I went with Tim and Skeeter to the property where the frame of the house sat on the hill. It didn't look like much in the setting sun. But it stood as a warm reminder of the future; a hint of what was to come.

A rare Texas snow delayed Tim in January, but he started working with Billy as soon as a clear, warm day came along. I didn't get to help much once the semester began, which Tim was incredibly understanding. He invited me to sit nearby and study anyway, which I took the offer every time.


Tim tugged me toward him after he parked near the house. His lips attached to mine shortly before he let me and Skeeter out of the truck. He went to the trunk and pulled out a bag. His eyes were brighter in the soft sunlight.

"Where ya thinkin' of settin' it up?" I grabbed another bag out of the truck bed. It was heavier than I initially thought. I readjusted it in my arms.

He kissed my forehead and pulled me behind him. Tim led me up the porch steps into the wood maze. He brought me into a big room – the one we deemed the bedroom – and set his bag down. "Might as well set up in the room we'll be spendin' a lot of time in," he said, pulling me close.

I nodded. My face was warm and my insides danced. I could feel Tim's underlying meaning post-wedding. Tim Riggins liked sex, but I didn't expect him to want it more when kids came up in discussion. He turned me to goo each time he mentioned it. It was like the ring on my finger flipped a switch.

Tim started pulling the tent out of its bag, laying the pieces out as he'd need them. I worked on airing up the tiny mattress wondering how one of us would fit on it let alone two.

Tim and I met stares long enough to smile. I loved him so much.

Skeeter zoomed around the house while we set up our sleeping quarters for the night. He eventually tired out and laid on the porch. He watched us work, perking his ears up when I giggled.

Tim was lying in the tent, his boots hanging out of the entrance. He angled himself diagonally across the tent and grinned when he fit.

"You're just too tall, Riggins." I motioned for him to get out so I could put the blow-up mattress in. "You're gonna barely fit on this."

He wrapped me up in his arms and tilted my head up to kiss me. "I don't care 'cause I'm sharin' with the prettiest girl around."

I hummed against his lips and climbed into the tent. "I guess we outta get to bed, huh?"

Tim chuckled. "It's not even 7, Cat. But if you've got another suggestion in mind, I'd love to hear it."

"Not sure how well that'll work in this tiny thing." I ran my fingers along the fabric. "But I'm all right with tryin'." I laid down on my side, propping my head on my hand. My tongue passed through my lips and I giggled.

Tim crawled into the tent, lying down in front of me. The mattress prevented us from having any space between us – not that we minded. Tim grabbed my hip and pulled me flush against him. I grinned.

Our lips touched gently, Tim's hand moving into my hair. I smiled against his lips. He pulled away to kiss my forehead and then wrapped me up in a hug. I nuzzled my face against his shoulder.

"You pick a day yet?" Tim asked, kissing the side of my head.

"I know I don't wanna wait until I graduate," I said, looking at his face. "That'd be too far away."

"You realize we already live like we're married."

"Well, yeah." I tapped his ring finger. "But we'll have visual and legal proof we're together."

Tim grinned and cupped the side of my face. A soft "yeah" left his lips before he kissed my nose.

"Fall would be nice," I said. "Before Halloween maybe. Or after." I fiddled with the top button of Tim's shirt. "That's less than a year away and fall is always pretty. It might be cool enough by then, so the leaves will be changin'."

"Whatever ya want, Barton. It's your wedding."

"Our wedding, Tim. I know they say it's the bride's day, but it takes two to get married. I want you involved in the decisions. You deserve input."

"All right." He ran his finger down my arm. "I don't want somethin' like Billy and Mindy's wedding."

"Okay. I don't mind avoidin' that. Somethin' small and simple is nice." I kissed him. "Anything else you want?"

"You."

"Cute," I said, brushing his hair behind his ear. "As long as you're there, I will be, too."

"Good." Tim rolled me onto my back as he kissed me, successfully rolling both of us off the air mattress.

I laughed when the tent shifted with us. Tim kicked one of the poles and it fell over us. We both laughed as we found our way out of the mess.

"Should have brought a bigger tent," he said, fixing his hair. He combed through my hair, too. "Let me get it set up again."

I kissed him before untangling myself from the tent. I sat next to Skeeter and watched Tim fix it. A grin settled on my face as he walked over once it was set up again.

He sat down and wrapped his arms around my waist. "I love you."

"I love you," I replied, leaning my head on his shoulder.

