Chapter 33
Chapter thirty-three
Jett
She's here.
Not only did I know she was here, but I could feel her presence since the second they stepped onto the property. It consumes me, as it always has.
I've watched her from afar for six years, and now she's here. With another guy, at that.
The anger coursing through me at that fact is unmatched.
I was taken aback last month when Ander announced that he had found his way back to Via. I had always hoped that would be the case for Izzy and me, but that was cut short when I learned she was exclusive with someone else.
I had a hunch she was with the guy from his multitude of social media posts that included her. However, not one single post of hers has ever included him. I had made the assumption that he was into her, but in typical Izzy fashion, she didn't entertain anything more.
That is, until I learned otherwise.
A relationship.
The one thing she could never seem to do with me.
Why was I not good enough? Why was I not the one?
Did I not show my love the way I was supposed to?
Did she not feel the same way about me? Obviously, she didn't. But, again, why?
I felt it. I know it was real. She could say otherwise all she wanted.
We were real. For some reason, I wasn't enough; apparently, he is.
The thoughts race, attempting to consume me as they usually do, where she's concerned, and I attempt to bury them with work. It's what I've become good at over the past six years.
"Henry," I call out.
"Yeah, boss?"
"Would you stop calling me that?" I growl, scowling, which pulls a laugh out of the elderly man who refuses to quit working for the ranch.
He says the day he stops working is the day he's dead.
Cowboying is all he knows. In all honesty, he may be older, but he's my right hand and helps me keep this place afloat.
"You go home, enjoy your family,” I say, patting him on his shoulder. “I'll take it from here."
"Jett, you have company. Go visit, it's my—"
"Go, Henry," I demand, leaving no room for arguing. "You're getting paid either way. Don't worry about the money. Now, go."
He tips his hat with a nod and a slight curve to his mouth.
Hours pass, the night has fallen, and my stomach is in knots. I should be hungry since I haven't eaten all day, and I've exerted more than enough energy. But I'm not.
Walking out of Bullets' stall and locking up, my phone buzzes in my pocket, and I dust my hands off on my jeans before retrieving it.
Abbie: Are you coming to hang out? We are in the back by the fire pit.
"Ugh," I sigh, thinking it over.
The last thing I want to do is face her here with another man. I've literally kept myself busy all afternoon and night on the ranch just to avoid it. However, if I don't show up, I won't see Via. It's been a long time, and I truly am happy for her and Ander.
One way or another, I'll have to face this head-on. Ander and Via are back together, which means Izzy and my paths will eventually cross, whether I like it or not. I might as well rip the band-aid off and get it over with now.
Jett: On my way, and I’m not staying long.
I stop by my house on the property to get cleaned up, then approach my parents' home.
I hear the laughter and bustling conversations before I can see any of them. Before turning the corner, I pause to take a deep breath to prepare myself.
"I guess the party does go on without me," I announce, turning the corner, and everyone comes into view around the fire pit. I take everyone in.
No Izzy.
What the fuck? I know damn well she's here. I can feel her here.
Trying not to let my confusion show, I grab a beer and pop it open, plopping down in the chair next to Ander.
"Jett, this is Via's friend, Dessa, and my buddy Maverick; he's Izzy's boyfriend," Ander says. "Guys, this is my older brother Jett."
I look the strangers over, my gaze lingering particularly longer on Maverick, and my jaw ticks before I can stop it. I inhale deeply in an attempt to bottle up the extreme jealousy and rage that I refuse to let show.
I stand and introduce myself to Dessa first.
She's short as all hell, probably about five feet tall.
Her round face has cute little chipmunk cheeks that show off her dimples.
Her beautiful body is thicker and curvier in all the right places.
She doesn't have a trace of makeup on, showing off her natural beauty.
She's really cute and obviously trying to flirt with me. I don't entertain it.
Thanks, but no thanks. Not interested.
There's only one female here that I want to talk to. At first, I wanted to avoid her, but now, I need to talk to her. Maybe I want closure? Fuck, I don't know what I want from the conversation. I just know that it needs to happen.
Yet, where the fuck is she?
Next, I make my way over to the boyfriend. I've seen him on his social media account. He looks even more like a city boy in person.
He extends a hand. "Hey, man, it's nice to meet you. Your brother told me a lot about—"
"Yep, nice to meet you, too," I cut him off through a forced smile. My entire body tenses when we shake hands. It's like shaking hands with a dead fish.
She couldn't pick a guy who at least knows how to shake a hand like a man?
Fuck.
I'm trying to hold it together. This guy hasn't done anything to me.
Except for the fact that he has exactly what I've always wanted.
Ander leans over to me and asks, "What was that about?"
I shrug, dodging his gaze. "I don't know what you're talkin' about—"
"Our friend Izzy is here, too; she just wasn't feeling well," Dessa, the short brunette, cuts me off, clueless.
I scoff, feeling immediately angry, raising an eyebrow at her. "Oh, is that so?"
Not feeling well? Not feeling well, my ass. She's clearly trying to avoid me. Why even come here if she's not woman enough to face me?
Abbie huffs out an uncomfortable laugh, rolling her eyes. "Jett, don't be a moody prick."
With that, I chuckle, taking a swig of my beer and kicking my feet up onto the fire pit.
She wants to avoid me, but our paths will cross, and I will get the conversation that I'm after.