seashells woven in your hair

His phone buzzed.

Not unusual.

You texted him throughout the day.

Sometimes it was something funny Wesley had said. Sometimes it was a picture of a weird bug you'd found outside. Sometimes it was a complaint about the grocery store being out of something. Sometimes it was absolutely nothing important at all.

Rhett didn't always answer right away. Half the time, he couldn't. But he always looked.

Pulling the phone from his pocket, he unlocked it. Several messages sat waiting for him.

The latest one had arrived only a minute ago.

Darlin': heyyyyyy wanna see something cute?

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth immediately.

Rhett: course

The response came almost instantly.

A photo loaded.

Rhett stared at it.

Then barked out a laugh. A real one. The kind that startled him a little.

The snakes were somehow wearing a tube sock.

Well. Sharing a tube sock.

The toe had clearly been cut off. Two little heads poked out one end while the rest of their bodies disappeared into the fabric. The whole thing looked ridiculous.

Like the world's worst sweater. Or the world's most confusing caterpillar.

Another text appeared.

Darlin': they wanted matching outfits :D

Rhett shook his head.

Rhett: snakes don't want outfits

Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.

Darlin': tell them that

A second picture arrived. This one was somehow worse. Or better.

He couldn't decide.

Earle's head was sticking out farther this time, while Natalie looked halfway offended by the entire arrangement.

Rhett: yall are weird

The answer came back immediately.

Darlin': you love usssssss ❤️

Rhett snorted.

Then looked at the first picture again. And the second.

He zoomed in. Shook his head. Smiled despite himself.

You and Wesley had somehow convinced yourselves that the snakes needed clothes.

Which was insane. Completely insane.

The kind of thing that made perfect sense only to the two of you.

His thumb lingered on the screen.

A moment later, both pictures disappeared into his camera roll.

No announcement. No message. No reason to tell you. Just saved.

He locked the phone and shoved it back into his pocket.

Then he pushed away from the truck and headed back toward the fence line.

Still smiling.

—

By the time Rhett finally finished for the day, the sun had started its slow descent toward the horizon.

The worst of the heat had passed, but not by much.

His shoulders ached. His hands were dirty. His shirt was damp with sweat and dust.

And all he wanted was a shower.

Well…

A shower and you.

The drive across town was familiar enough now that he barely thought about it.

A right turn here. A stop sign there. The gas station on the corner. The little Mexican restaurant that Wesley insisted had the best tacos in Arizona.

Home. Not technically his. The apartment he rented was on the other side of town. But this place felt more like home than that ever had.

The moment he pulled into the driveway, he spotted your car. No sign of Wesley's.

Interesting…

Rhett climbed out of the truck and made his way toward the front door.

He barely got it open before hearing movement deeper inside the house. Then you appeared.

A smile immediately spreading across your face.

"Hey!"

"Hey."

The greeting was simple. Comfortable. Familiar.

Rhett stepped forward and pressed a quick kiss to your lips. Just enough to make both of you smile a little more afterward.

"How was work?"

"Hot."

You laughed.

"Insightful."

"I try."

His hands settled briefly on your hips before dropping away again.

"Wes home?"

You shook your head.

"Ran to the pet store."

Rhett narrowed his eyes.

"For what?"

"I don't know."

"That's concerning."

"It probably should be."

A pause.

Then you continued, "He said not to ask questions."

Rhett groaned.

"That's worse."

"It is."

You laughed as he stepped around you and headed toward the hallway.

"I'm showering."

"Good plan."

"I smell like a farm."

"You kinda do."

Rhett pointed at you without looking back.

"Rude."

"You love me!!!"

The response came automatically.

"Yeah, yeah..."

A few minutes later, hot water washed away the day. Dust disappeared down the drain. The ache in his muscles eased. The smell of hay, dirt, and sweat finally vanished.

By the time he emerged from the bathroom, a towel draped around his neck, the day felt farther away.

