35. Theodore
35
theodore
They looked at me with so much love I didn’t know what to do or say. I was trying to do the right thing: I was showing them a way out of this small town. They didn’t belong here. Nova deserved to spread her wings and do hair for big clients, not just gossipy old women. Colt wasn’t a cowboy; he preferred to work with his hands. He could find a shop to work at or maybe we could help him open his own shop.
Atlas definitely didn’t belong here. He was so damn smart that he could probably cure cancer or do something equally amazing. He had to take that job. If he didn’t then I would feel guilty.
“You don’t have to treat me like a kid and protect me, I know city life is different, but I know I could get used to it,” I stammered.
“No one is treating you like a kid,” Atlas said. “But you’re not listening, we don’t want to leave.”
I scowled. “Life in the city would give you everything you need.”
“No, it wouldn’t,” Colt said. “We all agreed on Sterling Ridge, why are you doubting it now?”
“Because you could do so much more without me.” I snapped.
The room was quiet as I paced. My insecurities got the best of me when all I wanted to do was hug them and hold them tightly.
“We can’t do more without you,” Nova said. “Who's gonna show Sol how to barrel race? If you think she doesn’t need you, let's go tell her that.”
Nova turned around to walk out of the room, but I stopped her. I shook my head, disappointing that the girl was not going to happen after what we had just gone through.
“We love you, Theo; why would we leave you or want to be away from you?” she asked, throwing her arms around me.
“We don’t make sense without you,” Colt said, pulling us to Atlas’ bed.
“This doesn’t work without you,” Atlas said as he hugged me, then Colt and Nova did too.
It was awkward, but I needed this. I needed them.
“I love you and I never thought I would find love.” My voice cracked. “Thank you for loving me and thank you for showing me love isn’t dependent on what I do for you, but that you love me no matter what. I… I might not always do things the right way, but I’ll always try and be the best for you.”
“You are the best, Theo,” Nova whispered. “I’ll make sure you believe it too.”
Four “I love you’s” were said at the same time and I basked in their love just a little bit more.
“Uh, excuse me?”
We all turned around to see Camila. “Sorry, but there's a man outside that is saying he’s Sol’s father.”
Nova tensed right next to me. “That motherfucker. I can’t believe he followed me here and thinks he can call Sol his fucking daughter.”
“Did I miss something?” I asked, as she walked away.
“Yeah, a lot, but go with her. I don’t trust him,” Atlas said, as Colt and I left with her.
Nova walked with purpose and I didn’t know what kind of situation we'd be walking into. I was under the assumption that Sol’s dad wasn’t in the picture, but it seemed I had missed something.
“Andrés, what are you doing here?” Nova stood in front of a man who had the same build as Atlas, maybe a little skinnier. He was dressed in slacks and a polo that said he came from money with his peacoat, expensive watch and shoes.
“Someone in town said our daughter got hurt, told me to come here,” he said, and I instantly wanted to hit him.
Colt stepped forward and I as much as I wanted to let him punch him, Nova needed to handle this.
“Oh, she’s our daughter now,” Nova snapped. “I clearly remember you driving me out to the middle of nowhere to get rid of our daughter, then leaving me here until I took care of the problem.”
“Nova, can we talk somewhere private?” he said, looking around as the entire waiting room was looking at them.
“No, you want to do this, we do this here because you don’t even deserve any of my time,” Nova said. “Why the hell are you here?”
“You didn’t give me a chance to talk to you in Denver and explain my side of the story,” he said, looking around again.
She ran into him? Fuck him.
I stepped forward and Colt held me back. “She’s doing fine.”
“That's funny, you never gave me a chance when it mattered, it was your way or the highway,” Nova said, crossing her arms. “Now you want to explain why you left me to get rid of our daughter while you went back to Denver to raise another little girl?”
I flinched at that information. This asshole.
“I thought… I was scared,” he stammered. “Look, I know I made a mistake.”
“You left us for your side chick; you don’t get to come back into our lives, you don't get to be in her life, and you definitely don’t deserve her either,” Nova snapped. “And to top it off, you told my parents it wasn't your child. Do you know what it’s like to be shunned by your own family? They thought I had committed adultery. Having a child out of wedlock was bad enough, but to say that it was not your baby was the worst, they turned their backs on me.”
“The fuck?” Colt growled.
“Nova,” he said with an accent. “Necesitamos hablar de esto en privado.”
Nova laughed. “Chinga tu puta madre, quitate de mi vista, pinche pendejo. Salte de aqui y alejate.”
Nova turned away and he grabbed her upper arm. “?Porqué eres así?”
“Porque estoy cansada de tu mierda.” She yanked her arm out of his grasp. “Tócame otra vez y no soy responsable de lo que pase.”
“?Lo que le pasó?” he sneered, grabbing her.
“I learned that there's more to life than your pretentious ass,” she growled, yanking her arm away and then she punched him.
“Hija de tu chingada madre,” he shouted, as he bent over, holding his nose.
Nova shook out her hand in pain as Colt stood in front of her and I checked on her hand.
Her ex looked around until he found the officer that was in the waiting room. “Sir, I'd like her arrested for assault.”
Buff looked around until his eyes landed on him. “Son, that little lady told you to back off and while I don’t know Spanish, I know enough to get by. She was defending herself.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” he scoffed.
“I think she was defending herself too,” an older woman said, raising her brow.
“I saw the same thing,” Colt said.
