Chapter Three
Warren
I watch as her rearview lights disappear through the trees and wonder if she’ll make good on her threat of coming back or not.
But most importantly, do I want her to?
No.
Yes.
Maybe .
Not to force those papers on me, but to see her again? Even if we’re arguing, it’s better than nothing.
Staring at the manilla folder I swiped from her, I leave it on the coffee table, not sure what to do with it. I read the papers the first time they were delivered but didn’t bother the next four times she sent them.
I’ve thought about this day countless times. What it’d feel like seeing her again after all these years apart and if the spark between us would still be there.
She’s changed some, but overall, she’s still my Maze—headstrong, determined, fiery .
Her soft hazel eyes that complement her brown hair, which always looked lighter under the sun, and pouty lips I struggled to look away from, were all familiar. She’s changed in the way she dresses, but I don’t necessarily hate it. However, it surprised me.
Maisie was always ready to go on horseback rides, hiking, or swimming, which means she’d never wear skirts. Sundresses maybe, but mostly jean shorts and boots.
Grabbing my phone, I call my cousin before I do something I’ll regret—like get wasted and drunk dial her.
Landen lives two hours away on his own family’s ranch and retreat. Where our resort focuses more on relaxation and helping couples reconnect through outdoor and indoor activities, theirs is for family getaways and kid-friendly.
Being the same age, we grew up close, but I also get along with his four siblings. When we were kids, they’d visit every summer for a couple weeks and we’d camp out in tents or sleep in our trucks—causing trouble most of the time.
During spring break our senior year, he came with a group of friends to hang out for the week.
Unfortunately for him, his ex-girlfriend tagged along and what was supposed to be their final night of fun turned tragic when Angela pushed their other friend off the fifty-foot cliff.
We were taking turns jumping into the waterfall and when Talia wouldn’t jump, Angela took it upon herself to push her over the ledge.
When she didn’t swim up to the surface, we knew something was wrong.
Her body was found two hours later.
It rocked our community and everyone here at the ranch. Although I’d only met Talia that week, it still affected me knowing she died on our property.
I’ve swum in the Willow Falls River nearly my whole life.
It’s the same location I proposed to Maisie.
To make matters worse, Talia’s boyfriend ended his life from the immense guilt and grief he felt. Guilt for not protecting her from Angela, who kept pressuring Talia to jump, and grief for losing the love of his life.
Tucker was also Landen’s childhood best friend.
He lost a lot that summer and it affected him for years.
Fortunately, Angela was charged with voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to fifteen years in prison.
But then nine days ago, we found out Angela’s eligible for parole after only serving eleven years.
The lawyers suggested everyone who testified against her and made character witness statements should write a letter to the parole board, so we’ve been making plans to write a joint statement.
He and his other friends who were also there that summer are supposed to come up here soon, but now I’m not sure that’s going to happen.
“Which planet is outta sorts right now makin’ everyone extra crazy?” He picks up without a proper greeting and it throws me so off-guard, I stumble over my words.
“Um…Earth?”
He barks out a laugh. “Touché.”
“Should I even ask?”
“Just a rough day. So what’s goin’ on?”
“Maisie just showed up at my door,” I blurt without thinking. Though I don’t plan to tell him every detail since I’ve hardly talked about her to him in the past several years. If I do, the rest of my family and cousins will know within twenty-four hours. Landen loves to gossip.
“Excuse me?” He chokes through a coughing fit. “ Maisie ? Your ex-wife, Maisie?”
“Yep…” Now here’s the part he’s going to flip over. “Except, she ain’t my ex-wife. We’re still married.”
“I’m only on my first beer, so I know I’m not drunk and heard ya wrong. Y’all didn’t get divorced?”
“She wanted to. I didn’t.”
I never announced it because I didn’t want to deal with the line of questioning that’ll prompt me to admit I’ve never gotten over her.
“She coulda filed without you. There’s laws or some shit that’d allow her to get one even if you don’t sign,” he responds.
“I know. And yet, she didn’t.”
Which is why I still think there’s a chance, although she’s convinced we’re over for good.
“So why is she back? Did you tell her about Angela’s parole hearing?”
“Not yet. She’s engaged and needs me to sign so she can go marry another man. Doesn’t want him to know she’s been married all this time, so she needs me to sign and get it finalized quietly,” I explain, not even bothering to hide the pain in my voice.
“Fuck. I’m sorry, Warren. What’d you say?”
