Chapter 3 – Clay
After dropping Maggie off at her dad’s house, I drive straight to Ashwood Farm, refusing to let my mind overanalyze our interaction or dwell on why she’d been with that loser I had to call a cab for back at the station.
I recognized the guy once I heard his name—his dad proudly calls him his protégé. What I never thought was that he’d be foolish enough to drink and drive, especially not with someone else in the car with him.
Especially not with Maggie.
I slap the steering wheel hard, shaking my head in frustration, wondering why Maggie would do something like that to disappoint her father.
I know I’m acting ridiculous. It isn’t my place to care.
She’s always been just a kid to me—the babysitter for my nieces and nephews and fifteen years younger.
I’d made sure to drive that point home last summer, like an asshole, when she’d finally mustered the courage to tell me she thought I was handsome.
It was just a simple compliment, but I’d seen the way she’d observed me over the years, and I wanted to shut it down, stop her young imagination from running wild.
I shake my head, trying to erase the sad look on her face from my memory when I did my best to gently let her down that summer.
But damn if she hasn’t grown up.
And damn if I’m not a man who had taken a second and third look at her in that tiny sundress today.
She is forbidden to me. Not only is she closer in age to my feral nephews, the little thirteen-year-old monsters who I’d lay down my life for, but are consistently fucking up just about everything they can possibly get their hands on at Ashwood ranch, but she’s also my new boss’s daughter, and Lonestar Junction’s sweetheart.
If I remember correctly, I think she’d won Little Miss Lonestar Junior at the town’s fair four years ago.
Definitely not going there.
My attention thankfully shifts as I pull into Ashwood ranch’s driveway, ready to help my brother with his list of tasks that the employees we pay to do have messed up.
After three hours of non-stop hard, manual labor, six in the evening has rolled around. I’m mentally and physically exhausted, and hungry after the long day I’ve had juggling both jobs.
“Are you staying for dinner tonight?” Nash asks.
“I think it’s the least you can do to repay me for all of the free manual labor I’ve just done for you.”
Nash chuckles, slapping me on the back as he guides me into the rancher.
His wife, my sister-in-law and friend Jovie, has made a hearty meal of pork roast and green beans with enough food to feed a small army though I guess with twin, teenage boys, it probably feels like she’s feeding a fleet most days.
“What’s up, shithead?” my nephew, Cody Cameron—better known as ’Twin A’—greets me as I enter the dining room. He is already at the table, halfway through his dinner, still in his middle school football jersey, tearing into his meal like he hasn’t eaten in days.
“Hey Twin-A. How’s school going? Staying out of trouble?”
He shrugs, “School’s alright. Football is fun.”
“He means he’s failing Algebra, and he likes the attention he gets from the girls by being the star quarterback,” his twin, Wilder Cameron, also now as ′Twin B,′ responds.
“Does the obsession with girls’ attention really start this young?” I ask Nash who’s just entered the room, catching the tail end of the conversation.
“You’d be surprised how soon a lot of weird teenage stuff starts.”
I laugh while the twins groan and roll their eyes at their dad.
“Would you like wine or beer with dinner?” Jovie asks.
At only forty-two years old, she’s still one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.
We’ve shared a special bond from the moment we’d met, likely because I was the only Cameron who hadn’t given her a hard time when she moved down to Lonestar Junction, trying to find her footing in the ranching world and take control of her grandfather’s property.
I believed in her and took a focused interest in helping her get up to speed at Ashwood Ranch and supporting her and Nash’s relationship as it developed along the way.
She’d repaid me with unwavering friendship and an ear to listen, something I’ve come to rely on over the past few years.
“No thanks. I haven’t felt like drinking much lately,” I respond.
Nash raises a brow but remains silent. He’s never been one to instigate or pry, unlike my oldest brother Wylie, though I know inside he’s dying to ask what has suddenly caused me to sober up.
Especially since the last few years have revolved around me stumbling into his house every night, black out and half naked.
“Well, change is good,” Jovie says taking a seat with a gentle smile.
“Is change good, or do we just tell ourselves that in order to appease the fact that we have no choice but to change in the face of challenges?” Wilder asks.
Jovie smiles at her son, “I think you might have a point. But embracing the fact that change, even when it feels bad or hard, can work for our good, is more of a mindset shift than anything.”
He sighs deeply and I wonder what could possibly be burdening a thirteen-year-old who has zero worries, bills and knows nothing about serious heart break.
“So how are things going with the Fire Department?” Jovie asks.
“And when are you quitting and coming back to manage Ashwood for me again?” Nash interjects.
I bark out a laugh as I pop a piece of the tender pork into my mouth.
“Never, Nash. I’m not coming back full-time. I’ll only step in if you really need me. I’m committed to seeing things through with the department—Chief Hollister is grooming me to take over in the next few years and I enjoy the work and hours I’m given.”