Quieter. Softer. The house was calm.

No Wesley. No work. No responsibilities waiting for him.

Just the low hum of the air conditioner and the knowledge that you were somewhere nearby.

Exactly where Rhett wanted to be.

The bedroom was cool in a way the rest of Arizona never seemed capable of being.

The air conditioner hummed softly somewhere in the house. The ceiling fan turned lazily overhead. The curtains were mostly drawn against the evening sun, leaving the room washed in muted gold and shadow.

You were propped against the headboard with a book open in your lap.

An oversized shirt hung off one shoulder. The shorts you were wearing were barely visible beneath it. One leg stretched out across the mattress while the other remained bent beneath the blanket. 

Earle rested comfortably on your chest. His body was loosely coiled, head tucked against the fabric of your shirt as if he'd personally decided this was the best place in the house to spend his evening.

You turned a page. Earle didn't move.

A few minutes later, Rhett wandered into the room. Fresh from the shower. Hair still damp. A clean pair of sweatpants hangs low on his hips. The scent of soap followed him into the room.

He paused long enough to glance at what you were reading.

"Good book?"

You hummed.

"Pretty good."

That seemed to satisfy him.

Rhett climbed into bed and immediately stretched out beside you. Face-down. One arm folded beneath the pillow. The other hanging near the edge of the mattress.

The bed shifted beneath his weight. Then settled again.

A long sigh escaped him. Not dramatic. Just tired. The kind of sound somebody made after a long day of work, and finally finding somewhere comfortable to land.

You smiled to yourself and continued reading.

For a while, neither of you spoke. There wasn't any need.

The room filled with small sounds instead. Pages turning. The ceiling fan. The occasional rustle of sheets. The distant hum of the air conditioner. Rhett's breathing slowly evening out beside you.

Every so often, you'd glance over.

His eyes would be closed. Not quite asleep. Close, though.

The kind of exhaustion that came from spending an entire day outside in the heat.

At one point, Earle lifted his head. His tongue flickered. He seemed to study Rhett for a moment. Then settled back down.

You reached up absentmindedly and scratched your fingers through Rhett's damp hair.

The response was immediate. A content grunt. Nothing more.

You smiled again.

The book remained open in your lap. The chapter continued.

Minutes slipped by unnoticed. The sun sank lower. The room grew dimmer.

And somehow, without either of you saying much at all, the day felt finished.

Eventually, the words on the page began to blur together.

Not because the book had gotten boring.

Mostly because your bladder had finally decided it was done waiting.

You slid a bookmark between the pages and closed the book.

The movement earned no reaction from Rhett. At least not visibly.

He was still stretched out on his stomach beside you. One arm folded beneath the pillow. The other draped across the mattress. Hair still damp from his shower. Eyes closed. Breathing slowly and even.

Completely asleep.

Or so you assumed.

Earle remained comfortably coiled on your chest.

You looked down at him. Then around the room. Then back at him.

"Well," you say under your breath.

Earle flicked his tongue.

Not particularly helpful.

You considered putting him back in his enclosure. That seemed excessive. You were only going to be gone for a minute. Maybe two. The snake certainly wasn't going to appreciate being evicted from his warm spot over a bathroom trip.

Your gaze drifted toward Rhett.

Still asleep. Still warm. Still conveniently located.

A smile tugged at the corner of your mouth.

"Oh, he'll be fine," you say, still under your breath.

Earle offered no objections.

Carefully, you slid the snake from your chest.

Rhett remained motionless.

The mattress shifted slightly beneath your weight.

Nothing.

Still asleep.

You gently lowered Earle onto the broad expanse of bare skin between Rhett's shoulders.

The reaction was immediate.

Not from Rhett.

From Earle.

The snake seemed absolutely delighted by this development. Warm. Comfortable. Large. Perfect.

Within seconds, he adjusted himself into a loose coil. His head settled comfortably against Rhett's back.

Content. Safe. Happy.

