Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
The alarm sounds out, and my hand swipes to the side to slap at my phone. I don’t know why I bother setting it. I haven’t needed it because I’ve barely slept at all in the last four days. That’s how long ago I left Vegas, how long it’s been since I’ve spoken to Sammie.
After the way he so persistently pursued me, I kind of expected to hear from him when he woke up and discovered I’d left. It’s for the best that he hasn’t tried to make contact, but I won’t lie. I’m a little disappointed he’s made walking away so damn easy.
Well, easy isn’t really the word. I know I had to leave. I couldn’t be with him, considering who his family is. I do regret being a coward and running in the middle of the night, though. I should have told him.
What was he going to do? Lock me up and not let me leave? I don’t think Sammie would have done anything to hurt me, but there was that fear of the unknown. What would he think of me if I told him who my mother was? What his uncle did to her?
The front door to my cabin opens and closes, not so quietly. A minute later, a figure is standing in my doorway. “Okay, you’ve moped around enough. It’s time to get up and move on with your life,” Alice scolds me as she walks farther into my bedroom. “And maybe shower.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon? What are you doing here?” I didn’t tell her what happened because I didn’t want to rain on her newly-wedded bliss.
“The real question here is why the hell didn’t you call me? Why did I have to find out from Joel? And also, when was the last time you showered?”
“Joel called you?” I sit up, lean my back against the headboard, and bring my knees to my chest.
“Yeah, they’re all worried about you and he was the only one brave enough to call me.” Alice plops down on the edge of the bed. “You should have called me.”
“I didn’t want to ruin your happiness,” I tell her. “Besides, I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine. And you don’t smell fine. Get up and shower. Also, wash your hair. You have Cheetos stuck in it.” Alice stands. “I’m going to cook breakfast, so don’t take too long.”
My fingers brush over my hair. And sure enough, I come away with a Cheeto. I consider eating it before Alice snatches it from my hand.
“Not even you can be that depressed. You’ve been through worse than this, Poppy. Get yourself up now.”
“I really liked him,” I whisper. I can feel the tears already forming in the corners of my eyes. I don’t want to cry again.
“I know you did,” she says. “I’m sorry.”
“Okay, go and make me some bacon. I’m jumping in the shower. You’re right. I need to shake this off. I knew the guy for a couple of weeks. It’s not that big a deal.”
I’m lying. It feels like a big deal. The gaping hole in my chest feels huge. I’m also choosing not to look too far into that. It’s probably the orgasms. They were that good. That’s all it is. I just need to forget about them.
I wonder if I can be hypnotized to forget Sammie even existed. If I can’t remember him or those orgasms he was so good at giving, I can move on and go back to how I was. Before I let him break through my walls.
By the time I get out of the shower, I’ve decided that if I want something to change, I need to do it myself. Which is why I’ve made a decision. I can’t stay here and keep doing the same thing day in and day out. It’s time I took control of my life and stopped living in the past.
“You look a million times better. I swear a shower does wonders for the body and soul,” Alice says.
“I really appreciate you coming.” I walk over to my best friend and hug her. “I’m sorry I rained on your parade.”
“You didn’t. Besides, I don’t care what I’m doing. If you need me, I’m going to be here, Poppy. I’ve been so busy with all the wedding prep that I’ve been MIA, but it’s done. I’m married now, and I’m going to be here for you.”
“You haven’t been MIA. I’ve been so busy having my mind blown by out-of-this-world orgasms that I’ve barely come up for air.” I smile.
Damn it! I’m not supposed to be thinking about Sammie.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll find someone else even better,” Alice says, always the glass is half-full kind of girl. She holds out a cup of coffee to me.
I take it and sit down at the small dining table. “I made a decision.”
“It’s not one I’m going to love, is it?”
“I’m moving.”
“What do you mean you’re moving?”
“I’m moving to the city.”
“What city?”
“I don’t know. I’m going to pick one and just do it. I can’t stay here, stuck in the past. I need to get away,” I tell her.
“But to the city? Can’t you just move closer into town, off the ranch?”
