When Britain Invades

I dance on the spot, unable to contain my excitement as I wait for Carla and Mia to come through arrivals. Tobias has his arms around me, trying to keep me in one place.

He was quiet on the way here, and I wonder if he’s nervous.

Carla is quite a feisty individual, and if she doesn’t like someone, she will tell them straight. She has no filter and gets us into a lot of trouble back home with her comments and looks.

Mia is the opposite—she’s giggly, and whenever she comes out with us, she just flutters around the men like a little colorful, happy fairy.

When I start to squeal and bounce up and down, Tobias steps back and his arms release me. I assume he knows they are in sight.

Carla comes running at me first, full pelt with her suitcase dragging defenselessly behind her. Her arms wrap around me, and I can’t stop smiling.

“I can’t believe you’re actually here,” I cry as I step back and take a look at her. “Oh, this is Tobias.” I pull him by the hand back into the circle. He smiles shyly and stretches his hand out to them.

“Well, hello,” says Carla, taking Tobias’s hand. “I have heard a lot about you.”

Tobias turns and smiles at me. “All good I hope.” He is nervous.

“Of course—what is there bad to say about you?” I reply, leaning in and kissing him on the cheek.

After the initial hellos and welcomes are done, we head back to Frankie’s in Tobias’s truck. Their flights had been delayed and it’s really late, so we stop for some food at a diner and head straight up to the ranch.

“This is cute,” Carla says as we walk into Frankie’s.

It’s much better since we cleared and updated it all. I would even go as far as to say, yes, it is cute.

“Hello, young ladies.” Frankie’s voice booms from the other side of the room.

“Frankie, I thought you were in bed,” I reply as I rush over to him like a delighted child. “This is Carla and Mia.”

They all seem to get on great, and we sit out on the porch while they have some snacks. Tobias goes home when we head in.

I’m giving the girls my bed while I take the small storage room. Not looking forward to a week in there, but if nothing else, I am hospitable.

“Thanks for tonight,” I text to Tobias when I get in my uncomfortable bed.

Carla and Mia had both said they liked him, but Carla was holding something back. I’m not quite sure what her true opinion is yet, but I’m sure it won’t be too long until she’s letting it out.

Tobias

No problem, did I pass the friend test?’

Ella

Not sure what you mean Cowboy.

Tobias

Come on, I bet y’all couldn’t wait to get rid of me to rate me.

Ella

Baby, are you nervous my friends won’t like you?

Tobias

Couldn’t give a crap as long as you don’t listen to them 😜

Tobias

Aw, my insecure cowboy. I love you ❤️

Tobias

Get some sleep princess, you’ll need your energy for tomorrow night 😉

***

On Saturday, I let the girls sleep in while I do my run and sort the horses. I decide to visit Tobias on my way back home.

I know he never locks his door, so I sneak in and quietly creep up his stairs. I slowly open his bedroom door and linger in the doorway as I watch him sleep.

I could stay here forever, right here, looking at him as he sleeps peacefully in just a pair of shorts, spread starfish style across his large bed.

I stink of horse and hay, so I remove my clothes and climb into his bed.

“Holy shit,” he shouts as the bed moves under my weight.

I giggle. “Sorry, cowboy, I couldn’t resist.”

A smile spreads across his face, and he pulls me into the heat of his arms.

“There are worse ways to be woken up,” he laughs. “And better ones, for that matter.”

I laugh and lift the covers as I kiss his bare stomach, my eyes on the prize as I move my way down.

***

“Where have you been?” Carla asks from Frankie’s porch.

I smile. “Do you mean physically or metaphorically?” She doesn’t want to know where I have just been!

She grins. “We have been up for hours. What is there to do around here?”

“Not much in the day, to be honest. I sort the animals, go for a run. Give me half an hour to grab a shower and clean up, and I’ll see who’s around the ranch, introduce you to the others.”

It’s a hot day, really hot. The sun always feels so strong in the openness of the ranch. Carla will be happy, as she can always be found on a sunbed in some hot country topping her tan up.

“It just doesn’t hit the same, this heat, without a cocktail in your hand. How do you do it?” she complains as we head toward the stables.

It’s surprising how quickly you get used to it. Before coming here, I wasn’t used to walking, let alone working in heat like this. I had also only ever endured it when soaking it up on a sunbed or beach.

“Tanner,” I shout, ignoring Carla’s ongoing complaints.

Tanner is in the field with his horse, naked apart from his Levi’s and a cowboy hat. He looks like a fucking advert for Wrangler. I guess he got the memo that the Brits were invading today.

Carla and Mia share a look, and suddenly the midday heat isn’t bothering them as their walk speeds up.

“Thirsty, girls?” I laugh as I catch up to them.

“Hello there, ladies,” Tanner says as he bows and removes his cowboy hat.

~Fuck me, which one will he do first?~

“This is Tanner, Tobias’s brother,” I say as I shake my head.

I notice Tobias heading toward us with Jack. They must be heading out for a ride.

“You look alike,” Carla says as she brings her eyes from Tobias back to Tanner.