Blowing out a breath, I give him the quick version. “I said no and slammed the door on her.”
“I can only imagine how pissed off that made her.”
“Shoulda heard her screamin’ at me and poundin’ on the wood. Really fired her up when I blared my music and turned off all the lights in the house. Pretty sure she woke up my chickens.”
I leave out the part where she snuck in or how close we were before I walked away. He’s pitying me enough as it is.
“Jesus Christ.” He chuckles. “But it’s been like what, seven years? Why do you wanna make her stay married to you? She has her own life seven hundred miles away.”
Inhaling a shaky breath, I contemplate his question and how to answer without sounding like a sappy idiot.
“Because she’s the love of my life.” I go with pure honesty. “The only woman I’ve loved or will love. How can I just let her go?”
“Maybe it’s time for you to move on. She’s livin’ her life. You should be, too.”
“I wish I knew how.” I sigh because it’s easier said than done.
Wanting to take the attention off me, I ask, “How’re things goin’ with you?”
“Well…” He half-laughs, and I’m intrigued before he continues. “The girl I’ve crushed on for four years still hates my guts. No matter what I do to get her attention or simply talk to her, she always finds a way to make me feel two inches tall. And the worst part? I have no idea why.”
“There must be a reason. What’d you do?”
“I dunno, and she refuses to tell me. I was flirtin’ with her a few days ago, ya know, being my charmin’ self…”
I snort because I do know.
Landen Hollis is a playboy who gets every girl he wants. Except this one, apparently.
“And she snapped at me. Told me to leave her alone, she’s not playin’ hard to get and she’s not gonna tell me why she hates me.”
“Sounds like she knocked your ego down a few pegs.”
He scoffs. “Maybe.”
I laugh and it feels good after what happened within the past hour.
“Except, when we all ended up at The Lodge for lunch that afternoon, she started chokin’ on her food. In that millisecond of seein’ the panic in her eyes and her face go red, I forgot every mean thing she’s ever said to me and went into action. I rushed over and gave her the Heimlich maneuver.”
“Oh shit.” I gasp. “She alright?”
“Yeah, a bit in shock, but overall, she’s fine.”
“What happened after?”
“We finished eatin’, but later when I went into the barn, she stopped to thank me.”
“Oh, did she?” I taunt.
“She attempted to anyway…” He cackles. “But I made her say what she was thankin’ me for since she was actin’ so weird about sayin’ the words. That earned me an eye roll.”
“Gee…I wonder why she hates you,” I deadpan.
“Mhm. Well, I didn’t want her thinkin’ she was special or anythin’ since she loves to tear me down, so I told her it was my oath to help anyone in need because of my EMS trainin’. Couldn’t let her know I was panickin’ about her chokin’ to death.”
“Of course not ’cause that’s not manly at all,” I drawl, amused at Landen’s definition of flirting .
“It doesn’t matter anyway. After thankin’ me, she let it be known she still didn’t like me.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah, but then I responded with how I didn’t like her either.”
“Which was obviously a lie…”
“Obviously.”
“So what’s your next step in makin’ her fall for you?” I ask, leaning back on my couch and propping my feet up on the coffee table.
I’d rather hear about his shitty love life than think about mine.
“The northeast pasture still needs the fence fixed,” I tell Bodie, looking through my checklist the next morning.
It’s not one we use very often, so we’ve been putting it off, but whenever there’s time in our schedules to work on it, the sky opens up and downpours.
The metal posts along the property line are rusty and need to be replaced up there as well, but that’s an even bigger job.
“I’ll put it on my list for next week,” he tells me the same thing he said last Friday.
“Don’t forget,” I say firmly.
The one time we’re going to need it is when it won’t be fixed and then we’ll be screwed.
“I’ll ride out there today and check what we need so I can make sure we have the supplies.” It’s off-road, so it’s easier to horseback up there versus driving. I could take the four-wheeler, but riding helps me clear my head.
“You want me to go with you? It might be a swamp and a little dangerous.”
“Aw…you worried about me?”
I huff a laugh when he rolls his eyes.
“Nothin’ I haven’t done before,” I reassure him.
Since Bodie and I work on the ranch side, we look out for each other, but with him being younger, it’s usually me keeping an eye on him.
“Can you grab me some horse tack while I get Priest out?” I ask him .
He’s one of the best trail horses we have at the stables, but I often use him for riding when I need to go farther up the mountains. So even if the conditions of the pasture aren’t ideal, he won’t be fazed by it.