“As in the Texas Rangers?”
I looked at Brax. “That’s right.”
“That’s cool as shit, Sunshine. No wonder he shoots.” He nodded. “Proceed.”
I smiled. “Jilly’s a character—and one of my very best friends. Anyway, he’d just retired and so our income was limited. We broke horses for rich ranchers in the area. Jilly was untouched in his day. He could talk a horse into doing anything. My mom, too, and we’d get horses in from all over the state. My brothers and I were raised in the horse pen.” I shrugged. “We always had food to eat. We always had a Christmas tree. Mom always made us birthday cakes and gave us plenty of love. The only time I really knew we were poor was when another kid at school would tell us so. Make fun of our clothes. Stuff like that.”
“Kids can be mean little bastards.” Brax’s stare scored into me, like he could see deeper into that part of me usually reserved for the limited few and deserving people I’d allow in. As it had numerous times before, his gaze lowered to my mouth and settled there, and subconsciously I pulled my scar between my teeth. When his stare lifted, those eyes had turned rainy, smoky, fiery all at once. The look was so profound it made my breath catch in my throat, and I found I couldn’t look away.
“What about astronomy, Gracie?” he asked, in that raspy voice. “Have you always loved it?”
I smiled then, and found it not so hard to look him in the eye. My stars were his baseball. “My whole life.”
Brax’s eyes softened, then he looked up, slowly exhaled, took his cap off and shoved his fingers through his hair. “Jesus Christ, girl,” he muttered, then replaced his hat and turned to me.
I gave him a puzzled look. “What?”
His smile was again lazy and deep. “You’re just so damned different.”
We continued talking, and it was so easy and enticing and interesting that I’d lost track of all time. Of place, of purpose. We ordered hot cocoa with whipped topping, and talked some more. I could tell Brax skirted some subjects, fell lightly on others. I did the same, though, so I could hardly judge him on that. One thing I knew for sure: He’d experienced a lot of pain at some point in his life. I hadn’t until the summer before my senior year, so I guess I had more to be thankful for than I’d thought. At least I’d had a loving family. I wasn’t too sure Brax had. It’d been one of the subjects he’d eased over like a fresh pond of ice. Barely skimmed it. But I could tell. Could see it in those beautifully haunted blue eyes of his. Maybe one day he’d trust his secrets to me.
Maybe one day I’d trust mine to him.
For now, though, we learned the good stuff. What kept us going. What made us strong. And I was content with that. I think he was, too.
By two in the morning, the waitress interrupted us. “You two love birds want another pot of chocolate? Or do you wanna start on java?”
I shook my head. “No, thank you.” I reached for my bag to get money for my portion of the bill. “It’s so late. I’d better be getting back.”
Brax stilled my hand with his. “I owe you a hundred bucks, remember?” He reached in his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed the waitress his ATM card. She smiled at him, deep sun lines sinking in around her mouth and eyes. “That a boy, tough guy.” She winked at me. “Be right back, darlin’.”
We left Hattie’s once she returned Brax’s card, and he walked me to my truck. The early-morning air hung thick, warm but not uncomfortable, and a slight breeze drifted across the parking lot. Everything was quiet, and I fished my keys out of my bag and looked up at him. “Your eye is swelling pretty good,” I said. “Do you have any frozen vegetables?”
Brax stared at me, then laughed. “Jesus, Sunshine, you can’t still be fuckin’ hungry.”
“No,” I smiled. “For your eye. A bag of frozen peas works the best. Melds to the skin better than a couple chunks of ice.”
My back was already to my door; Brax eased closer to me, braced a hand against the truck. “You speakin’ from experience?”
“I’ve had my share of black eyes.” I quirked my head, inspecting the eye that was rapidly closing shut. “You’ll be okay driving home?” He was close to me, leaning slightly in toward my body, and a thrill shot through me that made my insides hum, my skin grow warm. At the same time I was treading unknown waters, feeling unsure of myself, a little scared. This was exactly what I didn’t want starting college; certainly didn’t expect it, either. But was I being completely honest with myself? Hadn’t I secretly and privately craved this? Dreamed I’d meet a guy, one who made me feel so alive?