RIVALS | MxM MPreg

Chapter 14: Part 2

Landon stood at the front of the barn, hands planted firmly on his hips, watching intently as Tyler and Danny worked on cleaning out the insides. Despite his focused gaze, he couldn't ignore Wade's scrutinizing stares beside him. Wade looked at Landon as if he couldn't believe his ears at the words that had just been uttered by his best friend. Rightfully so, Landon himself couldn't believe it.

He'd finally broken the news to Wade about Jackson, not the cheating bit, but the reason why Jackson came to the ranch—the reason why they were now buddies. Everything told was a damn lie, and Landon hung his head in shame cause of it.

By the looks of things, Wade was still processing the information, and Landon couldn't blame him. At one time they'd both agree to collectively despise Jackson Blaze with equal measures, only to have him bring the pompous youngster to his place—his sanctuary—to lounge off for two weeks like they'd known each other for years.

Wade knew a lot about him, so he knew Landon didn't bring anyone up at the ranch...

"So you mean to tell me, you're now friends with this son-of-a-gun? And you ain't mean to mention it once?"

Wade's processing expression guilted Landon when he turned to look at his best friend. Damnit, he felt terrible. He wished he could come clean–blurted it all out and get it over with, but he didn't want Wade to look at him differently. With a shrug, he tried to play it off, "I was goin' tell you... It's jus' I forgot."

Wade shook his head in disbelief. "How dis' even happen? Ain't we supposed to hate em'? He tried beatin' you up that one time, remember?"

The older man had a point, and Landon had no words to add. Jackson and himself didn't start on the right foot. The younger man had been tormenting him from day one. He blamed it on Jackson being young, impulsive, and cocky, but he understood as he was once like that. Exactly—he was once the same. Maybe this was what Wade needed to hear to come to terms with accepting Jackson.

"I understand, but remember how I used to be?" Landon reasoned. "When I was young—when you first met me, I was no different, Wade. Give him a chance. He... he ain't all that bad once you get to know him."

After a long pause, Wade sighed. "Alright, I gon' give him a chance. But if that little shit starts behavin' like before, I gon' give it to him."

Landon swallowed hard; he desperately wanted them to get along. "Agree."

"... So you goin' back to Cali next week?"

"Yep... need to get back to practicing, and gotta go get myself checked out at the doc."

"You still ain't feelin' good?"

"Am okay—doin' a lot better... I jus' needed to visit the doc anyways, so might as well get it over with and done."

They stood in silence for a while, watching the two Beta lovers at work. It was still early—just 6:45 a.m. The sun had already risen, casting a warm glow over the land, and a light breeze ruffled their hair as they prepared to start the day. Wade, Danny, and Tyler were going to let the sheep loose and guide them to their grazing ground. A couple of horses broke the gates last night, so they were going to fetch them too–it would probably take all day. As for himself, Landon was going to teach Jackson to ride a horse, and then he'd take him and show him around the area before they met up with Wade and the others. It'd be fun, at least he hoped so; with Jackson's temper, a lot could go wrong.

Speaking of Jackson...

Both men turned around when footsteps approached, and goddamnit; Jackson appeared and he looked mighty fine, so fine, Landon's eyes doubled and his jaw dropped.