I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed. I really appreciate it. I hope you all keep enjoying it.
Here it is the next awaited chapter...
Chapter 6
Jack woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee and bacon wafting in from the kitchen. He reached over and felt the empty space beside him. Jack rolled over sticking his nose into the pillow, taking in Ennis's scent before climbing out of bed and throwing on his jeans from the night before. Walking towards the kitchen, he saw Ennis standing at the stove cooking.
"Mornin' Tiger." Jack said walking over to him and wrapping his arms around Ennis's waist, not paying attention to his surroundings. Jack became confused when Ennis stiffened up and took a step towards the stove breaking the contact. Jack flinched when he heard someone behind them clear their throat. Oh shit, his mind screamed at him. Turning around he found Alma looking at him from the dining room table. Her arms were crossed defensively over her chest.
"Well…. I was going to ask if you wouldn't mind takin' the girls this weekend so Monroe and I could go out of town. Obviously you already have plans." Jack's face turned beat red. Turning away from the condescending look, he walked over and poured himself a cup of coffee. "So Texans do drink coffee." Alma said sarcastically causing Jack even more confusion. Ennis changed subjects immediately.
"I don't mind takin' the girls." Alma looked back and forth between Ennis and Jack.
"No, that's fine." She said coldly. "I don't want to interrupt your fishin trip. I'll just see if my sister can watch 'em for the weekend." Jack heard the disgust in Alma's voice and saw the hurt in Ennis's eyes from it, so he decided to step in.
"We ain't goin' fishin' this weekend, ma'am… So the girls are plenty welcome here."
"All the same, I'm sure you boys will want you're… alone time." Alma stood and started walking towards the door. "My sister really won't mind. It's not like she hasn't done it a lot before." Ennis flinched at this and went back to cooking.
"If'n you don't want the girls around me you might as well just say so." Alma turned back around to look at him inhaling deeply and let the breath out on a frustrated sigh.
"Fine I'll drop 'em off on Friday after school." She turned back around to leave letting the door slam shut behind her. Jack took a sip from his coffee. Walking up behind Ennis, Jack placed a hand on his shoulder that Ennis cringed away from. Jack quickly removed it and went to sit at the table. Ennis finished the bacon and threw it and some toast on a couple of plates. What he saw when he turned to put the food on the table made him feel like he had just been sucker punched in the stomach, leaving him feeling wracked with guilt. Jack sat there staring into his looking like a kid who had just been told there is no Santa. Jack didn't look up when Ennis set the plates down. Ennis sat in the chair near Jack, looking at him. Ennis leaned forward using a finger under Jacks chin to push his head up to get Jack's eyes to meet his.
"I'm sorry." Ennis leaned in softly pressing his lips against Jack's and then slowly pulling back. "I know it wasn't your fault. I just wasn't prepared for Alma ta find out 'bout us so soon. Specially not like that."
"She's bound to find out, Ennis… unless ya thought ya could actually keep this a secret." Jack said turning his eyes back down to the table.
"Don't see why not… still don't, I guess. She don't really know nothin'. Bet we could convince her same as always… just a friend. An' the girls are too young to figure anythin'. We could still keep it goin'." Ennis shrugged casually taking a bite out of his toast.
"Ennis, I don't know what ya were listenin' to just then… but she knows. Did ya hear the way she said 'fishin'? Ennis, she's known a long time I s'pect."
"Eat your food." Ennis ignored the argument and shoved the other plate to Jack. Jack looked at the plate
"Toast an' bacon? No eggs or nothin'?"
"Eat what ya got or make somethin' yerself." Ennis grumbled, having a feeling where this was going.
"You just don't even wanna try to make eggs anymore just cuz ya can't make em right." Jack laughed.
"They either get to runny or the yolk gets hard. You want eggs the kitchen is open to ya."
"There's somthin' I need ta tell ya." Jack said with a straight face. Not being able to hold it very long he broke into a grin. "I never much liked eggs." Ennis smirked and popped a piece of bacon into his mouth. "There really is somethin' I need to tell ya bout though. Ya remember how I told ya LD would practically pay me to leave Lureen?" Ennis nodded. "Well he did give me some."
"Okay." Ennis said, taking another bite from his toast. "How much?"
"70,000." Ennis inhaled sharply forgetting about the toast in his mouth. A coughing fit and watering eyes startled Jack. "Jesus, Ennis!" He brought his arm back and slapped the other man hard on his back, producing a gulping noise and a groan.
"Hard enough, Jack?" Ennis croaked sarcastically clearing his throat to ease the scratchiness left behind. Jack handed Ennis his coffee and stood up to grab another cup. Jack sat back down looking at Ennis.
"You ok now?" Ennis nodded taking a sip of coffee.
"Ya did say 70,000, right?" Jack nodded giving Ennis a few minutes to take this information in while he ate his breakfast.
"What did ya have in mind for it?" Ennis asked. Jack looked up from his now empty plate.
"Was thinkin' of usin' some of it for a down payment on house. Somethin' with a couple extra rooms for the kids." Ennis thought about this for a moment.
"Not a bad idea. Saw a place for sale not far from here. How exactly was ya planin' on us makin' payments though? I barely make enough to pay the child support and keep myself in this place."
"I won't be livin' off ya, Ennis. I was thinkin' of usin' the rest of the money to open a business of my own. Maybe get a business loan If'n I need it."
"What kind of business did ya have in mind?" Ennis asked.
"Well maybe a bar." Jack looked unsure. Ennis leaned towards him giving him a quick reassuring kiss.
"I'm sure you'll do fine. A couple of the guys at the ranch was complainin' about their usual one gettin' closed down."
"Thank you." Jack kissed Ennis again, and then stood up to take the plates to the sink. Jack felt Ennis's arms slip around his waist. Ennis nuzzled Jacks neck, inhaling deeply. A shiver ran through Jack's body when he felt Ennis's mouth right next to his ear.
"You smell real good this mornin'." Ennis whispered, nipping at Jack's earlobe.
"So do you." Jack groaned turning and pushing Ennis towards the bedroom.
I hope you all enjoyed it. More reveiws welcome if you have the time and energy. :) :) :)
More to come soon I promise.