RIVAL: An Enemies to Lovers Why Choose Country Romance

Chapter 32

“You’ve had this permanent smile on your face for a whole week. Tell me what’s got you so happy?”

Edith freezes and looks up with wide eyes. “Uhh, what?”

“You’re happy. I want to say it’s me that’s putting that look on your face, but you’re daydreaming too, and now I gotta know.” Swallowing hard, I ask the question I don’t want to. “You figure things out with that guy from the other week?”

She shifts back and forth as if she’s debating, and when I drop my chin to give her a harder look, she jolts. “No! Well, I did talk to him, but nothing’s been sorted. I just maybe kind of got myself into another situation now and I feel like I’m losing my mind over it.”

That brings me up short. I’m glad I don’t have to fight off a guy who’s snagged her attention after taking her virginity, but it seems as if someone else has stepped up to the plate.

A crack of thunder draws our attention to the door, where we see Ruth scowling in the same direction. Throwing her arms up, she shouts, “Come on, God! Give us a bit of a break, would ya? We’re doing your work here!” Then she crosses her chest and kisses her hand. “I love you no matter what, though. All right people,” she hollers out, clapping her hands together. “Let’s get everything picked up. Looks like we’re done for the day.”

All the able bodies start running around to cover their projects and bring everything inside now the roof is on to protect it from the rain. It’s chaos for about ten minutes until people drift out and run toward their vehicles just as the raindrops start falling.

“I’m going to help Ruth to her car. Stay here for a moment,” I tell Edith, then hurry to usher Mrs. Danielson out the door, doing my best to shelter her from the rain that’s quickly turning into a deluge.

As soon as I’m back inside, I see Edith frozen in the center of the now cluttered space, looking around in horror. “Should we organize this?” she asks, placing her hands on her cheeks.

“Nope, we’re gonna make a run for it and talk. I got some shit to say.”

She whips her head toward me, a bit worried, but takes my outstretched hand, anyway. I yank her out the door behind me. There’s no one left in the small space we’ve designated as our lot, and we haul ass, hunched over to protect ourselves the best we can until we get to my truck. Wrenching the passenger door open, I pick her up and toss her inside before slamming it shut and running to mine.

As soon as we’re both out of the unexpected downpour, another rumble of thunder shakes the windows and we both look up at the sky, breathing hard.

Edith glances toward me, then laughs as she attempts to wipe the water off her face. “Well, that came out of nowhere.”

Nodding, I huff out a laugh. Instead of responding to that, I find myself asking, “Are you seeing someone new now?”

“What?” She stills her movements and seems surprised by my question.

Reaching to the backseat, I grab a few shirts I’ve had lying around and hand one to her. We both wipe the water away as I say, “You said you got yourself into another situation when I asked about the guy. I’m assuming that situation is someone new.”

With a sigh, she drops my shirt into her lap and looks down. “I think so. I don’t even know. I feel crazy because I went from never even flirting with someone before to what I told you the other day, and now…”

She trails off and I lift her chin, so she’ll look at me. “Now?”

“Now I’ve started something with someone, but I don’t think it’s anything other than, well, that.”

Something uneasy swells inside of my chest, and I find myself getting angry. Not at her, but at myself for, yet again, trying to give her some time. “That being you’re fucking someone else now?”

“Jaxon, are you,” she starts to ask, then inhales sharply. “Are you angry with me?”

“No, sweetheart,” I rush to say. “No, I’m pissed at myself.”

The slight fear she had changes to confusion. “Why in the world would you be upset with yourself?”

My laugh is so self-deprecating that she shifts closer with worry. “I’ll get into that in a second, but I got to know Edith. Is that what you were about to tell me? That you’re seeing someone?”

“I wouldn’t say I’m seeing him,” she mumbles. With hunched shoulders, rubs at her cheek and sighs. “I think I started one of those things where you are with someone just as friends because it just happens. Like, maybe convenience, I suppose. He told me when I asked what this meant that we should just keep things simple.”

I narrow my eyes and she quickly clears up exactly what I was about to say this sounds like. “It’s not me being taken advantage of or anything. I wasn’t pushed into it. It’s just, I don’t even know. After that first time, it felt nice to know that maybe others could be interested in me too.”

“So, you’re sleeping with him for validation?” There’s no hiding how much I dislike that idea, but she shakes her head hard.

“No. No! That’s… shoot. I like him, and I’m certain he likes me now as well. It’s hard to put into words, but he makes me feel like I’m important to him. I want to be important to someone, you know?”

She’s staring at me with so much hope that I’ll understand, my irritation begins to thaw. I do understand what’s she saying. She’s looking for someone to value her.

Running my fingers through my damp hair, I sigh. “I know what you’re saying. It’s like a mutual arrangement, a friends with benefits kind of thing.”

It’s adorable the way she wrinkles her nose. “I suppose so. I don’t even know anymore. But I like it. It’s…” She trails off and blushes just before she covers her face with her hands. “God, I’m sorry. There’s no way you want to hear all of this.”

Pulling her hand away, I dip my head to get her to look at me. “I told you before and I’ll tell you again. I don’t mind talking things out with you. I’ll always be that for you.”

With a nervous smile, she silently thanks me. “So, what now? We just going to sit here until the storm passes? This one seems as if it’s going to stick around a bit.”

