Back in the Saddle

Jealousy is One Nasty Emotion

Nick's POV:

People run around the ranch, trying to set up food, fireworks, and party games to get ready for tonight. No one instructed me on what to do, so the entire time I've been sitting with Alex, talking about things that don't seem remotely relevant to what's going on around us.

Clay should be arriving shortly, and I'm eager for him to get here. Maybe he can bring my mind out of its boredom, which is normally a job Alex can do with ease, but he isn't doing it right now for whatever reason. That being said, when the blond walks up to where we're lounging around on one of the fences I jump up, walking up to him and immediately letting out a dramatic groan, pretending like I'm about to collapse.

As I fall backwards, Clay catches me. I look up at him and smirk, about to say something flirty or fruity, but he senses what I'm about to do and immediately drops me. I hit the ground with a thud and both of them start cackling at the top of their lungs, catching some stares from the other people here.

"I hate y'all," I mumble, getting up and dusting off my pants. "I just wanted to express my undying love to you, asshole."

"My heart belongs to another, sorry," he says before realizing what he just said.

"Is that right?" Alex laughs. "Is it, by any chance, Gogy Wogy?"

"Oh my god shut up, I hate both of you," he mutters.

Now it's my turn to laugh. Clay glares at the two of us, both absolutely dying, before cracking a smile, and soon he's laughing too. And soon we're all struggling to breathe from laughing so hard.

"Hey, Alex!" a voice I recognize as our boss, Sam, calls from a little ways away. "Why don't you get off your ass and come help me with this!"

Alex's eyes widen and he quickly jumps up, giving us a scared look before jogging over to Sam, who's attempting to drag a hay bale over to where most of the seating for the fireworks will be. Clay and I look at each other before silently agreeing to go assist someone to avoid being yelled at.

We also start moving hay bales, nearly overheating in the process. By the time we're done, we're both practically dripping in sweat and dying of dehydration. I have to take off my white bandana and tie my hair up, as well as take off my red flannel. Clay does the same with his green one, but sadly can't put his hair back because it's not long enough.

"Bet you're wishing you grew your hair out with me now, huh?" I joke.

"Not really. I can't stand the feeling of hair on my neck. I'd take being hot over it any day."

"You're weird," I deadpan, making him chuckle.

We go to the concession stand, getting two water bottles from Hannah and heading back over to our fence, flannels tied around our waists and sweat soaking our tank tops. I down more than half of my water as soon as it's opened, having to wipe the water off of my stubble.

"I'm really glad I decided not to wear my gray tank top today," Clay says. "I would rather not have everyone see me sweat like a pig."

"Same," I respond, looking from his black tank top to my white one. "I mean, white's not that much better, but it definitely beats gray. The only problem is that it's one of those wife beater tank tops..."

Clay spits out his drink, water going everywhere. It makes dark spots on the dirt and he coughs a little. I stare at him, confused and a little scared. He looks back at me with tears in his eyes and that's when I see that he's laughing. He laughed so hard that he choked on his drink. The funny part is that I wasn't even joking.

"You do though-"

"Oh piss off."

"Hey guys!" someone yells from behind us.