Jovie pats Nash’s hand lovingly as she smiles at me, “That’s amazing, Clay. You’ve really come into your own and seem to be finding your way in your new career. There’s nothing wrong with working in something outside of the family ranches.”
“Fire fighters are cool,” Cody says shrugging.
“So is the ranch,” Wilder retorts.
My bets on Wilder taking over Ashwood someday.
I know Jovie had said that last part more for Nash’s benefit than mine.
She and I have had countless discussions about my goals and dreams since Savannah and I split—when my world turned upside down.
Jovie is also the only one, besides Dallas, that I’ve confided in about my new recreational hobby.
She’s been supportive, though cautious, always texting me every night afterward to make sure I make it out okay.
“Jovie’s right. You’ve changed since starting work at the station. You seem more grounded, less tired and you’ve beefed up. No longer the skinny boy Wylie and I used to toss around,” Nash says with a chuckle as Jovie hides her smile behind her wine glass.
Working for the fire department came with plenty of perks, and access to their state-of-the-art workout equipment was one of them. It had been a game-changer for my recent muscle growth and bulking up and something that Dallas and I leveraged often for free.
“Thanks, bro.”
“How did your date go last week?” Jovie asks.
I shake my head. “Didn’t end up going.” Which was true, I’d cancelled at the last minute.
In the past six months since joining the department, I’ve not only stayed sober, but I’ve also overhauled my entire lifestyle—changing my diet, taking my mental health seriously, and being more intentional about the relationships I spent time pursuing.
I’ve also been completely celibate during that time, fully locked in and focused on my goals.
“I’m just working on myself right now.”
Cody and Wilder both snort in sync as Jovie shoots them an exasperated look.
“What? Clay’s going to be single for forever if he’s staying away from women to ′work on himself,’” Wilder responds.
“That’s old people code for not being able to land any girls,” Cody chimes in.
I laugh. “‘Landing’ women has never been an issue for your uncle.”
Cody makes a face and an eye roll while Wilder wipes tears in his eyes.
“There’s no time better than your thirties to work on yourself. That’s when I met Jovie, and Wylie met Stevie. You’ll find someone worth settling down for eventually.”
I stifle the eye roll that I want to unleash on my brother.
Wylie and Nash had been completely whipped from the moment they met the Vector sisters, and sure, I couldn’t blame them.
Beautiful faces, stunning curves, and hearts of gold—even with Stevie’s sharp wit and a temper that could match Wylie’s.
But ever since they’d both found love and gotten married, they seemed to think everyone was destined for the same wild, insta-love that they’d experienced.
As for me, I’m not so sure anymore.
Lately, I’ve started to wonder if some people are just better off alone. Especially after seeing Savannah’s recent Facebook announcement—pregnant by the guy she was seeing while we were still together.
“Well, this has been fun. Getting roasted by my two monster nephews, having my lack of dating ridiculed, and enjoying dinner like old times at Ashwood ranch,” I lean back in my chair, resting my hands on my rock-solid abs—no trace of fat left after months of intense, focused work.
I’m mostly teasing, but I do have somewhere to be now.
“Thank you for the meal, Jovie. Nash, for the hard, manual labor that I didn’t need after an already physically taxing day at the department,” He chuckles as he stands to clear the plates, “and my two favorite twins in the world, for the entertaining conversation.”
“I’m pretty sure we’re the only twins you know,” Wilder says, shoveling another bite of pork into his mouth.
“Not if you count the ones Savannah’s about to have,” Cody retorts.
Jovie shakes her head and sighs loudly, scolding the boys while Nash suppresses a laugh from the doorway.
“What? It’s true. I’m sure Clay’s seen the announcement. It’s all-over social media.”
I laugh, listening to my nephews—it’s like seeing a younger version of my brothers and me, constantly picking on each other, and dishing out relentless teasing.
Despite the age gap, we’d shared some fun years together when we all lived close at Cameron Ranch, practically on top of each other.
Three boys, always in each other’s business, whether it was work or our personal lives.
We drove each other crazy, but in that strange way only brothers can, we found fun and love in the chaos.
Probably why we all ended up living together again years later.
“Where are you headed tonight?” Jovie asks, though I can tell by her tone what she’s really asking.
“Out for a bit with Dallas, then in for the night. I have another double this weekend at the department.”
She nods, a hint of concern creasing her forehead that she tries to hide. As she stands to hug me and gently kiss my cheek, she whispers softly, “You’ve had a long day. Please be safe and don’t push yourself. Love you. Text me when you’re home tonight.”
“I will.”
And I would. I always made sure I let her know when I got home after being out. I owed Jovie that much for keeping my secret and supporting me when I’d first told her what I was doing with Dallas.
With that, I head out to my truck, ready to stop briefly at home before meeting with Dallas to head to the place where I currently felt the most myself…