Chapter 20
twenty
. . .
Cage
Brinkley
Does anyone want a fun fact?
Georgia
Ooohhh, I love fun facts.
Finn
I feel like there is always a life lesson in your fun facts.
Hugh
Let’s hear it.
I’ll pass.
Brinkley
Of course, you will. Mom and I took Gracie to try on her flower girl dress for the wedding yesterday.
Fun fact. You picked her up from my house, so I’m more than aware.
Brinkley
Fun fact. She told us about a bad dream she had a few nights ago.
Here we fucking go. It was only a matter of time before my sister figured out everything.
And I didn’t even fucking care who knew anymore.
It would be over before it got started, so they could say all they wanted.
None of it mattered. I was doing what I wanted to do, which was to find a way to stop by the barn every fucking morning.
Go for a ride with Presley before we’d fuck like bunnies and talk about life.
I talked to her about things I didn’t even allow myself to think about most of the time.
We had dinner with Gracie almost every night, and then she’d go home, and I’d put my daughter to bed, and then Presley and I would talk on the phone all night until we fell asleep.
So, fuck anyone who wanted to say anything about what we were doing.
I would neither confirm nor deny. This would be my shit show to clean up in a couple of weeks when she left. It was no one’s fucking business.
Again. I was there. And it wasn’t a fun fact. It was a fucking nightmare about a horse.
Georgia
Oh, she loves Sally so much. She’s dreaming about her.
Hugh
Damn. I’d have bought her a horse years ago if I’d known how much she’d love riding.
Finn
I tried. The OLD ball and chain shut me down.
Am I the fucking ball and chain? That makes no sense. And stop calling me old, asshole.
Brinkley
Back to the point. She told us every detail about the field she was running through. The way she chased after her horse but couldn’t catch her.
Georgia
I’m literally crying right now. This is so sweet.
Thanks for this wonderful retelling about my daughter’s bad dream, but I’ve got to make a house call for Mr. Wigglestein. He’s chewed through his stitches, and Mrs. Remington thinks it might be infected.
Finn
You took his testicles, man. He’s just trying to find them.
Hugh
God rest Mr. Wigglestein’s balls.
Brinkley
Hello? I wasn’t finished.
Is there a point to this story? If so, go ahead and make it sometime today.
Brinkley
Well, Gracie shared how she came running out to find her daddy, but he wasn’t in his bedroom. But she was thrilled to see Presley in the kitchen in the middle of the night. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!
She’d stopped by to borrow something.
Hugh
Night goggles?
Finn
Your penis?
Fuck off.
Brinkley
Gracie said it was two o’clock in the morning, and she knew that because she has a clock in her bedroom.
Hugh
Damn. That kid is a freaking genius. I couldn’t tell time in kindergarten. Clocks are fucking confusing.
Finn
I learned to tell time unusually young. She gets her smarts from me.
We have a digital clock, dickweiners. She knows her numbers. What’s your point, Brinks?
Brinkley
My point is that I find it interesting that Presley Duncan needed to borrow a cup of freaking milk at two o’clock in the morning. Gracie said she came by to borrow milk.
Why is that surprising? She lives in New York. It was 5:00 a.m. there. Time for breakfast.
Georgia
I love that you’re having slumber parties with Presley. This makes me so happy.
Listen. It was a onetime thing. She’s never borrowed milk in the middle of the night again.
Georgia
Bummer. It’s been so nice getting to spend time with her after all these years. I wish we could keep her.
Brinkley
She’s not a dog, for God’s sake.
Hugh
Well, Cage does have a thing for strays.
Finn
Move over, Maxine… Daddy’s got a new honey in town!
If you ever call me Daddy again or refer to a woman as a honey, I will throat punch you so hard you won’t ever regain consciousness.
Brinkley
Just admit you’re in love with her, and we’ll call it a day.
There was nothing to admit. I’d never not been in love with Presley. It would be like admitting that I didn’t need air to breathe. But loving her didn’t mean anything all those years ago, and it didn’t mean anything now. At the end of the day, love had never been our problem.
Stay out of my business and act normal tonight.
Finn
Sounds like Daddy’s bringing his honey to Sunday dinner.
Brinkley
I’ll bring the milk, just in case she needs a cup for later.
