Sun To Me • Short Stories!

Hair 💕🌟

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The late afternoon sun filtered an amber glow through the curtains of the cozy farmhouse living room, warm and bright over the worn leather furniture. Lainey sat on the floor, her back resting against the couch, a half-empty glass of sweet tea sweating on the coffee table in front of her. Behind her, perched cross-legged on the couch, was Tyler, his brow furrowed in concentration as he fumbled with a handful of colorful hair ties and bows.

"You know," Lainey drawled, amusement coloring her voice, "when I said I needed help with my hair, this isn't exactly what I had in mind."

Tyler grunted, his fingers tangled in a particularly stubborn knot. "Hey now, don't go doubting my skills. I'll have you know I used to braid the manes of all the horses back on my grandparents' ranch."

Lainey snorted, wincing slightly as Tyler tugged a little too hard. "Somehow, I don't think that's quite the same thing, cowboy."

"Hair is hair," Tyler insisted, his tongue poking out slightly as he focused on separating a section of Lainey's honey-blonde locks. "Besides, how hard can it be? I've seen you do this a hundred times."

The sound of their old ceiling fan creaking filled the comfortable silence that followed. Outside, the distant rumble of a tractor engine mingled with the chorus of cicadas, a constant natural soundtrack to their rural Oklahoma life.

After a few more minutes of fumbling, Tyler let out a triumphant "Ha!" He sat back, admiring his handiwork. "There! What'd I tell you? Easy as pie."

Lainey reached up tentatively, her fingers exploring the mess Tyler had made of her hair. She could feel random bumps and knots, sections sticking out at odd angles. Fighting back a laugh, she asked, "You want to hand me that little mirror on the side table, hon?"

Tyler's hesitation was clear as day as he slowly inched his hand closer. "Now, don't you go judging too harshly. It's my first attempt, after all."

Lainey turned, raising an eyebrow at her husband. "Tyler Reed Owens, what did you do to my hair?"

With a sheepish grin, Tyler handed over the mirror. Lainey took one look and burst out laughing. Her hair was a disaster zone of lopsided braids, random bows stuck in at awkward angles, and what looked like an attempt at a ponytail gone horribly wrong.

"Oh my God, Ty" she managed between fits of giggles. "I look like I got in a fight with a bear."

Tyler's face flushed red, but he couldn't help chuckling along with her. "Well, now, I wouldn't say it's that bad. It's... artistic! Yeah, that's it. I'm bringing a whole new style to Blanchard, Oklahoma."

Lainey set the mirror down, shaking her head fondly. "Honey, if this is the new style, I think we'd better stick to chasing tornadoes. At least then, my hair has an excuse for looking like this."

Tyler slid down from the couch to sit beside her on the floor, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Aw, come on now. Don't you think it has a certain... charm to it?"

Lainey leaned into him, still giggling. "Oh, it has charm alright. About as much charm as that time you tried to fix the tractor and ended up covered head to toe in motor oil."

"Hey now," Tyler protested, but there was no heat in it. "That tractor's running smooth as butter now, isn't it?"

"Only after Boone came over and actually fixed it," Lainey reminded him, poking him playfully in the ribs.

Tyler captured her hand, bringing it to his lips for a quick kiss. "Details, details. The point is, it got fixed."

They sat like that for a moment, enjoying the closeness and the simple pleasure of being together. The late afternoon was fading into evening, the golden light taking on a deeper, richer hue.

"You know," Lainey said softly, "as much as I appreciate your, uh, artistic efforts, I do still need to get my hair done for Dani's wedding tomorrow."

Tyler nodded sagely. "Right, right. Well, lucky for you, I've got plenty more ideas up my sleeve. How do you feel about a mohawk?"

Lainey elbowed him gently. "Tyler!"

"What? I bet you'd rock it. Very punk rock meets country chic."

Laughing, Lainey stood up, offering a hand to help Tyler to his feet. "Come on, you goof. Why don't you help me take all this out, and then we can order some pizza for dinner? I'm thinking after this hair adventure, neither of us is up for cooking."

Tyler grinned, allowing himself to be pulled up. "Now that's the best idea I've heard all day. Extra pepperoni?"

"You know it," Lainey agreed, leading him towards the kitchen where they kept the take-out menus. "And maybe, if you're real good and don't try to give me any more 'artistic' hairstyles, we can have some of that peach cobbler Lou dropped off yesterday."

Tyler's eyes lit up. "Well now, that's some motivation right there. I'll be on my best behavior, scout's honor."

As they walked, Tyler's hand found the small of Lainey's back, a casual, comfortable gesture born of years of familiarity and love. Lainey leaned into him slightly, grateful as always for these quiet moments of domestic bliss.

"Hey, Lainey?" Tyler said as they reached the kitchen.

"Hmm?"

"I love you, crazy hair and all."

Lainey turned, rising on her tiptoes to press a soft kiss to his lips. "I love you too, you hopeless hairdresser."

As they set about ordering dinner, playfully arguing over toppings and sides, Lainey couldn't help but smile. Her hair was a mess, they'd accomplished exactly none of what they'd set out to do that afternoon, and tomorrow she'd have to scramble to get ready for the wedding, alongside Tyler. But here, in their little farmhouse, with the man she loved by her side, everything was perfect just the way it was.

The pizza arrived, and they settled back in the living room, Tyler immediately reaching for the remote to find a weather channel. Some things never changed, and Lainey wouldn't have it any other way. As the meteorologist droned on about pressure systems and wind patterns, Lainey curled into Tyler's side, her wild hair tickling his chin.

"You know," she murmured, "maybe we should sign you up for some hairdressing classes at the community college. Could be a good backup career if this whole tornado wrangling thing doesn't pan out."

Tyler's laugh rumbled through his chest. "Now there's an idea. Tyler Owens: Hair Wrangler. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Lainey just shook her head, smiling into her pizza. She took a bite, then joked when her mouth was no longer full of food and muffled. "Oh yeah, more like a Hair Mangler." To which she earned a playful elbow back.