Saddle Up, Cowboy (Tyler Owens x Reader)
You and Tyler are new thing. Still in the early 'honeymoon' stage of your freshly blossoming relationship. You/d both been best friends for as long as you can remember, meeting in meteorology class, yet you both went your separate ways after graduation. It wasn't until a few years ago that Tyler called you asking if you wanted to join is wayward, rag-tag team of storm chasers. And how could you say no to that?
Tyler had always had a place in your heart, and you were convinced if that was always just as friends, then so be it. Yet one night, after a particularly rough chase and you'd returned back to the motel, exhausted and in desperate need of a strong drink - Tyler had pulled you to one side and kissed you like his life depended on it. Ever since then, you'd been even more inseparable than before.
Now as you enjoy the festivities after another successful chase, no thanks to Kate's help, you can't take your eyes off of Tyler as he converses with Boone about your next outing. From both of their hand gestures, you can only assume that they're discussing some form of new firework compromise, Boone currently losing the debate.
Tyler looks up and catches your eye, with a grin and a wink, he tips his cowboy hat in your direction - causing a giggle to fall from your lips. A cough from your left interrupts your train of thought, you turn to face Lily who has a more than amused expression on her face.
"Just go over there and make out already, Jesus." She shakes her head at you, a smile on her face as she reaches across and takes your half finished cider out of your hands. "Go. Your cowboy awaits." You both laugh as you take the hint. With no further encouragement, you all but skip over to where Tyler and Boone are still bickering like children.
"Hey, cowboy." Wrapping your arms around Tyler's waist, you leave a delicate kiss on his cheek before tucking yourself into his chest.
"Hey, darlin'. You good?" You nod against him as he wraps his arms around you. "That's my girl." Boone chuckles at the two of you, so happy to finally see his best friend happy with someone just as adventurous as he is. You're more than happy to stay content in Tyler's arms as he discusses tornadoes, you love the weather just as much as he does.
After a while you untuck yourself from his arms and lean back to look at him, taking in his cowboy hat once again. Without a second to really think it through, you take the hat from his head, twirling it around in your hands.
"Hey, pretty girl, what you doin' now?" There's a teasing caution in his eyes as he pathetically tries to take it from your grasp.
"Nothing, cowboy. Just know you look cute with your hat hair after wearing this thing all day." You giggle to yourself, meeting his eyes as you ruffle his hair with one hand, his hat still lightly held in the other.
"You're cute. Now give it back." The laugh that falls out of Tyler's mouth has you practically swooning - you always have loved his laugh. With a delicate shake of your head, you take one, then two steps backwards from him. Your boots dragging through the dirt of the parking lot. "Darlin'." With an innocent look on your face, you hide the hat behind your back as you keep stepping backwards, Tyler moving away from Boone to follow you. You're both laughing now, the rest of the group watching with amusement. Yet the second you go to place the hat on your head, Tyler swears he stops breathing.
"Darlin', I wouldn't." You frown in confusion at the sudden seriousness on his face.
"What?" The pout on your lips almost has Tyler on the ground in cardiac arrest. "Do you not think I'd look cute in your hat, Ty?" Why would he not want you to wear his hat?
"Darlin, that's no-" Too late. You've placed the hat on your head. And it's like someone has pressed paused on the remote. Every single person in that parking lot is silent.
Tyler stands dumbfounded as he refuses to break eye contact with you. "Fuck."
A few seconds pass where you both just stand there, you very confused, Tyler looking like he's about to combust. But Boone doesn't let the silence settle for long before he hoots and hollers - the rest of the group following suit. You're surrounded by the sound of whistling and cheering and you have no idea why. At this point you're baffled.
"What the hell is going on Tyler?"
He's there in a second, pushing the brim of the hat upwards so he can look you in the eyes properly.
"Darlin', you never heard of the hat rule?"
"Th- the hat rule? No. Should I?" You go to reach for the hat, ready to take it off and give it back but he stops you, grabbing your wrist softly in his hand. His touch sending shivers up your arm.
"Well- How do I-" There's a flush spreading up his neck, crawling up his cheeks as he gaze flits between your eyes, the hat and your lips.
For a brief moment, Tyler drops his head down and you miss the mumbled comment that slips from his mouth. "Tyler." The softness of your voice breaks him as he quickly looks back up to your face and rushes out -
"You wear the hat, you ride the cowboy."
For a second you're completely gobsmacked, your face flushing slightly. A little embarrassed but also intrigued by the situation you unknowingly put yourself in. Without thinking, you grab Tyler by the front of his jeans, fingers digging into the leather of his belt as you pull him closer towards you. There's a look of surprise on his face as he recognises that devious look in your eyes.
"Then saddle up, cowboy."