Hugh
Georgia
Presley was leaving in a few weeks, so I was getting in as much time with her as I could. I’d survived another Sunday night dinner with endless jokes about milk and all of them giving me a hard time.
I’d taken on a new attitude about the whole thing. I was going to enjoy it while it lasted, and I’d deal with the ramifications later.
I was still being careful where Gracie was concerned, though we spent a lot of time together with all three of us. Presley didn’t spend the night at my home with my daughter there, and we weren’t affectionate in front of her either.
As far as Gracie knew, Presley was a friend who was visiting. I’d made it very clear that she’d be leaving.
We pulled up to Georgia and Maddox’s house, as they’d invited Gracie over to teach her how to play pickleball. That was much safer than horse jumping, which was her new obsession, so I would push pickleball even if Georgia was crazed over the sport.
“Daddy, can I still ride Sally after Presley goes back to her home?” my daughter asked as we pulled into the long driveway in front of their house.
I still had a headache from this morning, as Maxine had been escaping from her playpen lately, and she’d made a mess in Gracie’s bedroom.
It was time for her to go back home, but the Langleys were avoiding my calls. I’d deal with that this week.
“We’ll see. I’ll talk to Presley and ask if she has anyone she can recommend to continue your lessons.”
“I want to be a real horse girl like Presley. I want to learn how to jump with Sally.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose at the thought.
It was difficult enough for me to see her on top of an animal that had the capacity to throw her off and hurt her.
But I trusted Presley. And the truth was, I didn’t think there was anyone else that I’d be comfortable with to continue her lessons.
Reese had offered, and of course, I trusted her, but she was pregnant, and Finn was a ridiculously protective dude when it came to his wife.
He didn’t want her riding right now, and I knew they’d argued over it many times, so I wasn’t going to push it.
“Maybe when you are a lot older. Jumping over things on horses is for much bigger people. But I think you’re going to love pickleball.”
“But Presley could teach me.” Her little hand was in mine as we walked up the path to the front door.
I turned around and looked at her. “She’s not going to be here that much longer. Let’s just stick with the lessons that we have left and get used to sitting on a horse before we start jumping over things, all right?”
“Okay. I’m going to be the bestest at pickleball, Daddy. I promise.”
Jesus. Now I felt like a total ass cracker.
I didn’t give a shit if she was good at pickleball.
I just didn’t want her sitting on a horse and jumping over things.
No fucking thank you. I’d prefer if she just stayed home and colored, if I was being honest. I’d been working on something for Presley that I knew Gracie would enjoy, as well.
So, in a way, it was for the two of them.
When the door opened, Georgia was wearing a pink tennis skirt and a white sweater, and she held up a matching outfit for a child, which was clearly for Gracie.
“Are you ready to learn from the best?” my sister asked, and I rolled my eyes as Maddox barked out a laugh.
“I love it!” Gracie squealed and took off with my sister down the hall.
“Does she need an outfit for everything?” I asked, as I followed Maddox into the kitchen and set her backpack on the counter.
“I think your sister has had baby fever ever since Reese got pregnant,” he said with a laugh. “And damn if I don’t want to put a bunch of babies in her.”
“Dude. No. This is not a conversation I’m having with you.” I gave him a warning look. “Sex with my sister is never a conversation we’re going to have.”
He put his hands up and laughed before moving to the refrigerator and grabbing two bottles of water. He set one in front of me as I dropped onto the barstool.
“What are you going to do with the afternoon off?”
“I’ve got to run by Duncan Ranch. Presley and I will take the horses out for a ride and give them some exercise.” I didn’t look at him because I could feel him assessing me.
“You going to be okay when she leaves?”
“Jesus. Not you, too?”
He chuckled. “I’m not getting into your business, and I won’t share what you tell me with anyone.
I just know you, brother. And I can tell that she’s different, you know?
And when that happened to me, I was freaked the fuck out.
And I got to keep her, so I can’t imagine if that hadn’t been an option. ”
“Well, I knew that going in. I live here. She lives there. So, we’re just having a little fun, you know?”
He studied me for a long moment. “Could she practice law here?”
“I’d never ask her to do that. She just made partner at some big, fancy firm. She loves her life there. We don’t talk about it because we’re both settled in our lives. I’ve got Gracie to think about.”
