Twenty-Nine
Nate
“You hear about that man out where your uncle lives who’s been torturing people in his cellar? Or is it a basement? Or maybe both.”
A small laugh has my stomach shaking. “Don’t worry. I’m sure he won’t come after me in the short amount of time I plan on being there.”
“You don’t know that,” Dad says.
“I think you watch too much news. Look, I’ll call you and Mom when I get there. I’m sure Jace won’t let anything happen to me.”
“I’m sure you’re right. See you when you get back.”
The line goes quiet and I step forward when I see my ride pull up. “You Nate?” he asks through the cracked window.
“Yeah.” I put my bag in the trunk and climb in the back seat.
“You’re aware how far we have to go, right?” He peers at me through the rearview mirror.
“Yeah.” I sit up taller, adjusting my shirt.
“Like, this place is really out in the sticks.”
“I’m aware,” I say lowly, meeting his gaze.
“Alright. Just making sure.”
I check my messages, flipping over to a game when I need something to distract me from the bubbles in my stomach. Am I really doing this? I close my eyes, envisioning Jace helping me onto a horse while never letting go of my hand. Yes, I am.
I tried to stick to my end of the deal, and I did for a little while, until I couldn’t escape the scent he left behind in my bed and couch. I couldn’t escape him. He was everywhere. In my dreams, in my photo gallery, the first name I thought of when I woke up.
It turns out, I really couldn’t do it. But why should I when what we have is something most people could only wish for? I never even saw it coming. The best things in life come as a surprise, and Jace was definitely all of the above. I’ll show up at his door and convince him to change his mind. I’ll remind him I’m not perfect myself. I cheated on my fiancé and I’m willing to stomp all over his heart in order to find mine again.
On the last twenty minutes of my ride, I pull up the note app on my phone and start a new list. I title it, “All the things that make Nate a bad person.”
Didn’t go after the love of my life when I found out where he was.
Said yes to marrying a man I don’t love.
Cheated on my fiancé.
Fell for my big brother.
Went against a deal I made with my best friend
Invited myself to someone’s house without them knowing.
Is considering stealing a horse.
Sitting back in my seat, I hit save and exit the screen. Green grass and trees are everywhere. So many ponds, and cows too. I’m already loving the view out here. Very peaceful and quiet.
“Almost there,” the guy says. “The one good thing about driving here is there’s never any traffic. What I don’t understand is why anyone would want to visit a place out in the middle of nowhere.”
“It’s not really for you to understand.” I shift in my seat and wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans.
“Sorry, just trying to start a conversation.”
And he can feel free to stop at any moment. We reach a long dirt road with only one house on it. Blue and white, exactly like all the pictures Dad showed me. Mom wouldn’t tell me anything about where uncle Judd lived, but she wasn’t going to stop me from finding out.
The car comes to a stop behind a blue pickup and the driver pops the trunk. “Well, here we are. My name’s Andy and I work down at the Stop and Go, fifteen minutes that way if you ever need someone to show you around.” He gives me a once over and my stomach recoils.
“Yeah, I think I’m good Andy, but thanks.” I step out of the car and grab my bag. The front door opens and my aunt steps out on the porch, lifting her hand in front of her face.
I close the trunk and walk up the long dirt driveway as I wave Andy off. He couldn’t even take me to the damn front of the house. I wonder if he would have if I’d taken him up on his town tour.
“Nate, is that you?” My aunt beams, rushing down the steps.
“Hey, Auntie. How are you?”
“Oh my goodness. I can’t believe it. I haven’t seen you since you were small. You know your uncle doesn’t like to leave the state.”
“I know.” I smile, embracing her in a hug. She smells like freshly baked cookies and lilacs.
“I didn’t know you were coming up for a visit. If I had, I would have been more prepared. Your brother didn’t mention anything to me about it. I’ll have to get on to him when he gets back.”
“Oh, don’t be mad at him. He didn’t know. This is a surprise visit. He said I should come out and see the farm, so here I am. Sorry, I should have called.”
“Oh, nonsense.” She waves me off. “You know you’re welcome here anytime. I would just have liked to fix the guest room for you, is all. Unless you’d rather sleep out in the barn with your brother.”
“It doesn’t matter to me where I sleep. I’ll set a tent up outside if I have to.”
She shoves at my chest. “Oh, stop. You know I’d never have you do that. Not unless you were out back deer hunting with your uncle.”
“Yeah, I don’t hunt so that’s a no for me.”
She laughs, leading me inside. “You can put your bag in your brother’s room for now. I’ll go make sure the guest room has clean bedding.”
“It’s really not a bother,” I say and she shrugs me off, disappearing down a long hallway. The door snicks open and Jace walks in, holding a line of fish. “Dinner has arrived.” He plasters a smile on his face but it quickly dies as soon as his eyes land on me.
“Nate?”
“Hey,” I say, squeezing onto the handle of my bag.
“What are you doing here?”
I inch closer, checking around us to ensure we’re alone. “I came to get that kiss. Only I want one every day.”
“Nate.” He presses his hand to my chest when I try to move closer. “You shouldn’t be here. You made a promise.”
“You did too, so I guess this means we both suck at those. We can call it even.” I wrap my fingers around his hand. “I don’t want to be without you anymore. I can’t do another seven years. Please don’t make me.”
His eyes turn hazy. “You’re really stubborn, you know that?” He tugs me closer, rubbing his nose over mine.
“I guess that’s another thing we have in common then.”
He blows out a breath. “I guess there’s no walking away from you, is there?”
“No. At least not for too long.”
He laughs. “Then I guess I better stay where I am.”
“Yeah, I guess so. You can’t resist me anyway, remember?”
He nods against me. “I remember. I remember very well.” He tugs on my bottom lip with his teeth. “I see you’re no longer wearing your ring.” He looks down at my finger.
“No. Mom and Dad don’t know yet. I asked him if we could wait to tell everyone. He agreed. But I think it’s only because he thinks he can change my mind.”
“Can he?” He takes a step back, studying my eyes.
“I don’t think I’d be here if he could.”
“So we’re really going to do this?” He tugs at the bottom of my shirt, narrowing his eyes on me.
“Looks like it.”
“What about your job and everything back home?”
“You are my home.” I stand on my tiptoes and kiss his lips.
Loud footsteps have us breaking apart and I straighten my shirt, feeling the warmth Jace’s hand left behind.
“Are you going to set those fish in the kitchen or keep parading them around?”
Jace’s eyes grow big and he shakes his head. “Ah, must have forgotten what I was doing thanks to our surprise guest here.”
“Oh, sure, blame me.”
“I am.” He grins, walking ahead of me, and our aunt follows us as we step into the kitchen.
“I got the room fixed up for you, hun, but feel free to sleep anywhere you’d like.”
“Careful what you say, you might find this one sleeping with the new foal.”
“Wait, you guys have a baby horse?” I say, jumping up in excitement.
My aunt laughs. “I’m pretty sure that will be on you, Jace, since he didn’t even know such a thing existed until you said so.”
“Oh, what do we have here? A full house.” Uncle Judd walks in, looking between us all. “When did you get here, Nate?”
“Only like an hour ago.”
“You going to help your brother clean those fish?” He points to the counter where Jace sets down a knife.
“I wouldn’t know where to start, but I’m happy to be here for support.”
Uncle Judd laughs, patting me on the back. “I’m glad you could make it out for a visit. It’s been so long since we’ve seen you. Next time you should bring your dad with ya.”
“I’ll try. Dad loves the city, though.”
“Oh, I know. I’m guessing you do too.”
“It’s alright, but I have a feeling I’m going to love the country more,” I reply, smiling back at Jace.