The sun was no longer visible above the horizon, but there was a touch of light keeping the sky a gentle shade of pink. A few stars were in the sky. It was beautiful to be in that moment, in the calm of the dusk.


A car door slammed, stirring me from my sleep. I snuggled closer to Tim and groaned when I heard the familiar sound of Billy's voice. He was speaking to someone else.

"Hey, Timmy!"

Tim sighed and struggled to wake up. He poked his head out of the tent door. My eyes lingered on the sunlight stretching across his bare shoulders.

"Didn't expect to see you here, Six," Tim said.

I poked my head out over Tim's shoulder. "Well, hello there, Jason Street."

He smiled at me. "I hear you're gonna marry this dummy."

I kissed the side of Tim's head. "Yeah." My smile was wide as I gazed at Tim. "I am gonna marry him."

"It's about time someone made an honest man out of him," Jason said.

Billy nodded toward us. "Y'all get dressed so we can get to work."

"I am dressed," I said, tugging on the collar of Tim's shirt.

"If I know anything about you two, you're not."

I stuck my tongue out and winked before slipping back inside to slip on my jeans.

Tim zipped up the tent and sat on the mattress. He was still in his jeans from the day before – although left undone – his torso on display. He smirked when he caught me staring. "Too bad we've got company."

I tossed a t-shirt at him. "Too bad." I leaned close, almost kissing him but pulling away to climb out of the tent.

I meandered over to Billy telling Jason about the house. Tim sauntered over soon after, buckling his belt as he did.

The four of us started working, finishing the framework for the first floor. Billy and Tim did the heavy lifting while Jason and I bolted the wood together.

"You gonna get this done before spring?" Jason asked. "It's supposed to rain a lot this year."

Tim brushed his hair back and studied the house. "I'll get close. If I keep workin' on it when I'm not at the bar, I'll only need to worry about the roof and some minor things."

"You're gonna work that much?"

Tim came up behind me and kissed the top of my head. "I've got help."

"And I'll make sure he gets plenty of sleep and eats well." I smiled at him.

"Yeah, I'm sure he eats real well," Billy teased with a raise of his eyebrows.

Tim pulled his brother into a headlock and told him not to talk like that around me. Billy shouted, failing to break away.

I giggled and leaned on the handle of Jason's chair. "What a guy."

"I bet Tim talks like that all the time, especially around you."

I shrugged. "You don't need to know, Street." I walked over to break up the brothers, pulling Tim away and giving him a chaste kiss. "Y'all better behave."

"Yeah, little brother."

I felt Tim flip off Billy when his hand went past my peripherals. I rolled my eyes and made Tim put his hand down. Turning around, I pointed at both of them. "You love each other. Y'all can fight when we're not buildin' a house. Let's all be kind."

"Brothers fight, Barton." Tim brought me back against his chest.

"I know y'all like to have little love fights, but we've got work to do."

The brothers muttered. Tim squeezed me a little.

Jason chuckled. "How do you do it, Cat?"

"The Riggins love me." I walked out of Tim's arms to pick up the nail gun. "They want to keep me happy."

"You bein' happy means Tim's happy," Billy said. "Tim wants you happy so you'll go to bed with him."

"Dammit, Billy!"

I sighed when they started wrestling again. I looked at Jason. "Wanna grab lunch while they sort out their aggression?"

"Sounds great. Should we get them something?"

Tim had Billy pinned while Billy tried flipping them both over.

"Nah. I'll let Tim know where we pick and they can meet us later." I lead Jason to the makeshift ramp we made with extra wood. I glanced back at the house. "I'm glad they're play fighting again."

"How's Tim been since he got out?"

"You heard?"

"Billy updated me on the way over."

"Tim's gotten better." I opened the door to Tim's truck and we worked together to get him in the seat. "He had a hard time when he first got out... said he was gonna leave for Alaska when he could. Tyra talked some sense into him. He cheered up after that."

Jason took my left hand and held it up. "Something tells me this had a part in helping Tim."

"Yeah, I think that's a good assumption."

"Congrats by the way."

"Thanks, Jason."

He let my hand go. "Tell me more about it on our way, 'kay?"

I saluted, shutting his door and climbing in on the driver's side. "Can ya text Tim for me? Let him know I'll call once we find a place to eat."

"Will do."

I put the truck in gear and we pulled off the property. The Riggins' goofy fight was long forgotten as we rode into town.