Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
TUCKER
“Are you ready?” I call to Julie from the other side of her door, knocking lightly. After we got home yesterday evening, she still needed the extra rest, and then this morning, she spent the time with her mom and Jessie, getting ready for the party.
And I’m dying to give her my Christmas present.
“One second,” Julie answers, her voice in a bright hum versus a weak grunt. “The party is just now starting.” The door swings open and Julie greets me with a smile.
I catch my breath, taking in the sight of her. “Wow,” I drawl, my eyes pouring over her curled blonde hair and red dress, paired with her cowboy boots. “You look healthy.”
“Ha ha,” she swats my arm. “You’re just lucky I don’t have the strength to knock you out for that.”
“Oh, so you’re not quite healthy yet,” I tease her, smoothing out my green pearl snap. She goes to step past me, and I stop her. “I was hoping I could give you your present before we go downstairs.”
“My present?” Julie looks surprised. “You got me something?”
I nod, feeling a little headed. “Yeah, I did, and I hope you like it.” I pull out the box from my back pocket, handing it to her. “It’s not like I had a ton of time to go?—”
“Tucker,” she cuts me off, gazing up at me. “No matter what it is, thank you. You didn’t have to… You really didn’t have to.” She tears through the paper and flips open the lid, her eyes catching on a silver heart locket. “Oh my gosh…”
I knew I wanted it for her the moment I saw it on the jewelry shelf, and as she pulls it from the box, I’m even more sure of it. She hands me the box and she flips it open.
“It’s empty,” I tell her carefully. “It’s for when you… It’s for when you finally find your person.” I won’t lie, I considered putting a lot of different pictures in there, but I knew it would be presumptuous and borderline creepy if I did.
Julie’s eyes glisten as she looks up at me. “That’s literally the sweetest gift anyone has ever gotten for me.”
My heart thumps wildly in my chest. “Yeah… And Julie, I really?—”
“Wait,” she stops me, holding up a hand. “I got you something, too! I was going to give it to you tomorrow, but I bet he’s here already. Here,” she passes me the necklace “Put it on me. I can’t wait to show it off.”
I can’t wait to show you off.
I take the chain from her and undo the clasp as she turns her back to me and lifts her hair. I carefully place it around her neck, taking in her porcelain skin, her exposed shoulders in her dress. She’s got no idea how beautiful she is.
“There,” I choke out, dropping my hands away before I cross a line. I know we kissed… But we still haven’t talked about it, really. “Julie, can we talk?”
“After I give you your present,” Julie answers me, grabbing my hand and tugging me toward the stairs. “I’m really excited to show you.”
A laugh slips from my throat as I follow her down the stairs, the holiday music thrumming through the house. It’s decorated like a winter wonderland, with garland and fake snow—the whole shebang. It’s impressive, and the scent of hot chocolate and baked goods permeate the air. It’s… nice.
“I just need to find Vinny,” Julie mutters under her breath as we start through the sea of townspeople funneling into the Cooper’s home. Laughter fills the air, and as I peer out through the backdoor, I see people hanging out by the outdoor fireplace. More laughing. Dancing.
This is the epitome of Christmas joy.
And I kind of like it.
“Vinny!” Julie finally calls out, dropping my hand and racing toward our old classmate. I shove my hands in my pocket as I approach him, trying to keep a pleasant look on my face. Vinny used to be a friend—a good one—but he never reached out after Nate and I fell out.
“Here,” Vinny grins, passing a box to Julie. “Exactly as you asked.”
As she turns to me, she holds it out, her face alight with pride. It reminds me of a little girl on Christmas morning, eager for her parents to open a handmade gift from school. Vinny chuckles at the two of us, and then slinks away, shaking his head.
“Come on, open it,” Julie holds it out for me. “I think you’ll like it.”
I don’t have the heart to tell her it’s the first Christmas present I’ve gotten in years, so it could be a rock and I’d be flattered. I snap the box open, and instantly feel warmth spread through my chest at the sight of the custom buckle with my brand on it.
“Wow…” My voice trails off as I run my finger over it. “You didn’t have to do this…”
“Flip it over,” she says softly, biting down on her lip as she meets my eyes.
I chuckle, and do just that, flipping it over. I smile as I see the engraving.
Merry Christmas, Tucker. Love, Jules.
“Love, Jules,” I say it out loud, the words hanging on my lips. Unwanted moisture builds in my eyes, and I blink it away. “That’s a nice touch.”
“You think?” Julie’s voice is a near whisper. “Because I think I need to tell you something…”
“What’s that?” I ask her, finally looking up to meet her gaze.
She opens her mouth to tell me whatever is on her mind, but then clamps it shut, her eyes drifting away from mine. A hand lands on my shoulder, and I startle, whipping my head around.
“Merry Christmas Eve, ya filthy animals,” Carson hums, Cal Cooper right beside him. “It’s nice to see you two tonight. You’ve been holed up in the sick wing of the house.”
I chuckle, shaking my head and snapping the box shut. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“You gonna stay through the New Year?” Mr. Cooper chimes. “I know we talked over the schedule about bringing cattle in, but I didn’t know if we could arrange it from afar.”
“I’m sure I can figure out a way to stay,” I say, eyeing Julie. “Unless she needs to get back.”
She peers up at me, her eyes wide. “Well…”
“My guess is he’s gonna need to get those cattle here pretty quick,” a voice interrupts, and chill runs right down my spine.
Nate.
Carson gives him an annoyed look. “Why would that be?”
“I don’t know,” Nate hums, tilting his head at me. “Maybe because he’s getting kicked off his lease—and that’s why he’s over here wooing Julie. He just wants the land.”
“What?” Cal’s brow furrows.
“That’s not true,” Julie interjects, panic on her face. “He’s got a whole business plan.” I can’t take what’s unfolding as she continues. “He’s not about to lose his land…”
“I am,” I answer flatly, done with the lies. I haven’t been able to breathe with a clean conscience since Nate reminded me of what exactly I’m doing. “The land we were running cattle on is getting inherited by the son of the man we leased from, and he’s kicking us off.”
“He is?” Julie’s eyes grow wide.
I nod. “He is. That’s why I was here to talk to Porter. It wasn’t expansion. It was just survival.”
“Oh my gosh, Tucker…” Julie’s face falls. “I’m so sorry…”
“Are you using my daughter?” Cal cuts in, his hand connecting with my shoulder and forcing me to face him. “You just said that is why you were in town.”
Oh no.
“It’s complicated,” I answer him. “But…” My voice trails off as I meet Julie’s gaze, alight with embarrassment as everyone stares at us. Just lie, Tucker. Lie.
But I can’t do it.
I won’t be that guy.
“I made a deal with Julie to get the land,” I say, which is the truth—just not the one that throws her under the bus. “It was wrong.”
Mr. Cooper shakes his head at me. “I really thought you were a man with integrity, Tucker. But, I guess you were just good at fooling us. Deal is off the table. I won’t lease my land to someone who just wants to use my family.”
“Dad, no,” Julie cuts in, her voice strained. “He needs it.”
“Why would you take up for someone who doesn’t even care about you?” Mr. Cooper shoots back at Julie, all the while Nate grins to himself like he just won the freaking lottery.
“He does care about her,” Carson says blankly, his voice devoid of emotion as his gaze bores into mine, his hands clenched at his sides. “You said you’ve loved her since high school.”