Chapter 1

One

September: 21 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a carrot

M y mom always told me never to hook up with hot foreign men who spoke pretty languages and had legs for days.

“They’re always hotter overseas,” she’d say. “Don’t fall for the charm.”

Right now? I really wished I had listened.

I sat on my bed, crammed into what my mom generously called the guest room. Realistically? It was more of a guest closet. Soon enough, my belly would be bigger than this entire damn space.

“For the love of God!” I groaned, struggling to reach my feet and attempting to tie my boots. This, along with the inability to get my pants on without a fight, was a new development of pregnancy. I’d been showing for a while, but now the real struggles were setting in.

I wasn’t even in my third trimester yet, but my body clearly had other plans. Since the moment I saw those two pink lines, I’d been deep-diving into Reddit threads, gathering every piece of information possible to prepare myself. Because if there was one thing I hated, it was the unknown. If I couldn’t control it, I could at least anticipate it.

But nothing had prepared me for this .

With an exhausted breath, I flopped onto my back and stared at the ceiling. And then because apparently pregnancy had completely rewritten my emotional wiring, I started crying.

Shoving down emotions had always been easy. Hell, when my father passed away, I didn’t shed a single tear. I kept myself in check through every I’m so sorry and every unwanted hug because that’s what “big girls do.”

Another one of my mother’s brilliant life lessons.

Maybe that was the moment I started changing. Instead of processing emotions, I learned to bottle them up, lock them away. It was easier to push through than to sit in the uncomfortable.

But now? Now I couldn’t stop feeling. Every tiny inconvenience set me off like a ticking bomb. My body felt foreign. My emotions felt out of control. I had a sinking feeling that the bottle I’d spent my whole life carefully filling was about to burst.

I sucked in a deep breath, trying to rein it all in. One more attempt at the damn boots, and then I’d accept my fate of slip-ons and flip-flops for the foreseeable future.

But Texas summers only lasted so long, and fall was creeping in fast.

“Is everything okay, Sweetie?” My mom’s voice floated in as she stepped into my closet —I mean, room.

“Yup. Everything is just peachy ,” I snapped, my voice laced with sarcasm. “Why can’t the baby grow the other way so I can still tie my damn shoes?”

With a defeated groan, I collapsed back onto my twin-size bed.

My mom chuckled softly, walking over and bending down to finish the task I couldn’t.

She had been unbelievably helpful through my pregnancy, more than I ever could’ve asked for. I didn’t know what I’d do without her.

She was also one of the most selfless people I knew. But when it came to emotions, she buried hers as deep as I did. My dad had been the opposite, always talking things through, confronting feelings head-on.

“If you don’t deal with your emotions, they’ll rot inside you and make you all stinky.”

His words. Not mine.

Whenever I struggled, he was the one I’d turn to. But losing your father at ten years old does something to you. It changes the way you cope. Or, in my case, the way you don’t.

Now, I was emotionally stunted, a lifetime of feelings bottled up with nowhere to go. And this pregnancy? It was shaking up everything.

“You know, all you have to do is ask,” my mom said after tying my laces, giving the top of my boot a gentle pat.

“I know,” I muttered. “I just don’t want to give up all my independence yet. It’s only going to get worse.”

She sighed and sat beside me, lying back against the bed, her fingers finding mine, intertwining them.

We lay there in silence.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, I welcomed it.

“You’re going to be an amazing mom,” she whispered, still staring at the ceiling.

Just like that, the tears were back.

She knew how much I doubted myself. How much I worried I wouldn’t be enough—not that I’d ever told her. Call it mother’s intuition.

Most of the time, I was barely getting by. I’d worn the same carefree, unbothered face for so long, but underneath it? I was in a constant fight.

Now, my mind was a full-blown battlefield.

I needed this baby out of me.

I needed to stop crying over everything.

The hormones were as impossible to manage as the cravings. And Lord, have mercy , the cravings .

This baby wanted everything spicy. Hot sauce, red pepper flakes—if it didn’t make my mouth burn, it wasn’t good enough. Which was ironic, considering I’d spent my whole life hating spicy food.

“Thanks,” I sniffed, swiping at my nose with the back of my hand.

“Where are you off to, anyway?” my mom asked, sitting up and holding out a hand to help me up.

“Boone’s throwing a party for Aspen. She finished her first novel, and he wanted everyone to celebrate.”

I groaned as I pushed myself up, and my mom yanked me the rest of the way, nearly toppling backward into the wall.

Told you—lack of space.

Seeing Aspen happy with Boone warmed my cold, dead heart.

Boone Cassidy had quite the reputation. He was Faircloud’s own cowboy Casanova, notorious for one-night stands and zero commitment. But the moment he met Aspen, that all changed.

Now, they were that couple. The kind that made you sick with how in love they were. So much so that Aspen had literally written a romance novel about their love story.

Barf.

When the fiasco of getting ready was over, I slung my purse over my shoulder, hugged my mom goodbye, and stepped out the door.

