Page 23 of Micah

A trio of women I don’t know.

Then another group walks in.

Big men.

Boots.

Jeans.

Cowboy hats.

And I pause because these are my favorite people in all of Barren County.

The Jersey Iron Ranch crew.

A smile blooms before I can stop it.

I don't say anything.

Don't let Patrick catch it.

Because he wouldn't understand.

He'd call me sentimental.

Naïve.

Truth is, watching them feels like watching the family I always wanted.

Sawyer can't keep his hands off Bit.

Benji looks at Esme like she hung the moon.

They tease each other.

Laugh together.

Show up for one another without keeping score.

It's easy.

Natural.

Real.

Sometimes Bit texts me just to ask how my day is going.

Esme sends me links to products she thinks I'd like or funny videos that remind her of me.

They don't ask me for something in return. They don’t need anything at all from me.

They're just kind

It shouldn't mean as much as it does.

But it does.

Because for the first time in a very long time, I think I might actually be making friends.