You smiled.

"There."

Then you climbed out of bed and disappeared into the bathroom.

The door clicked shut behind you.

Silence.

For approximately three seconds.

Because Rhett Abbott was not asleep.

Not even a little.

The moment Earle had touched his back, every muscle in his body had locked. His eyes opened.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

Staring directly into the pillow.

A snake. 

There was a snake on him.

An actual snake.

On him.

Rhett did not move. Not because he couldn't. Because he wasn't entirely sure what the rules were.

Could he move?

Would that upset the snake?

Would the snake fall?

Would it bite him?

Again?

He didn't know.

So he chose the safest option. Absolute stillness. His fingers tightened beneath the pillow. Every muscle in his shoulders went rigid.

The snake shifted.

Rhett stopped breathing.

Earle settled more comfortably.

Rhett continued not breathing.

The room remained quiet.

The ceiling fan turned overhead. The bathroom faucet ran briefly. Somewhere down the hall, a cabinet opened and closed.

Meanwhile, Rhett lay frozen beneath what was approximately two pounds of pure psychological warfare.

Earle, completely oblivious, appeared to be having a wonderful time. His body tightened into a comfortable coil. His head still rested happily against Rhett's warm skin.

Every so often, his tongue flicked into the air.

Exploring. Relaxing. Thriving.

Rhett stared into the pillow and questioned every decision that had led him to this moment.

The move to Arizona. Dating a woman who kept snakes. Allowing the snakes inside the bedroom. Allowing the snakes names. Allowing the snakes to become family members somehow.

A year ago, he'd been fixing fences in Wyoming.

Now, a snake was using him as furniture.

Life really comes at you fast.

The bathroom door opened.

Rhett's relief was immediate. Not visible. But immediate.

You stepped back into the bedroom, completely unaware of the emotional journey he'd just endured.

Your gaze landed on Earle. Still curled comfortably on Rhett's back. Still apparently convinced he'd found the best seat in the house.

"Aww."

You crossed the room.

Rhett remained perfectly still. The same way a deer might remain perfectly still if a hunter walked past. Or a man who currently had a snake on him.

You leaned over the bed.

"Alrighty, baby. back to mama."

Earle lifted his head. His tongue flickered. Then, without any fuss whatsoever, you slid your hands beneath him and lifted him from Rhett's back.

The weight disappeared instantly.

Just like that. Gone.

The threat had passed.

You settled Earle comfortably against your chest again.

Then turned back toward the bed.

Only to find Rhett sitting upright.

Fast.

Very fast.

Not panicked. But definitely no longer pretending to sleep.

His shoulders were tense. His jaw was tight. And there was a deeply stressed expression on his face.

You blinked.

"What?"

Rhett stared at you. Then at Earle. Then back at you.

You frowned.

"Honey?"

Nothing. Just staring.

The look on his face was so serious that you immediately started wondering if something had happened.

"Rhett, honey. What's wrong?"

His mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

For a moment, it genuinely looked like he couldn't find the words.

You waited. Concern growing slightly.

Finally, he gestured vaguely toward the bed.

Then toward himself.

Then toward Earle.

Still nothing coherent.

"Honey."

You shifted closer.

"Seriously. What happened?"

Another pause.

Then, finally:

"Snake on my back."

Silence. A breath. Two breaths.

You stared at him. Rhett stared back.

Completely serious. Utterly sincere.

And somehow that made it worse.

The laugh hit you so hard you nearly dropped Earle.

"Oh, my God."

Rhett looked offended immediately.

"I'm serious."

That only made you laugh harder.

The mattress dipped as you collapsed onto the bed beside him.

"You put a snake on me."

The accusation sounded ridiculous. Especially because it was technically true.

"I know."

You were laughing too hard to get the words out properly.

"I know, honey."

"You just—"

Rhett gestured helplessly.

"Left him there."

The image clearly replayed in his mind. You walking away. The door closing. The realization settling in.

