Catchin’ Feelings

I’m shocked when Tobias pulls up at his house.

“Do I need to walk from here?” I ask as the music shuts down and silence fills the car.

“Yeah,” he whispers, then he shakes his head while his hands grip the steering wheel. “No, I want to check that face out before sending you back to Frankie.”

He jumps out of his truck with ease and starts to walk around to my side. I assume he’s going to open the door, but I get there first and jump down. He shakes his head in frustration.

“What’s wrong cowboy? Aren’t you used to an independent woman?” I giggle.

He sniggers as his eyes go to the floor. If I didn’t know him better, I would say he’s embarrassed.

“Come on, princess,” he says sternly. “Let’s get those war wounds looked at.”

I follow his fine arse as he heads up the steps to his front door, my eyes not leaving the goods.

His denims fit him like a glove, and his top is like a second skin, showing his muscles and tattoos to perfection. I can’t draw my eyes away and I almost lose my footing on the steps as a result.

“Sit there,” he demands as I enter the house.

I take a seat on the chair he pointed to and wait for him while he disappears into the kitchen. My wrist hurts where he pulled me, and I examine it in the light.

“Does it hurt?” he asks as he stands over me, casting a large shadow.

“Just a bit,” I reply, looking up at him.

He pulls a chair and sits opposite me, his legs spread, and I try damn hard to keep my eyes off his crotch.

“Sorry about that, I guess I don’t know my own strength.” He fiddles with the wet towel and cream in his hand. “May I?” he asks.

I nod my head and he moves in with the cold wet cloth. As he dabs over the scratch, I flinch—it tingles.

“She got you good, hey,” he comments.

“I guess you mean a lot to her,” I reply.

He sighs and continues to gently wipe my face. His hard, manly hands are so gentle and tender.

“Your uncle is going to kill me,” he adds.

My blood transfers onto his white cloth and he lets my face dry before using one of his robust fingers to rub some cream in.

“For any infections,” he adds.

“Yeah, that’s my worry,” I add.

My comment makes him chuckle, and I smile at his cute smiling face.

I grab his wrist as he moves his hand away.

“What does this tattoo mean?” I ask, running my finger over the dates marked on the skin between his thumb and forefinger.

“1961—2019, the year of my mama’s birth and death.”

“That’s nice. Sorry for your loss.”

His smile acknowledges my condolences, and he bows his head.

“It’s been a tough few years with her gone?” I ask. I knew it had been—Sara had told me.

Tobias lifts his gaze back to mine. “You could say that.”

“What about these other ones?” I ask as my fingers trace the trees around his lower arm.

“I just really liked that one. I like being in nature and around trees rather than people. I’m not too good with enclosed indoor spaces.”

“I can see you as an introvert, but how can you be a famous internet sensation and cowboy model when you hate all that stuff?”

“I need the money. Tanner was doing it and earning a shitload. It’s easy, tax-free money. Do a TikTok video a week to keep the females happy, and the sponsors come flooding in. I got half of Dad’s house up and running with most of the money. I paid for my truck, and Tanner, well, he provides for Dylan.”

“I am surprised I’ve never seen you on there,” I add.

“Not like you would follow guys like us, anyhow. You have probably scrolled past wondering who the jackass cowboys are.”

I slap him playfully. “I don’t think I would scroll on past if you came up.”

He chuckles as his embarrassed eyes shift to his hands. His fingers run over his stubble and I’m eager to know what is going through his mind.

“You called me a hick,” he smiles.

“I was mad,” I reply. “And you call me a princess.”

He lifts his eyes to mine. “You are a princess.”

“I’m not, I like nice things but I’m far from being a fucking princess.”

“Well, you act like a princess with your designer gear, latest technology, and demands.”

“Hey, I told Frankie I’m going to be helping at the ranch this week. Now tell me a princess that would do that.”

“Cinderella,” he smiles cheekily.

“Maybe,” I reply, throwing a cheeky smile of my own at him. “Right, what now? Are you walking me home, or what?”

He stands and holds his hand out. I take it and he pulls me up from my seat. He keeps hold of my hand as we walk out onto his porch.

“Did you do this?” I ask.

He nods. “At fifteen, I claimed this house. I built it for my own family.”

“Wow, you cowboys sure are sentimental.”

“We are. We like to mess around, but when we find the one, we do anything for them. They become our princesses and we would die for them.”

“Sounds like your dad and my uncle both struggled when they lost their loves.”

