The Cowboy Way

Chapter 6-Collecting on the Bet

-Tris POV-

As I'm walking away, I hear Four say, "I'm going to grab my gym bag out of my truck. I'll meet you at the apartment."

I get home and, first things first, I start some coffee. God, I need coffee. I'm anxiously awaiting the dripping dark brew when I hear a knock at my door. "It's open," I yell.

I'm still standing at the counter, staring at the coffee maker and tapping my fingers, when Four goads, "A little addicted to caffeine, are you?" I turn to see him smirking at me.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, I wasn't the one lamenting the fact that there was no coffee this morning." With that, I grab the coffee pot and pour out what has already been brewed into a cup. I stick the pot back in the maker to continue its work. I then turn and smirk back at Four when I say, "You can wait for your cup. I'm going to take a shower." I grab my coffee cup and run into the bathroom.

I quickly take a shower. After I dry off, I comb my hair and twist it up into a quick bun. When I ran in here with my coffee, I didn't think about the fact that Four is here, so I didn't bring any clothes in with me. Oh well. I wrap a towel around me and exit the bathroom. I'm surprised to see Four leaning against the couch looking right at the bathroom door while drinking a cup of coffee.

"The bathroom is all yours. Oh, I have to apologize. All I have is vanilla scented shampoo."

Four just smiles. He lifts his gym bag and says, "I have some spare clothes as well as soap and shampoo. I usually shower at the gym."

"Okay," I say as I head into my bedroom. I quickly get dressed in a t-shirt and sweat pants, then head back to the kitchen to get more coffee. I'm staring at the food in my refrigerator when Four comes out of the bathroom. I have only seen him in button up shirts, but now he is in a tight fitting t-shirt. A very tight fitting t-shirt. Damn is he put together.

I clear my throat from the lump that just formed there. "Would you like something to eat?"

"Sure. What do you have?"

"Well, a little bit of everything. My grandma fully stocked this place. I think she assumed that I would cook for groups of ten or something."

"Eggs?" Four asks.

"Yeah, I can do that." I dig into the fridge and gather bacon and eggs. I set these on the counter and turn to grab the bread when I hear the clank of a pan. I turn to see Four putting bacon in a pan. "You can cook?" I ask.

"Well, yeah. I have to eat. And, it is just bacon and eggs."

As he is standing there, I realize that I can see parts of a tattoo on his neck, just barely poking up from the back of his shirt. The tattoo is hidden by the collar of the shirts that he normally wears. The fact that he has a tattoo surprises me. "What's your tattoo of?"

Four jerks in surprise and rubs the back of his neck. "Uh, um, nothing much."

I just nod. It seems that he doesn't want to share so I try to change the subject. "How do you like your eggs?"

He shrugs. "It doesn't really matter."

"Yes, it does," I say. "First, runny yolks or hard?" I see him start to shrug again so I add, "Yes, it matters. Which do you like better?"

"Okay, okay. I like either, but I prefer runny."

"Good," I say grinning. "Once the bacon is done I will make you some basted eggs."

Four stops turning the bacon in the pan and looks at me. "What are you talking about? What are basted eggs?"

"They are the BEST eggs ever. And, so easy." As Four finishes up the bacon, I get a plate set out with paper towels on it that he can set the bacon on to drain. When he is done, he steps back with a bow indicating that the stove is mine.