Tanner screws his face up. “I don’t think so, not really. I mean, he’s the ugly brother.”

Tobias catches his comment as he stops by Tanner. He prods Tanner’s horse, who starts to gallop off. Tanner scowls at his mischievous brother before giving chase.

“Dick,” he shouts as he runs off down the field.

I’m just admiring my guy with affectionate eyes, thinking about earlier.

“Sleep well?” I smirk.

He nods as he leans in and kisses my hair. “We’re just going for a ride before heading down to Nashville,” he adds.

“Did you get your new guitar?” I ask.

He looks at me with a confused frown and shakes his head. “What new guitar?” He asks.

“The one you’ve been eyeballing all week.”

He laughs as he mounts his horse. “Nah, I don’t need a new one just yet.”

It makes me sad that he works so hard but can’t treat himself. I know he has been looking at that guitar since he knew it was available.

“Ladies,” he says as he tilts his hat like in the movies and rides off after Tanner and his unruly horse.

“My fucking God, El, that’s my new TikTok crush. Please tell me he is single.”

“Carla, he is single but…”

“But?” Mia adds as she watches the cowboys ride off in the distance.

“But you ladies can’t be misusing him. He’s like a brother.”

Carla laughs. “Misuse him? As if—have you seen his TikTok videos? He was banned for one of them, and I’m sure he does OnlyFans.”

I shake my head. “I don’t think he does. He doesn’t, does he?”

They both laugh. “I don’t know, but I don’t mind throwing some money at that piece of arse,” Mia laughs.

“Ladies, he’s actually a nice guy, he’s not a piece of meat.”

“Chill the fuck out, El,” Carla says. “A bit of rough is good for all of us.”

I don’t like the way she’s talking about Tanner, and I hope I’m not going to live to regret this trip.

I drive into Nashville early since I want to surprise Tobias with the guitar he’s been eyeing.

I called the shop earlier and put the order in—I just need to collect it when I get there and get it into the hotel room while he’s at the gig.

“What the fuck is this shit?” Carla bellows as I turn my music up. “Fuck, El, you really are a changed woman.”

I don’t want to warrant her rudeness with an answer, but she doesn’t stop.

“It’s Tobias singing,” I finally snap.

“Sorry, hun, but he ain’t no Calvin Harris, is he? Is this what we are being subjected to tonight?”

I shake my head. Was I ever really as rude as her? Gosh, if she is being this harsh, how would the others from England see him? She’s the nice one.

“Just switch the fucking music,” I bark. “And I don’t want any comments like that around the guys. Okay.”

They both chuckle in their seats.

“Okay?” I request. “I mean it.”

“And what’s with the old man?” Mia asks.

“Why, what’s up with Frankie?” I ask.

“He was coughing his guts up this morning. Sounds like he’s at death’s door.”

“MIA,” I shout, “that’s my uncle you’re being so insolent about.”

“I’m just saying it as it is.”

They complain when I drop them at their hotel. They complain about everything. It dampens my mood as I huff off to collect Tobias’s guitar.

As I get into the hotel room, barely able to carry the guitar, I finally breathe. The girls being here is giving me a headache, and I’m nervous about them having a drink tonight.

They knock on my hotel room as I’m about to leave.

“Wow, El, what the hell are you wearing?” Carla asks as she pushes her way into my room.

“What the hell are ~you~ wearing?” I reply as I look her up and down.

She is wearing a full Gucci getup and Gucci cowboy hat.

“You look like you’ve come from the Gucci off-cut warehouse,” I laugh. I can’t help but laugh.

“What about you?” she sneers. “Fucking denim shorts and a vest top. You look like you’re going to shovel horse shit.”

Mia laughs as she lifts up and examines a pair of Tobias’s Levi’s off the floor. “Come on, I have never been more in need of a drink,” she adds.

The bar is rocking when we arrive. I speak to the door attendant, who lets us straight in.

We scream tourists with Carla’s crazy outfit and Mia’s sexy little black dress, but these two don’t give a damn—they enjoy being the center of attention.

I gasp as I hear Tobias start to sing. As I slowly turn from the dance floor, I feel his eyes on me. He has spotted me among the busy crowd and he’s singing directly at me.

I lose Mia and Carla for a while when they head off to scout for talent. I am alone, glued to my cowboy’s eyes.

“This next one’s a new one,” he roars as he catches his breath between songs. He smiles at me from his high place on the stage. “It’s about a pretty princess from outta town.”

I stand, mesmerized, watching as his eyes stay with me for the whole song. Trying to listen to the words is impossible because I cannot make sense of anything he is saying.

We’re upstairs when the guys come offstage. Carla and Mia bounce around for my attention as I hug Tobias and thank him for my amazing dedication.

I whisper what I want to do to him tonight, and he grins as he clenches my body tight and nuzzles into my neck.

“We found some good talent,” Mia grins as she holds up a bag of white powder.

I break away from Tobias’s kisses and smile, but he doesn’t look impressed.

“I hope you’re not going to touch that shit,” he whispers into my ear. I shake my head in response. I’m high enough off him.

I don’t need any drug—I have all the drug I need.