“You’re still allowed to live and have a life. You know that, don’t you?”
“She’s got one parent. The least I can do is give my little girl a stable life, and that life is here.”
Georgia and Gracie sauntered into the kitchen wearing matching outfits, and as much as I wanted to be annoyed, it was cute as hell.
“You’re ridiculous,” I said, kissing my sister on top of her head before scooping up Gracie. “All right, Gracie girl. Don’t let Auntie Georgie get crazy out there on the court. I’m going to head out. I’ll pick you up in a few hours.”
“Love you, Daddy.”
“I love you.” I set her down and made my way outside to my truck and drove the short distance to Duncan Ranch. I hadn’t seen Presley since last night, and I was anxious to see her.
She was waiting for me when I pulled up, and I pulled her close and kissed her right there in front of the barn. I didn’t bother to look around and see if anyone was there. We’d been keeping things on the down-low, as we both knew it was temporary.
When she pulled back, a little breathless, she smiled. “Wow, Cowboy. Kissing me in public. What’s gotten into you?”
“I guess I just don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks.”
“As if you ever really did,” she said. Her voice was all tease as she led me into the barn.
“How about I just check the horses, and we head over to my house instead of going for a ride today? I have something I want to show you.”
“I’ll bet you do.” She waggled her brows, and I laughed as she followed me from one stall to the next, and I took a look at each of the horses.
We were walking toward my truck, her fingers intertwined with mine, because apparently, neither of us gave a fuck anymore.
“Presley, are you leaving?” Barbie Duncan walked toward us. Her gaze moved from our joined hands to my face. “Oh, hello, Kale. It’s nice to see you.”
I’d dated her daughter for many years, and she’d always made a point of letting me know she didn’t know my name.
It was a game, making sure that I was aware that I wasn’t important enough to get it right. I truly didn’t give a shit because she’d treated her daughter like shit, and I didn’t have a whole lot of respect for the woman.
Just as Presley was about to correct her, I squeezed her hand and spoke first. “Hey, Bernese, it’s lovely to see you, as well.”
She raised a brow before turning back to her daughter, who had let out a burst of laughter at our pissing match. “I checked my schedule, and I’m good to go see the spa with you tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it. God knows they need one in this town. It will make it more tolerable to be here.”
The woman had one of the largest homes in Cottonwood Cove, surrounded by beautiful land with views of the ocean, and she couldn’t find a way to enjoy it.
“All right. I’d like that, and Lola would love to show it off.”
“Well, seeing as you and your father invested in the place, I may as well see where my money is going.”
Presley’s shoulders stiffened, and she nodded. “I’ll see you later. I told Dad I’ll be back to join you for dinner.”
“Good. Time is running out before you go back to your real life,” she said, raising a brow at me.
What the fuck was she talking about? I was more than aware that this was temporary. I didn’t need a reminder.
“See you later, Mother,” Presley said as we walked toward the truck.
I opened her door, and she slipped inside, and I came around the driver’s side and got behind the wheel before pulling down the driveway.
“Sorry about that.” She looked out the window as the words left her mouth.
“You don’t need to apologize to me. I know it’s not personal. She doesn’t appear to like anyone.”
She laughed. “My dad and I had this heart-to-heart about her, and I’m trying to see things through her eyes, but it’s not easy.”
Presley proceeded to tell me about how her mother hadn’t wanted kids, and she didn’t think she’d be a good mother, but she knew how much Frank wanted a child. I listened as she filled me in on all that he’d shared.
“Well, I have to say, she raised one hell of a daughter, and regardless of the way she has behaved most of the time, she brought you into the world. For that alone, I can’t dislike her.”
“Wow, that’s quite possibly the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.” She winked, and I helped her out of the truck before she followed me to the front door.
“Then you better buckle up, because I’m about to top it.”
We stepped inside, and she tugged at my hand until I turned around to face her. “Does this surprise involve you being naked?”
“You can’t get enough of me, can you, baby?” I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Trust me. I want you naked really badly, but I want to show you something first.”
“Fine. I’ll have my way with you later.”
I took her hand and led her up the stairs to the loft.
“What is this?” she asked, as she gaped at the room.
“It’s a place for a raven to spread her wings and fly.”