Page 7 of His to Touch
“How’d you figure it out?” I ask the obvious question.
“I didn’t, but the way your eyes lit up when I said her name did.” Dad lets out a chuckle. He and Mom both, they can read us from a mile away, and I walked right into that trap, all too easily.
“Yeah.” I run my hand down my face. Coffee isn’t going to be enough to get me through the day. My damn eyes are tired from staring at the computer half the night. I’m not exactly sure how my brother stares at numbers and works in the office as much as he does. “Shit, I haven’t felt this exhausted since Case went through a sleep regression years ago.”
“Watch your mouth, Ryland Thomas Johnson,” Mom states from the kitchen. She’s hell bent on no one cussing in her house. The only way she can’t control our mouths is when we’re out on the land. It pisses her off like no other, but it’s an unsaid boundary even she won’t cross.
“Yes, ma’am,” I mutter under my breath.
“You’ll figure it out. She’s a good girl. Been through too damn much for her age. Hopefully, she’ll come out on top swinging.” Dad takes a sip of his coffee, and I do the same. I don’t want Lawson to have to wait on me if he doesn’t have to.
“Sutton and Ryland would be perfect together. She loves Case, is half in love with Ryland, and I can see the stars in our boy’s eyes whenever he’s around her.” I clear my throat, trying not to choke on the way Mom inserted herself into our conversation. Though, I probably should have taken this outside if I didn’t want her to hear.
“And on that note, I’m going to head out. Love you, Mom, thanks for breakfast and being on Case duty today.” I stand up, grab my plate, utensils, and cup. Mom cooks, we clean, and by clean, I mean we rinse our dishes off and put them in the dishwasher.
“Love you, too, and you never have to thank me for helping out with my grandbabies.” They’ve doubled, and some of thewomen are pregnant, so there’ll be more babies soon. She’s in the thick of being a grandma and loving every minute.
“Dad, I’ll see you later.” He nods his response. I drop a kiss on Mom’s cheek, then go about doing what I need to before heading out to Lawson. The clank of dishes carries and conversations echo through the area. I’d usually stick around and shoot the shit; not this morning, though. I head for the back door, walk down the steps, and make my way toward Lawson. Maeve is driving down the road, her taillights about the only thing visible with how bright the sun is shining.
“What can I do for you, Ry?” Lawson keeps his eyes on Maeve’s car but gives me his attention.
“I’ll make this short and sweet. You mind me callin’ Fletch? Can’t find something I’m lookin’ for, and knowin’ him, I’ll have the information in less than five minutes.” Fletcher Wild has been a friend of the family for years. He and Lawson are the tightest, but he’s willing to help out when we brothers need a thing or two.
“You got his number?” is all Lawson says, looking my way after Maeve is long gone.
“Nope.” I wouldn’t be standing here twiddling my damn thumbs. I’d have called him at first light, had my answers, and been on my merry way.
“Alright, you ready?” I pull my phone out and type in Fletch’s number as he rattles it off before saving it to my contact list.
“Thanks.”
“Anything you need, I’m here. Safe to assume this has something to do with a certain waitress at Down Home?” Everyone seems to know I’ve been staying away from Sutton, for good reason, too.
“Yep, going after her as soon as Fletch gives me some information.” I put the phone to my ear. Lawson’s eyebrows shoot upward, wondering what the hell I’m up to.
“This is Fletcher Wild,” he answers on the second ring.
“Hey, Fletch, it’s Ryland Johnson. How ya doing?” No point in acting like an asshole and getting right into it.
“Hey, Ry, doing good. Whenever one of the Johnson Brothers calls, something is up.” I laugh at his statement. He’s not wrong. Lawson and Fletch shoot the shit once or twice a week. When there’s an occasion, one of us will head down to Georgia, or Fletch and Delilah will make a trip up here.
“You got that right. Can you look into Sutton Sullivan? Former name Sutton Rawlins. Don’t have her date of birth, but she does live here in Arrowleaf,” I give him what little details I have.
“What exactly am I looking into?” I hear Fletch clicking away on the other end of the line, more than likely inputting the information into his database.
“Divorce status.” Lawson lets out a low whistle. Fletch pauses in his typing.
“Another Johnson bites the dust. Welcome to the good side, brother. As for the status, looks like the final papers were filed a few months ago. You’re free to go get your woman.” Jesus, the way my chest finally unclenches. The inner turmoil of jacking off to visions of Sutton every night for what seems like a damn millennium no longer makes me feel like a piece of shit.
“Thanks, appreciate you lookin’ it up for me. Anytime you need something, I’ll return the favor. Day or night, Fletch,” I respond.
“Welcome, and I’ll hold you to it.” We say our goodbyes as fast as we said hellos. That’s Fletcher Wild. He’d do anything for you, but when he’s at work, he’s laser-focused.
“Mom is going to eat this shit up.” Lawson has a shit-eating grin on his face.
“She won’t be the only one. Case is infatuated withHis Sutty.” My boy lights up whenever she’s around. It’s differentfrom when he’s around his family; he’s himself then, but when he’s with Sutton out in public, it’s something entirely different.
“Case isn’t the only one infatuated, Ry.” We toss around a few more words before Lawson heads toward the barn and I head in the same direction, him veering one way and me the other. I’ve got cattle to look after, and he’s got ledgers to deal with. No fucking thanks. I’d rather be in a saddle all day for the rest of my life.