Another struggle in my life? Getting in and out of my 1969 Chevy Camaro.

This car wasn’t just any car. It was my dad’s pride and joy. The day I got my driver’s license, I claimed it as mine.

Driving this car meant I got to relive all those nights I spent as a kid helping him restore her. By “helping,” I mostly meant handing him the screwdriver or holding the flashlight just right.

Turning the key in the ignition, the engine rumbled to life, smooth and strong, just like it always had.

There wasn’t a damn thing I wouldn’t do for this car.

And no one else drove her. Ever.

Well, except for Gus.

Gus owned a mechanic shop in Faircloud and had made a name for himself by being grumpy as hell and a little too blunt. I liked him for it. He was middle-aged, had a mop of unruly red hair, a beard that would make a Viking jealous, and tattoos from his neck to his knuckles.

If I were a few years older… bow wow.

One day, Betsy—my Camaro—started making a weird noise, and I needed a mechanic I could trust. Word around town was that Gus was the best when it came to classics, but he had a mouth on him that could offend even those with the thickest skin.

I walked in that day ready to throw down. We went toe-to-toe from the moment we met and its been a beautiful relationship ever since.

While I was away traveling, he’d stop by to check on my car. Though, I had a sneaking suspicion he was more interested in checking on my mom. I’d told her so many times she should ask him out, but she always got shy and shut down the conversation.

The trees blurred past as I drove toward Cassidy Ranch, the sun sinking lower on the horizon. Boone was throwing the party at his parents’ place—because nothing said rugged cowboy like a romance-themed celebration. Love made people do crazy shit, I supposed.

One thing I gained by moving back to Faircloud was spending more time with my friends. Seeing them again made me realize how much I was truly missing out on.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved what I did. Adventure and photography were my passions. But lately, being back in this town meant something in a way it never had before.

I’d always been a lone wolf.

As much as I adored my friends and my mom, I knew it would be me and the baby until the end because I came to terms with the fact that no one was guaranteed to stay.

Finding out I was pregnant had rattled me to my core, forcing me to confront feelings I’d buried for years. I’ve noticed that even my internal thoughts are a bit more… emotional.

I wasn’t sure if I ever wanted kids. Honestly, I’d always leaned toward not. But the moment I saw those two pink lines, something in me shifted. I looked in the mirror and saw someone else—someone I could be. And just like that, my entire life changed.

Giving up a piece of myself to anyone had always scared the shit out of me.

I’d spent years avoiding attachment, burying myself in work, in adventure, in meaningless one-night stands. I was in my late twenties with zero real relationships to show for it. My priorities had been simple—figure out what city to get drunk in and what guy would keep my bed warm that night.

And now?

Now, I was forced to grow up. To settle down. To re-evaluate everything.

I had been content with the way things were. But how much longer could I really sustain it?

Finally, I pulled into the driveway and parked, letting out a deep breath as I stared at the main house.

Nerves twisted in my stomach at the thought of seeing Aspen and Penny again. A strange, uncomfortable flutter, like butterflies fighting to escape.

Since the gender reveal a few weeks ago, I’d been pulling back. Retreating into myself. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was becoming an outsider—watching life happen from the sidelines.

I was growing up, and Aspen and Penny… well, they were still diving headfirst into reclaiming their youth.

There was nothing wrong with that.

But I wanted them with me on this journey. They were the only two people I had outside of my mom, and I needed them now more than ever. Meeting them was the greatest blessing a girl could’ve wished for.

Moving away after my dad died had been necessary. Oklahoma stopped feeling like home after he was gone. Every street, every memory—constant reminders of what I’d lost.

My mom packed up our SUV and drove us to Faircloud, Texas, and this town gave me something I hadn’t had in years.

A fresh start .

Here, I wasn’t that girl—the grieving kid everyone whispered about. No teachers pulling me aside, no pity-filled glances in the hallways. I was just Theo.

Reaching for the “oh shit” handle, I tried my best to get out of the car.

I failed miserably.

With one hefty pull, I almost straightened.

Then my knee locked up.

And just like that, I collapsed back into the driver’s seat.

I groaned, staring up at the ceiling of my car. “I am fucking going home.”

Muttering a string of expletives, I leaned back, taking a breather before attempting one more time.

It was impossible to describe how demoralizing it felt to be unable to do something as simple as getting out of my own car.

Especially for someone who had always done everything for herself.

“Need help?” A deep voice carried across the driveway.

That word help still made me cringe. It used to be foreign to me, something I prided myself on never needing. Now? It was quickly becoming a permanent part of my vocabulary.

“No thanks,” I replied, shifting in my seat, still fighting my body’s limitations. “I was just leaving.”

The sun was in my eyes, casting a golden halo around the figure near my car.

Then he stepped closer.

Rhodes Dunn.

One of Boone’s closest friends.

He leaned down, resting his forearms on the frame of my open door, flashing a grin that sent a bolt of heat through my stomach.