A snake. On his back.

For several seconds, neither of you could speak.

One, because you were laughing. The other was because he was still processing the betrayal.

"I thought you were asleep."

"I was not asleep."

"You looked asleep."

"I had my eyes closed."

"That's sleeping behavior."

"It is not."

You laughed again.

Earle remained completely unconcerned by the argument.

His tongue flickered lazily as he rested in your hands.

"Honey, I was only gone like a minute."

"A minute too long."

The response came immediately. Without hesitation. Without thought. Pure conviction.

You rested your chin against Earle's side and laughed so hard your shoulders shook.

Rhett looked personally victimized. Which, in fairness, he believed he had been.

"Snake."

He pointed at Earle. Then at himself.

"On my back."

The fact that he kept repeating it like those four words explained everything, only made you laugh harder.

Eventually, your laughter settled into occasional giggles.

Rhett, meanwhile, still looked deeply unconvinced that any part of this situation had been funny.

You reached up and scratched lightly on top of Earle’s head.

The snake immediately leaned into it.

"See?"

Rhett narrowed his eyes.

"See what?"

"He’s harmless and i know he likes you!"

The response was instantaneous.

"He bit me."

You sighed. Not because you'd never heard this argument before. Because you'd heard it many, many times before.

"Honey."

"He did."

"I know he did."

"He bit me."

You shifted further back against the headboard.

"Earle was scared."

"He bit me."

"He was scared."

"He still bit me."

You looked down at the snake.

The snake looked up at you. The snake, unfortunately, was not helping his case.

"He was stuck and got scared."

"He had teeth."

You laughed.

Rhett remained completely serious.

"Okay."

You adjusted Earle slightly.

"Then what's actually bothering you?"

Rhett blinked.

"What?"

"The snake thing."

He opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Looked away.

And that was all the answer you needed.

Your smile softened.

"Oh."

A small silence settled between you.

Not uncomfortable.

Just thoughtful.

You watched him for a moment.

Rhett stared at a loose thread on the blanket.

Then, finally sighed.

"It's not really the snake," he said quietly.

"I figured."

Another pause. Then,

"It's Wesley. Oh… what he…"

That got a quick laugh out of you.

Of course it was.

"What's he do now?"

Rhett rubbed a hand across the back of his neck.

"He keeps callin' them your son and daughter."

You immediately smiled.

"Because they are my son and daughter."

"They're snakes."

"They're adorable."

"They're snakes."

You grinned.

Rhett didn't. At least not yet.

Instead, his gaze drifted toward Earle. Then away again. He exhales slowly before speaking.

"I know it's a joke."

You waited.

"But every time he says it..."

He hesitated.

The words were clearly harder to say than he'd expected.

"It catches me off guard."

The smile slipped from your face completely.

Not because you were upset. Because suddenly you understood.

"Oh."

Rhett nodded once.

"I don't want kids."

His voice was quieter now. Almost cautious. Like he wasn't sure how you'd react.

The concern in his expression made something ache in your chest. Because he'd clearly been carrying that around longer than he should have.

"Honey…" You shifted closer. "A snake is not a child." 

A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"I know."

"Earle is not secretly a toddler."

"I know."

"He's barely smart enough to be a snake."

That earned an actual laugh. Small. But real.

You continued before he could retreat back into his own head.

"I don't want kids either."

The tension left his shoulders so quickly it was almost visible. You hated that he'd worried about that. Even for a second.

"Really."

You nudged his knee with yours.

"Everyone is on the same page."

Rhett nodded.

Listening.

"The snakes are just the snakes."

"Right."

"But Wesley and I call them our kids because they're the closest thing either of us wants."

A smile finally appeared.

Properly this time. Small. Soft. Understanding. The kind that always made your heart squeeze.

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"No secret baby agenda?"

You gasped dramatically.

"Damn."

Rhett laughed.

"Thought I'd uncovered a conspiracy."