His grip tightens on my hand, and his arm brushes my bare skin, causing goosebumps.

“Both of them are shells of themselves. Dad had us, but Frankie, well, he had no one.”

“I hear you were quite the hero, checking in on him.”

He grins. “Hardly. I just did what anyone would.”

“But not anyone did—you did. I was planning on moving into the uni halls come August, but I’m thinking maybe I will stick around and try to do some good, maybe help Frankie clear his house up and get him back on his feet.”

Tobias stops and looks me in the eyes. “That would be great, Isobella,” he says.

My name sounds amazing in his husky Southern accent. “Call me Ella,” I reply.

“And I’m Toby,” he adds.

“I quite like Tobias. It suits you better.”

“Makes me sound like a dick,” he adds.

“Exactly,” I chuckle, and he elbows me playfully, his laugh sweet as honey.

When we reach Frankie’s, the awkward moment comes when we have to break hands.

I smile at him shyly as I pull my hand back, and he stands watching me intently, his eyes still looking so blue and bright even in the darkness.

“Well, this is me,” I say awkwardly.

He nods and kicks his brown boots in the dirt.

“Maybe see you around, then,” I add.

“Yeah, I’m sure you will,” he replies, and I turn to leave, feeling disappointed that he hasn’t kissed me again.

I close the front door behind me and lean against it. I stay for a few minutes, letting all the excitement that had built on the walk evaporate from my body.

I pull the hand he was holding to my chest and smile. I can still feel his touch on it. Then I hear Frankie walking around upstairs.

“Isobella,” he cries.

“Yeah?” I reply.

“Oh, good, I thought an animal got in here or something.”

“Why would an animal get in here? And what animal?”

“Never mind, I can rest now I know you're home. Did you get a ride?”

“Yes, with Tobias, who was blind drunk,” I shout.

“Oh good, as long as you’re home safe.”

What the fuck? I find it so odd that no one bats an eye at people driving after a drinking session around here.

My dad had said it’s because there is generally no one else on the roads, which is true but still, imagine falling out of a bar in London and venturing home in your truck after.

I head upstairs and climb into bed. Frankie hasn’t seen my face yet, and I’m sure when he does, he will have questions.

I fall asleep thinking about Tobias, his smile, the dimples. I try to shift my mind from imagining what he is harboring under those jeans.

***

My phone ringing wakes me. It’s early and my head throbs. It’s Sara, so I answer.

“Hey, what happened last night?” she asks.

“Oh God, did you go outside? Sorry, I just left, I kind of had no choice.”

“Oh, we all saw Toby getting possessive. What happened when you left, did you and him…?”

“NO,” I shout. “I told you, he’s not my type. Are you joking me?”

~Who am I trying to kid?~

“Well, everyone is talking about the two of you, so you should be careful. A lot of bitches out there had their sights on him.”

“That’s crazy. I mean, what about that bitch last night? I will be wearing my knuckle-dusters next time I’m out.”

Sara laughs. “Tobias always said he wouldn’t marry a local. Maybe you’re the one.”

“Please stop. How was it when I left? Did Tanner end up with the waitress?”

“Oh yes, they disappeared, but I don’t think it was the love story of the century. She was back behind the bar within fifteen minutes.”

I laugh. “Oh gosh, the drama.”

“You should come on Wednesday. We do midweek drinks and there is the hoedown, which is good fun.”

“Sure, sounds good. I said I would pick some work up at the ranch this week, so I will be ready for a drink.”

We end the call when Frankie knocks on my door with tea and toast. I welcome it, and it’s actually the best toast I have ever tasted.

“So, you going to tell me what happened to that pretty face of yours?” Frankie asks when I take my pots downstairs. I run the water and start to soak them.

“This ho”—I correct myself—“girl, she thought I was after Tobias and decked me. She was crazy.”

“Why would she think that?”

“I don’t know. She was crazy. I gave as good as I got, though,” I say proudly, but Frankie doesn’t look impressed.

“You can’t be doing this here. You’re starting university soon. Don’t let a man ruin it for you.”

“A man? You mean Tobias? He won’t ruin anything. In case you didn’t know, I would never let a man control me.”

“You just be careful. These cowboys promise you the world, then they move on as soon as they’re done.”

I clear my throat, embarrassed by the conversation. I assume he is referring to one-night stands, and I have no intention of having one of them, especially not with a guy living so close.