The room exploded in the same answer and the asshole shrank with every person that defended Nova.
“I’d suggest you listen to her before I file a police report saying you were harassing her and her daughter,” the police officer said, stepping towards him. “I’ll be sure to let the other officers in the area know we have a stalker on our hands too.”
My heart brimmed with pride that these people were keeping her safe. I knew small town life was sometimes hard, but sometimes it was amazing.
“I can’t believe you left me for this,” he snarled, blood dripping down his nose onto his shirt.
“Sounds like you gave her no choice, but we promise to take real good care of her,” Colt taunted.
“Him? Really, Nova?” He looked Colt up and down in disgust,
“Not just him, you asshole.” I stepped forward and while I wasn’t much taller than him, he had to look up to me. “I suggest you leave town real quick.”
“Pinche puta, abriendo las piernas para cualquier persona,” he snarled.
“Oh, say it again, but in English.” Colt pushed me aside and stepped up to him.
He didn't say anything and I knew whatever he had said was bad.
“Yeah, I understand Spanish, asshole, say it again, I fucking dare you,” Colt snarled.
Nova’s ex shrank back, looking around Colt to see Nova, but I stepped in his way. He muttered something as he turned around and left.
“Are you ok, Darlin’?” I pulled her close.
“Yeah, who knew punching someone would hurt so much,” she said.
I chuckled, pulling back to inspect her hand.
“That was one of the sexiest things I have ever seen.” Colt kissed Nova.
“Excuse me.” Someone cleared their throat behind us.
“Hey, Buff,” I said, holding my hand out and he shook it.
“Hello,” Nova said, shaking his hand. “Thank you for that, officer.”
“If he bothers you again you let me know,” he said, pulling a card out of his pocket. “I know most of the guys on the force in the surrounding areas, we can make sure you and your daughter are safe.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that.” Nova took the card. “Call the salon anytime and I’ll give you a free haircut for helping us. I really appreciate it.”
“You got it,” he said, nodding at Colt and I before heading back to his seat.
“Let’s see if we can get that hand looked at before we leave,” I said, guiding her back to Sol.
“I hope someone recorded me punching him,” Nova said, as we went back and I wished someone had too.
We were discharged an hour later. Nova didn’t have a broken hand or fingers. She was told to ice her hand and take some pain pills if needed. Atlas had a broken ankle and tibia, so they sent him home in a cast and told him to see an orthopedic doctor next week.
When we arrived home, I was bombarded with hugs and more hugs from my family. The fact that Luke drove down last night to help look for us made me tear up, and that they organized themselves to come look for us was overwhelming.
“Oh, Theo,” Iris cried, hugging me as I felt Jude and Luke hug me too.
“You know we love you,” Jude said.
“I’m sorry if you thought we didn’t,” Luke murmured.
“I’m just getting used to us being a family,” I said, pulling away, feeling a little uncomfortable.
They got quiet as I wiped my eyes.
“Well, that's changing,” Luke said, with determination. “We are siblings, and we need to start acting like it.”
“I think this is a good start,” I said, looking up at them.
“Yeah, I think so too,” Jude also wiped his eyes. “As much as I think I’d like moving to Denver, I don't know if I’m cut out to live in the city. No offense, Luke.”
“Eh, it's not for everyone,” Luke shrugged.
“You wanted to move to Denver!? Why?” Iris looked at Jude in shock.
“Webber is out there, and he just hurt his knee. I've been going back and forth so I might have entertained the idea of living out there,” he said, running his hand through his hair.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t supportive,” I sighed. “I just?—”
“We’ve never been apart,” Jude said.
“I swear you guys should have been twins,” Luke said.
“You guys are cute and I’m glad you had someone to watch your back, Theo.” Iris smiled.
“Don’t let me hold you back from living your life,” I mumbled, because those were some of the hardest words I've ever had to utter. “I’m ok here, you don't need to take care of me anymore.”
Jude bit his lip. “It's a hard habit to kick.”
“At least think about moving,” I said.
“Ok,” he murmured.
“I’m not going to lie and say I’m not excited to have one of you in Denver with me,” Luke grinned.
Jude laughed, “Don’t count your chickens just yet.”
“Yeah, yeah whatever, I can keep dreaming,” Luke said.
“Well, thank you guys for coming. You are more than welcome to stay here as long as you like, but I’m going to go shower and crash,” I said, standing up.
“We will probably leave tomorrow,” Luke said, getting up too.
“I have a shift tonight, but I’ll check in with you guys tomorrow.” Iris kissed my cheek as well as our brother’s cheeks.
“Is it ok if I stick around?” Jude asked.
“You know you are always welcome here,” I said, clapping his back. “Think about dinner and wake us up.”
“Gee, thanks,” he mumbled.
I chuckled as I walked down the hall to our bedroom, glancing back as I saw Forest hugging Jude. A part of me wanted to say something to Forest about staying away from Jude but another part of me was happy that Jude had someone here to lean one. Forest was a handful sometimes but he was a hard worker and he had been great for the ranch.
It was quiet as I opened the door, and they were all sleeping. Atlas was at the end of the bed with Colt next to him and then Sol and Nova. My throat clogged with emotion as I took in the family I had built over the years. The guys came into my life and then my girls. I never thought I would have anything like this. Home life had always been rough, I never really had friends and the only person I could rely on was Jude. Now I had so much love that sometimes it didn’t feel real and I needed to remember that I deserved this. I deserved to be loved just like everyone else.