Page 31 of The Cowboy's Cabaret

“When this all started, Amber begged us not to step in. Of course, we didn’t listen at first, we’d step in anytime he acted up, escalating to fist fights one too many times. Between the kids and Amber worrying we’d get in trouble, she begged us to leave it be. She said we’d make it worse if we kept fighting with him.”

“That’s bullshit. He’s a piece of shit abuser. Has he ever gotten physical with her?” I know why Daphne’s asking, just like I know the reason her whitened knuckles are probably balled up at her sides behind me. I reach my hand to the backseat to offer her comfort and her clammy hand grabs mine with a squeeze before letting go.

“I can’t prove he has. I’ve never seen any signs and Amber would never tell anyways, but I wouldn’t put it past him. Amber swears he’s never hit the kids. He’s hardly home, but when he is, the boys avoid him like the plague. If we can get the farm figured out, maybe we can afford to get rid of him,” Wes says.

I’m glad Amber has Wes and Jasper around, but if he is hurting any of them, I’ll gut him my-fucking-self. That is, if I get to him before Daphne does. I’m surprised she hasn’t asked us to turn around so she can tase him.

We’re finally makingit back into Brooklyn and I feel a twinge of sadness saying goodbye to Wes. I find myself so content in his company and surprisingly less anxious. Well, less anxious about life in general. My anxiety horniness is unfortunately still alive and well. He pulls up to the curb and hops out to help us out, ever the gentleman.

“It’s been fun ladies. Daphne.” He nods at her and she blows him a kiss with an evil cackle as she opens the rickety door to our building. “Dahlia.” He says my name almost reverently. His molten brown eyes are so pretty, like luxurious chocolate pools.

“Wes,” I say back as we’re locked in the moment, staring at each other on the sidewalk. “I had a lot of fun this weekend. Thank you for everything. Hopefully, this all works out.”

“It was my pleasure, I wanted to ask—” but he’s cut off as a biker barrels towards us yelling about hogging the sidewalk.

“Brooklyn bikers are ruthless.” I’m laughing because I do not fuck with the cyclists, that’s one battle I will not win. “What were you going to ask?”

“Oh, um. No, I, uh, I wanted to ask if you have school tomorrow? Yeah, Mondays, you know, school.” I’m somehow unconvinced that was his actual question given he’s stuttering and avoiding eye contact with me. I also mentioned I had class tomorrow on the drive over.

“I do have class tomorrow. Why?” I decide to fuck with him, if he wants to lie about his question, I’ll make him sweat.

“I didn’t know your schedule, that’s all. Want to make sure you’re getting enough sleep, make sure you’re well rested. It was a long weekend.” Enough sleep? Right.

“Yeah. I’ll be good, ya weirdo. I’ll text you in a little, okay?” I lean in to hug him and he engulfs me. His arms squeeze me tightly, and I take a second to breathe him in. He smells like his room—a kind of manly, warm scent—not too strong, just right. I realize maybe our hug is going on too long to be considered friendly, but it feels nice and he’s making no move to let go either.

Finally, I break apart from him and he wears a satisfied grin before running his hands over his beard. “Alright then, catch you later Dahlia.” He rounds the car to leave and I head upstairs, still tingling from the hug.

TWENTY-FIVE

inconvenient boners

Wesley

New inconvenient boner unlocked:friendly hug. I’m hard as steel from a hug. Let’s recap the weekend, shall we?

Friend comes to home and fits in well with the family. Friend is thoughtful and kind, gets me to open up for once. I watch Friend masturbate through her open door, only to hear her moan my name as she comes. I jerk off alone thinking of Friend. Friend spends the day working hard on my family’s property, before spending the night in my bed. I wake up cuddling Friend. I get hard from Friend’s goodbye hug.

Are we following the temporary insanity I’m experiencing? I’m gone for Dahlia and I don’t know what to do with that information.

On the drive home, my boner lessens slightly, but when I head up to my room and lie in bed, her scent hits my nose and I’m full mast yet again. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a visceral reaction to another person before and I’ve gotta say it’s a little exhausting. Groaning into my pillow, I force myself to ignore my aching cock and head down to find Jasper.

After I’ve spentthe better part of my day shoveling shit and pruning the dead branches in the orchard, I head back to my cabin. Even after hours of backbreaking manual labor, I still float through my cabin on the high of my weekend. It felt so good to be around Dahlia and felt even better to be so open with someone. I’ve shared more with her than I have with Jasper the entire time I’ve lived here. By no fault of his own, I’m shut down tight, but I felt safe to tell Dahlia. I wanted her to know those parts about me, even if it was shitty to share even the smallest amount about my parents. I showed her my art too, something I figured I’d take to the grave, especially considering my subject matter.

Darkness is falling over the cabin now and I grab my sketchpad and head to the couch to draw before bed. I have a text from Dahlia on my phone reading, sup with a picture of some sort of smiling lizard attached.

Wesley

Hello, have you turned into a lizard since I dropped you off?

Princess

I wish. Were you out being a cowboy?

Wesley

I was.

Doing my cowboy tasks. I’m drawing now though.