You leaned your head against his shoulder. Earle remaining comfortably draped across your chest.

The room settled again. Quiet. Easy.

The conversation finished. The concern gone.

For several moments, neither of you spoke.

Then, "Yeah well..."

You already knew from his tone. The argument wasn't actually over.

Rhett glanced down at Earle. Then back at you.

"He still bit me."

You groaned so loudly it made him grin.

"There it is."

"He did."

"It was one time."

"He remembers."

"Earle does not remember."

"He knows what he did."

The snake chose that exact moment to flick his tongue in Rhett's direction.

Rhett pointed immediately.

"See?"

You laughed so hard you nearly dropped your head onto his shoulder.

The heartfelt conversation was over.

The grudge, apparently, would live forever.

"You know," you said, still smiling, "most people forgive things eventually."

Rhett folded his arms.

"Most people don't get bitten."

"Earle was scared."

"He committed a crime."

You laughed.

Rhett looked entirely too pleased with himself.

Earle, meanwhile, remained completely unaware that his reputation was being discussed.

The snake simply rested against your chest, content as could be.

"You are impossible."

"So I've been told."

"Repeatedly."

"By reliable sources?"

"By everybody."

Rhett nodded once.

"Fair."

You shook your head and carefully adjusted Earle.

"Well, I should probably put him away for the night."

Rhett glanced at the snake. The snake glanced back. Neither appeared interested in changing their opinion of the other.

"Probably."

You started to sit up.

"Unless..."

Immediately suspicious, you paused.

"Unless what?"

Rhett's mouth twitched.

"Nothing."

"Rhett."

"Just seems like Earle could stay a little longer."

You narrowed your eyes.

Five seconds ago, he'd been lobbying for the snake's removal.

Now, suddenly, he wanted Earle to stay.

"You're trying to get on his good side now."

"I am not."

"You absolutely are."

Rhett looked toward the ceiling. A sure sign he was guilty.

You laughed.

"There it is."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You never know what I'm talking about."

"Exactly."

Still smiling, you carefully lifted Earle and swung your legs off the bed.

"I'll be right back."

As you stood, Rhett reached out and gave your backside a quick, playful pat.

You yip and immediately pointed at him.

"Behave."

"I am behaving."

"You are not."

His grin said otherwise.

Shaking your head, you carried Earle toward the door. Behind you, Rhett settled back against the headboard, looking entirely too satisfied with himself. Some things, apparently, never changed.

A few minutes later, you pushed the bedroom door open again.

The room was exactly as you'd left it. 

Dim. Cool. Quiet.

Rhett was still sitting against the headboard, one arm draped across his stomach, looking far too comfortable for someone who had spent the last ten minutes arguing with a snake.

His eyes lifted immediately when you walked back in.

"There she is."

You smiled.

"There he is."

"The criminal secured?"

"Earle is safely in bed."

"Good."

You climbed onto the mattress and moved toward him.

Rhett's hands found your waist the second you settled across his lap.

Effortless. Automatic. Like he'd done it a thousand times before.

Maybe he had.

The room fell quiet again.

Not awkward. Never awkward. Just comfortable.

You reached up and ran your fingers through the still-damp hair at the back of his head.

Rhett's eyes drifted shut for a moment.

Content. Tired. Happy.

The tension from the workday seemed long gone now.

Replaced by the simple comfort of being here.

With you.

You smiled softly.

"I love you, Rhett."

His eyes opened again. The answering smile came immediately. Warm and a little crooked.

"I love you too, darlin'."

You leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss to his lips.

Rhett's hand tightened slightly at your waist.

The kiss was unhurried. Gentle. The kind that said everything that mattered without needing a single word.

When you finally pulled back, neither of you moved very far.

Just enough to look at each other. Just enough to smile.

Outside, the Arizona evening settled around the house.

Inside, everything felt quiet. Safe. Home.

And for now, that was more than enough.