I debate if I should say anything about how I’m feeling now. Deep down, I know if I don’t speak up, I’ll possibly lose my chance in the future. Carefully, I steer the topic back to where I can bring up my interest in her.

“We can drive somewhere in a minute, but I want to ask you something.”

She sits up straighter and nods. “You can ask me anything, Jaxon.”

Tapping my fingers on my thigh, I just go for it. “Are you only looking for the kind of arrangement you have with this guy? Or is dating someone something that’s on the table for you?”

Edith’s mouth pops open, then she snaps it shut and looks away as she considers my question. Slowly, she begins with, “I’ve not given it much thought, to be honest. My initial answer would be yes. That’s definitely something I’d love to do. Especially because I’ve never done it before. But it’s a little difficult to actually make that a reality right now.”

“Because of the situation you’re in that you haven’t fully told me about.” I don’t phrase that as a question. It’s a truth we both know.

Her mouths tightens in the corners and she nods once sharply.

“But you would want to explore that once you’re out of your situation?” I stress the last word and it’s obvious she’s relieved I don’t press her for more details. But I do add, “Eventually I am going to ask questions, but I want to ask this now. Are you getting closer to being able to get out of it?”

“Yes,” she breathes out happily. “Yes, to your first question, I mean. And also, yes to the second. I’ve managed to put aside some savings since I started working. I actually planned on talking to the pastor and Mrs. Danielson for help to find a little place I could rent.”

Taking a breath, I go for it. “Good, that’s really good.” I turn on the engine of my truck to let the heat warm us up. Unsure what to do now, I ask, “Do you want to come with me back to my place, or do you need to head home?”

“Yours. If that’s alright? I don’t have anywhere to be right now, and I don’t really want to go home.”

A million questions cross my mind. Questions like, why don’t you want to go home? and what do you want to do when we get there? but I don’t ask. Instead, I nod and do my best to steer us out of the lot. The rain is coming down so hard I can barely see out the windshield.

Edith is sitting forward in her seat, squinting out the window with me. “It’s really coming down. Are we going to make it to your place?”

Not wanting to make her nervous, because she’s obviously anxious about the weather, I nod quickly. “We’ll be fine.”

Gripping the wheel, we drive in silence, both of us watching the best we can, but the longer we drive, the thicker it starts to fall.

A dark body darts in front of my truck after I turn onto the road leading to my parents’ place, and I slam on my brakes to avoid hitting it. Edith, bless her, keeps her lips pressed together, but it doesn’t totally silence her squeal of worry when we almost run into the animal.

As soon as I come to a stop far over into the shoulder, she’s shoving her door open to find him—I think it may have been a dog—and running alongside the road.

“Fuck,” I bite out, then shove my truck into park and leave it idling as I follow her out. The rain hits my face like it’s trying to beat me into submission, but I ignore the sting and follow her into the long grass. “Edith!” I shout, the sound of the rain dulling my voice.

She doesn’t react to me calling her name out, whipping her head around, looking for the animal. The rain doesn’t seem to bother her, and when I finally get to her side, she glances up at me with a look of panic.

“Did you see where he went? Did we hit him?” She’s practically sobbing, and I pull her against me, a hand on the back of her head.

Shushing her, I press a kiss to the top of her head. “I didn’t hit him, sweetheart. I swear. He made it to the side of the road. I think it was a dog. He’s probably almost home by now.”

“Are you sure?” she cries out, gripping my shirt and looking over my shoulder.

“I’m positive. Come on, baby. Let’s get back in the truck.” Tugging her with me, she looks toward the tree line once more, then follows, clearly feeling defeated. Lifting her in, I shut the door quickly and hurry to get in as well.

We were damp before, but now we’re absolutely soaked. Wiping the water from my face, I peer over at her and see she’s staring out the window, worried and shivering. “Edith, here. You need to dry yourself off the best you can.”

I hand her the shirt again, but she only holds it in her lap. “You’re sure we didn’t hit him, right?” Her eyes find mine and they’re full of unshed tears. My heart softens with how desperate she is to know he’s alright.

“Come here. I swear to you,” I say, tugging her into my lap and wrapping my arms around her shaking body. “I didn’t touch him. He beat the truck when he crossed the road.”

She nods and lets me hold her. “I just need a minute.” Curling herself into my body, I relax and let her rest against me. We’re both soaked from the rain, and I ignore how uncomfortable my clothes feel so I can keep her close to me.

Lifting her head, we lock gazes, and I suck in a breath. Christ, she’s so goddamn beautiful. Brushing her hair from her face, I cup her cheek and keep her attention on me.

“You gonna be okay, sweetheart?” I whisper. Edith’s fingers are digging into my chest and there’s no hiding the way my heart is thumping under her hands. Her eyes drop and she spreads her fingers further, then peers up at me again.

“Jax…” Her voice trails off, and she implores me for something.

I haven’t even spoken to her about my desire to date her, but with her on my lap, I can’t control my need for her. Bringing my other hand to her face, I hold her face and whisper, “I’m going to kiss you.”

Waiting a moment to see if she’ll deny me, I lower my mouth to hers and taste her lips for the first time. She tastes like everything I’ve ever wanted and more.