12. Cami #2
I can practically hear the grin in her voice. “Oh, hell yes. I'll make it happen. I’ll grab the girls, and we’ll come over tonight.”
It starts normal enough at the house. A few drinks, some light venting, a lot of eye-rolling about my mother’s visit.
The thing is, my mom isn’t a bad person.
In fact, everyone loves her around here.
We just have never been close. And she’s been through a lot.
I’ll give her that. But she just doesn’t support me like she does my brother, and I don’t know why.
I could sit here and say it’s not fair, etc.
But guess what? I’ve learned life isn’t fair.
And whenever I decided that I was going to roll with the punches, life got better. Not easier. But better.
But then, somewhere between shot number three and four, my carefully held-in feelings explode.
“She’s never even tried my coffee!” I shout, slamming my glass down as Violet and Poppy gasp dramatically .
Poppy shakes her head, scandalized. “I mean, that is criminal.”
Violet points a finger. “I bet she drinks hospital cafeteria coffee and that’s what she deserves.”
I groan, dropping my head onto the table. “I’m just. I’m so done.”
Poppy slams her hands down. “Then we are officially doing the responsible thing.”
Violet nods. “We’re getting wasted.”
Somewhere in the mix of bad ideas and questionable choices, we end up going out for a walk, and I spill all of my dreams of the ranch to them, and they wholeheartedly support me and are excited.
Violet says, “I’ll share it everywhere when you’re ready for me to.”
Poppy pulls me in for a hug, “It’s going to be amazing!”
Maggie had to head home because she had work in the morning and made us promise to behave. “Bye!” we call and wave.
We had no plans to behave. Because, in our collective drunken wisdom, we decide we’re going to sneak up on Jack and find out what he really plans to do with Wilder Ranch.
Poppy stumbles up the driveway. “I’m going to confront him.”
Violet grins. “Yeah and see what he plans to do. He can’t just buy up your ranch and be your sexy boss.”
I point a wobbly finger. “He moved my coffee trailer, too.” Huh, I don’t remember my house being so far from the driveway.
Poppy face plants in the grass.
Love runs over and licks her face, looking at all of us with concern and confusion. “Come here, baby,” I murmur .
We stop dramatically, staring at the glowing lights of the house.
Violet narrows her eyes. “What’s the game plan?”
Poppy hiccups. “Did we have one?”
I wave my hand. “We’re about to make choices, and not necessarily good ones.”
And then, before we can process what’s happening, the front door swings open.
And Jack steps outside. Shirtless. Jeans slung low on his hips, crossing his arms over his chest. Looking entirely too damn good.
The three of us freeze.
Violet whispers, “Wow.”
Poppy nods, still propped up on her elbows. “Yep. Wow.”
I squint, swaying slightly. “Damn it.”
Jack watches us with an amused expression. “What are you three doing?”
“Ooooh, he has a daddy voice,” Poppy hiccups. We all break into laughter.
Violet nudges me. “You’re the leader. Say something.”
I blink up at Jack, too drunk to come up with a good excuse. So, I say the first thing that pops into my head. “Your abs are distracting.”
Poppy chokes on her own spit and howls with laughter, smacking the ground.
Violet cackles and falls over next to Poppy.
Jack drags a hand over his jaw, exhaling slowly, his abs tightening with the movement. “Do you need a closer look, Cami?” But the way his eyes flick down to my lips says he might just want me to look closer.
This causes Poppy and Violet to continue with laughter.
And that’s how we ended up in the kitchen, drinking water like it was a court-ordered punishment .
The kitchen is too bright, my head is too heavy, and the sound of a truck rumbles in the distance, signaling that my partners-in-crime are about to escape.
We watch out the window as Walker and Ollie climb out of Walker’s truck, looking like they find this funny. They come in the house, looking around in amusement at the scene. Walker strolls over to Violet and pulls her in for a kiss and hug.
“Ladies,” Walker drawls, grinning like the smug pain in the ass he is.
Ollie stands grinning with his hands in his pockets. “Need a ride, Poppy?”
Violet mutters something unintelligible as she smiles at him, only causing Walker to grin even more.
Poppy, still looking like she just survived a natural disaster ignores Ollie raises a hand. “Hey, Jack! I’m really sorry again about disturbing you and your abs!”
Jack lifts an amused brow.
Poppy grins sleepily, still wobbling on her feet. “Hey, at least I didn’t weld your truck door shut.”
Jack snorts, shaking his head. “Thanks for that.” He grins, which tells me that this ridiculous man is actually enjoying this chaos.
Ollie holds Poppy’s shoulder, steering her outside and toward the truck and grinning. “Let’s get you home before you cause any more property damage.”
Violet shakes her head. “You know, it’s really unfair that Jack, Walker, and Ollie look this good while we look like feral raccoons right now.”
Poppy sighs dramatically, a piece of grass falling from her hair. “Right?”
I huff out a laugh, trying not to acknowledge the fact that I’m still standing here, feeling entirely too aware of Jack shirtless .
Ollie has a quiet conversation with Jack, and they both look at me, and Jack waves him off. Ollie grins and heads to the truck. I’m too tired to do anything.
The truck rumbles away, kicking up dust, leaving the ranch quiet again.
And just like that, it’s just me and Jack. Alone.
I brace myself, turning toward him, fully prepared for whatever smart-ass comment he’s got lined up.
But Jack doesn’t say anything. He just watches me, his green eyes steady, too knowing.
And suddenly, my entire body feels heavy.
I exhale, rubbing my face, blinking slowly against the wave of exhaustion that hits me all at once. “I should probably?—”
Jack cuts me off by stepping forward and, before I can argue, scoops me up effortlessly into his arms.
I squeak, immediately trying to wiggle free. “Jack, put me down.”
“Nope.”
“I can walk!”
Jack grunts, entirely unbothered. “Yeah, sure. Baby, you couldn’t even make it up the porch.”
Baby. He called me baby. And…I like it.
I want to fight him, want to tell him that I am perfectly capable of functioning on my own, but my body has betrayed me. It’s too much, the warmth of his chest, the steady rhythm of his breath, the way he carries me like I don’t weigh a damn thing.
“Say it again…” I mumble.
“Say what?” he asks.
“Baby…”
Jack smells so good, and I'm so tired of fighting him.
By the time we get inside, my head already lolls against his shoulder.
He nudges open my door with his foot, stepping into my room, and I barely process the fact that he’s laying me down on the bed and tucking the blankets around me.
He steps out and returns a few minutes later with a glass of water and a few Advil.
I mumble something incoherent, already half-asleep.
Jack huffs out a quiet laugh. “What was that, Wilder?”
I sigh, rolling over, burrowing into the covers. “You don't need to find a wife.”
Silence. And then, a low, amused chuckle.
I feel him sweeping my hair back from my face, and I wonder if I’m dreaming of his touch and this sweet moment.
Jack mutters, mostly to himself. “Oh, baby, I know I don't.”
And with one long, slow blink, I’m out like a light.