“You sure?” he asked, arching a thick brow. “I don’t think Aspen would be too happy knowing you came all this way just to leave because you couldn’t get out of your car.”

I scowled. I could do it myself.

Determined, I extended my knee, only to feel a sharp jolt of pain shoot up the back of my thigh.

Fuck.

He was right.

I’d made it this far—it wasn’t worth turning around now.

With a groan, I swallowed my pride and held out my hand. His fingers wrapped around mine, engulfing them entirely. Damn, he was big.

This was the second time he’d come to my rescue.

And the second time I’d let him. That? That was the alarming part.

The first time I saw Rhodes after coming home, my stomach dropped like a ten-pound weight in quicksand. I’d always known he was attractive, but wow , he’d aged like fine wine.

I’d been home periodically over the years, but somehow, I’d never run into him.

Rhodes and Jess had always been a pair—practically attached at the hip. The golden couple. When Aspen and Penny told me Jess had left him, shocked didn’t even begin to cover it.

They had been the small-town Hallmark romance—the kind of couple you’d bet your money on.

And when I saw him for the first time after hearing the news?

I cringed just thinking about it.

I’d awkwardly blurted out some poorly worded condolences, stumbling over myself like a total idiot. Not exactly my finest moment. And ever since, I couldn’t help but feel off around him.

Every interaction since Boone and Aspen started dating had been a struggle to keep my cool.

On the outside, I managed to look calm and collected.

On the inside?

I was burning up.

His flirty comment from a few months ago still played on repeat in my mind.

I’d wished—more than once—that I’d just handed him my number that night.

But even if I had… what then?

By the way, I’m pregnant with a random guy’s baby! I hooked up with him once while traveling in Greece! Want to grab some decaf coffee sometime?

Yeah. No.

I didn’t have the emotional bandwidth for that conversation then, and I sure as hell didn’t have it now.

I’d have to live with wondering what could have been.

Looking at him now, Rhodes was all man—tall and broad, with muscles that had muscles. A bear of a man. Messy jet-black hair tucked under a backward trucker hat. Grass-green eyes that could wreck a girl if she stared too long.

And I was definitely staring too long.

“Thanks,” I muttered, smoothing my hands down the front of my black overalls.

Rhodes’ gaze dragged from my boots to my braids, his lips quirking slightly.

When I stepped away from the car, he reached in, grabbing my cowhide tassel purse from the passenger seat. As he did, his black t-shirt rode up slightly, revealing a sliver of toned, tanned skin.

I nearly swallowed my own tongue.

There was nothing sexier than a man’s muscular back, and I’d bet everything I owned that Rhodes was perfectly sculpted beneath that shirt.

“Thanks again,” I muttered, taking my purse from his massive hands and tossing it over my shoulder.

“No problem.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, dragging his eyes down my body again before glancing at the ground.

For a beat, we stood there. Neither of us moved. The tension between us thickened, stretching tight like an invisible cord pulling us closer.

I cleared my throat, desperate to break the moment.

“Should we head in?”

Normally, when Rhodes and I were around each other, our friends acted as buffers. But now? Now it was just us and I didn’t know what to do with that.

We walked in silence, the pressure to speak hanging between us like a heavy weight.

I chose to ignore it.

“Were we supposed to bring a gift?” Rhodes murmured, leaning in close enough that his warm breath tickled the shell of my ear.

A full-body shiver ran through me, goosebumps prickling my arms.

Inside the backyard, balloons arched over long folding tables, and a massive banner reading “Way to Kick Romance Ass!” hung from the gazebo entrance.

Boone’s family had a pool, but my pregnant ass was not about to get in. I’d happily watch from a safe, dry distance.

“I’m her gift,” I teased, flashing him a smirk. “Guess you’re shit out of luck.”

Rhodes let out a short laugh. “I helped her gift out of the car. Technically , that makes you my gift, too.”

I snorted.

Rhodes was funny.

There was something alluring about a big, broad, brawny man with quick wit and a little shyness beneath the surface.

“Theo! Rhodes!” Aspen’s voice rang out as she jogged toward us, practically vibrating with excitement. She pulled me into a hug before stepping back, her hands still on my shoulders.

“Did you two come together?” she asked, eyes bouncing between us.

“No!” Rhodes and I blurted in unison.

I glanced at him.

He was already looking at me.

“He just helped me out of the car,” I explained, smiling lopsidedly. “The belly gets in the way.”

“My gift to you,” Rhodes said smoothly, bowing like a butler, hand over his stomach.

Aspen cooed, nudging me. “Aww. You didn’t need to bring me a gift, but I’m glad it was this one.”

She looped her arm through mine, dragging me toward Penny and the rest of our friends.

I didn’t need to look back to know Rhodes was watching me go.

I felt it.

But I forced my legs to keep moving.

Because no matter how much I wished things were different…

There was no room in my life for Rhodes Dunn. No matter how devastatingly good he looked in a backward hat.

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