“Everywhere I look in this town, I’m reminded of them. I see my parents everywhere. It’s keeping me locked in. I didn’t realize until the few days I spent in Vegas with Sammie. It was refreshing not having the memories haunt me everywhere I went.”
“I get it. I don’t love it, but I get it. I will always support you in whatever you do.” Alice grips my hand.
“I love you and I’m not leaving you, just this town,” I assure her.
“Oh, you couldn’t leave me if you tried. I would hunt you down and kidnap you. I’d have my husband build me a cage to keep you in.” She smiles.
I honestly thought Sammie would be the one to hunt me down. I guess I was into him a little more than he was into me. But that’s not fair of me. I left. He was going through something tough. He told me he needed me, and I left.
“Okay, eat up. You need food if we’re going to figure out how to get you off this ranch without your cousins barricading you in,” Alice says.
“Thank you.” I pick up a crispy piece of bacon and bring it to my mouth.
I knew deciding to leave town was going to impact people, especially Kellie, my business partner. “I’m sorry. I know it’s spur of the moment, but I need to do this,” I explain.
“LA? Seriously? Okay, can you not sell your half of the business until I figure out how to buy it,” she insists.
After breakfast this morning, I pulled out a map, closed my eyes, and pointed.
My finger landed on LA, which isn’t a bad city to move to.
Especially for an esthetician. That place is filled with beautiful people—people who will spend a lot of money to stay beautiful.
It’s also not that far from Las Vegas. Not that that had anything to do with my decision.
“I’m not selling, Kellie. I’m signing it all over to you,” I tell her.
“What? You can’t do that.” She shakes her head. “I’ll buy you out. I just need a bit of time to work out how.”
“No, I’ve already had my lawyer start the paperwork. I don’t need the money and I don’t want you to have to worry or be put out because of me.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am. I need to do this.”
“Okay, thank you. I’m really going to miss you,” Kellie says.
“I’ll no doubt be coming back to visit every time I get a little homesick. Don’t worry, you’ll be seeing me.”
“I hope so. I have a client in ten I need to get ready for, but let me know if you need anything.”
“I’m just going to clean out my office. There’s not much I need to take,” I tell her. “I’ll have the paperwork sent over to you.”
Kellie walks towards me. Her arms wrap around my neck, and she pulls me tight against her. “Thank you, so much. I don’t know how I’ll pay you back for this, but I’ll figure out a way.”
“It’s a gift, Kellie. I don’t need or want you to pay me back.”
After my parents died, I inherited my dad’s share of the ranch.
Then there was my mother’s life insurance that went to me.
I have enough money to not have to worry about working for a while.
I’ve never really had a need to touch that money.
But now I’m going to buy myself an apartment in LA, set up a new clinic, and start fresh.
“No,” Jaxson says.
“What do you mean no?” I ask him.
“Exactly that. You’re not moving and especially not to fucking LA!” he yells.
“Yes, I am.”
“Why? Because some asshole broke your heart? Come on, Poppy. He’s not worth uprooting your life for.”
“That’s not why. I’m moving because I can’t stay here. They’re everywhere, Jaxson. They never leave my mind. I want a break,” I tell him.
A look of concern crosses my cousin’s face. I didn’t come here to ask permission to move away from town. I came to tell him. Why he thinks he has the option to veto that decision is amusing.
“Okay. I’ll come with you,” Jaxson says.
“You can’t. You have a life here. And I’m a big girl, Jaxson. I don’t need you to worry about me. I’m going to be just fine. And I’ll be back to visit.” I walk over and hug him. “I’m going tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? That’s too soon, Poppy,” he says.
It’s quick, but when I make my mind up about something, I do it. Also, I know the longer I stay here, the longer I’m going to have to chicken out and change my mind.
“I’ll send Joel or Jaggar with you until you get settled. You don’t have to do this alone, Poppy.”
“I want to do it alone. I promise I’ll be fine. I’ve already found a place to rent while I look around for something to buy. I’ll call you when I get there and every day after. Love you, Jaxson. Tell the other two not to follow me.”
Walking out of the main house, I feel a huge weight lift off my shoulders. I didn’t know just how freeing this decision would be.