Cut and Run 6 - Stars and Stripes

dinner.”
    Sadie hugged Ty’s head closer. “But I want to play now!”
    “Sadie.”
    “I’m not a Sadie, I’m a princess!”
    “Fine, you’re a princess,” Annie said as she came closer. “You’re Princess Doesn’t Listen. Hand out the hugs and let’s go.”
    Sadie looked back at Ty, batting those long lashes at him. She put her hands together under her chin. “Please, will you play with me?”
    “Oh Lord,” Ty laughed. “Sweetheart, I’ll do whatever you want me to after dinner.”
    “Yay!” She jumped up and down, then lunged at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Ty gasped in surprise, and then she was gone, darting over to the deck doors to throw herself into Zane’s arms for a hasty embrace. He laughed as he picked her up, hugging her close even as she struggled to get down again.
    Ty sat up and watched them, smiling faintly. He’d rarely seen Zane interact with a child, and Zane was always uncomfortable when he did. He didn’t appear to be now, though, and it was an odd feeling to watch him with the little girl.
    Annie smiled and walked over to Ty, offering her hand. “Welcome to the C and G. It’s great to meet you in person.”
    Ty stood to shake her hand. It was hard with just the tips of his fingers poking out of the plaster cast, and he kept forgetting to offer his left hand when he was surprised with a handshake. He felt like an idiot giving the weak finger shake, but what could he do?
    “You sure pulled out all the stops with the welcoming committee,” he said, gesturing toward her daughter.
    “If it makes you feel better, she’s like that with everyone.”
    “She’s a little sparkplug,” Ty drawled. He looked at Zane again. He had Sadie propped on his hip, watching her with a smile as she chattered about her pony that she insisted was pink.
    Annie laughed. “You have no idea.”
    “Mama, I want to see my pony,” Sadie announced.
    “What’s your pony’s name?” Zane asked as he set her down.
    “Pink Pony!”
    Annie laughed at the expression on Zane’s face. Ty glanced at her, but found his eyes going back to Zane.
    Zane shook his head and kissed Sadie’s cheek. “She’s your pony. I guess you can name her what you want.”
    “Uncle Z had a pony named Tortilla,” Annie told them.
    “That’s a silly name for a pony,” Sadie said with a frown.
    Zane shot Annie a look before glancing at Ty. Ty smiled warmly when their eyes met. Zane looked back at Sadie. “All right. Go see Pink Pony, and I’ll see you for dinner at Granddaddy’s house, okay?”
    “Okay!” she answered, hugging Zane around the leg before running for the door.
    “Did you say good-bye to Ty?” Annie called after her.
    She didn’t stop running, merely blew him a kiss over her shoulder and followed it with a trailing, “Bye!”
    “See you guys later,” Annie said with a wave before jogging after her runaway.
    When they were gone, peace and quiet again descended. Ty watched the door for a minute longer, and then looked at Zane with a raised eyebrow. “Wow.”
    “Sorry she woke you.” Zane moved close and slid his arms around Ty’s waist. “She promised to stay quiet.”
    “Yeah, I’ve seen that type before. She’ll never be quiet again.”
    Zane laughed.
    Ty put his hands on Zane’s shoulders. “It’s okay, I love the creepy feeling of waking up to someone staring at me.”
    “Did you get any rest?”
    “Some. You?” He gave Zane a tug and started backing toward the couch.
    Zane went along, keeping his arms around Ty. “I sat and stared at you while you slept.”
    “Look who thinks he’s funny.”
    “I’m so glad you’re here,” Zane said as he held tight to Ty and rested his chin on Ty’s shoulder.
    “I just came to get a hat.”
    Zane laughed and kissed him, bending him backward just enough to force him to hold onto Zane so he wouldn’t fall. It made the butterflies start churning in his chest. He loved when Zane did that to him.
    “Then you’re in luck,” Zane said against his lips. “I know just the place to find one.”
    “How far away from dinner are we?” Ty asked roughly.
    “Formal dinner’s at eight. Drinks beforehand. So we’ve got about thirty minutes. What have you got in mind?”
    “I was just wondering if anyone else would be stopping by to look through those big-ass windows or if I could ride you down here on the couch,” Ty said, forcing his voice to sound nonchalant. Zane’s breath caught on a sharp exhale, and Ty plucked at