone to collect data?”

Lily thought for just a moment before nodding. “I can do that.”

“Yeah, she can do that.” Dexter added.

Tyler smiled as he watched Sam point at the screen, using tornado terminology. He couldn't see the screen, but he knew she was using it all correctly. But his smile faded a little when he noticed that Boone hadn't joined in, usually, Boone would be all for reading unhinged – and slightly unnerving – comments.

So the cowboy made his way over towards the pouting man, “hey, buddy. I’m sorry. How do I make it up to you?”

“Man, you abandoned me. I don’t know nothin’ about no makeup–”

“How about we launch new rockets?” Tyler asked, his arm around Boone’s shoulders, and the shorter man perked up.

“You said rockets?”

Tyler nodded, then Sam made her way towards them, her smile wide, “y'all kiss and makeup yet?”

Boone's smile went wide, all his previous annoyance gone as he moved towards her. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the ground.

“Boone!” She laughed, holding on to his shoulders.

He put her on her feet, “y'all are official! This meayn you joinin’ the crew, right?” He asked hopefully.

“Not exactly,” she shook her head and Boone's smile faded, his eyebrows pulling together.

“She's goin’ back to the circuit,” Tyler told him, he was so proud of her. And the news had Boone's smile back and wider than ever.

“That's amazin’!” He wrapped her in another hug and she laughed as she wrapped her arms around him. She patted his back then he stepped away, kissing her cheek before he stepped away completely.

“Hey.” Dani called over, getting their attention. “Y’all ready?” She waved them over, having gotten the owner of the shop.

The owner led the group through the lot full of trailers, asking about the specks and he was a little confused when Dani explained what they needed, “We need a forty-foot trailer that’s light enough for a pickup but heavy enough to anchor barrels in a hundred mile and hour winds.”

“Why the hell would you want that?”

Dani paused for a moment before, her jaw falling open before it closed, then she turned to look at Kate, “why the hell do we want that?”

Kate shifted on her feet a little, her hands on her hips. “Well, ‘cause when we drive into a tornado, we want whatever’s on the trailer to get sucked into it but not us.”

“Simple, really,” Sam nodded, her fingers laced through Tyler's as she leaned into his side.

He was visibly confused, waiting for her to say it was a joke, but when she didn’t, “you’re gonna want aluminum.”

“Okay.” She nodded and he led them right to the trailer they were looking for.