Chapter 1 – Ainsleigh
one
AINSLEIGH
A FEW WEEKS LATER
Inever thought I’d be back in my hometown, let alone for this reason.
Jobless and still wondering what I was meant to do with my life.
Yet, there I was, returning with my tail tucked neatly between my legs.
Everything had been mapped out for me four years ago, with my parents supporting my dreams of going to college only two hours from home.
But when I lost her, I lost a huge piece of myself, and I hadn't been able to stand the pitying looks or the quiet whispers that had followed me as I walked down Main Street. I hadn’t been able to stand the heartbreak in the love of my life’s eyes as he tried so hard to have me lean on him so we could overcome our loss together.
I just couldn’t.
Even my family’s ranch, which had always been my solace and safe space, suddenly felt suffocating to me when all I could see was grief.
So, I ran.
My family was devastated when I suddenly left town, but I needed to leave Haven Valley to find myself.
Where before, I wanted to stay close and work on the family ranch, I had found myself so badly needing to forge my own path outside of the expectations my family had for me, and that included making a future away from their six-hundred-acre ranch.
But after all this time, I had zero success finding a job, and my time had run out.
I broke myself out of my pity party for once and took in my surroundings. I wasn't sure I’d ever felt as conflicted as I did at that moment, standing in the busy airport.
People bustled around, hurrying to their destinations, greeting loved ones with their warm smiles and hugs.
I smiled as a little girl rushed to greet her father, who knelt and caught her in his arms as he pretended to fall over from the sheer force of her running into him.
Her childlike laughter filled the room over the sounds of suitcases being pulled across the tile floor.
My heart ached at hearing her laugh. There was nothing better than the laughter of a child, but even the sweet sound couldn’t break me from the trepidation I felt at being back in my hometown.
My feet stayed rooted to the spot. I couldn’t make myself move to grab my luggage off the carousel to my right.
My heart raced and skin grew clammy as I felt the anxiety sweep through my body.
Nervous energy filled me, my body grew hot, and my breaths came harsher and uneven as the panic attack threatened.
If this was the reaction my body and mind had from just being at the airport, I couldn’t imagine how I would react when I finally stepped foot back on the ranch.
The sound of the carousel carrying the luggage from my flight broke me from my thoughts. I shook my head and walked over, waiting for the bright pink suitcase my mama bought me to come into view.
My bag finally came around on the conveyor belt.
As I leaned forward to grab it, someone bumped me from behind, causing me to almost fall on the still-moving belt in front of me.
A hand wrapped around my waist seconds before I fell face-first. My whole body tensed at the thought of some stranger having his hands on me.
Whoever it was righted my body and made sure I was steady before letting go. A hand reached around and grabbed the luggage that I’d reached for before it got too far out of sight. I brushed down my clothes with shaking hands before I gained the courage to turn around and face my savior.
“Thank you,” I mumbled as I turned around.
“No worries, darlin’. Not goin’ to complain about assistin’ a beautiful woman in need.”
The man smiled as I grabbed the pink suitcase from his grasp.
I smiled up at the stranger. He had a Southern accent, but from the looks of his suit and tie, he was more of the city type.
“Thank you. You saved me from completely embarrassin’ myself in front of all these people,” I said, grateful I didn’t face-plant.
“You from around here?” he asked as we both stepped away from the conveyor belt and toward the exit of the airport.
“About two hours from here. You?”
I didn’t really care, but talking with this stranger staved my nerves as I was about to be ambushed by a slew of hugs from my mama.
“About the same,” he replied just as we reached the sliding doors.
The revolving doors opened, and we stepped out into the Texas sunshine.
Taking a deep breath, I relished in how fresh the air smelled and the warmth of the sun against my skin.
I missed the air here. Often, I would close my eyes as I laid on the grass at the college and imagine I was laying in one of the fields and taking in the smells and sounds of the quietness around me.
Only, I wasn’t here, and something would always break me free of the thoughts I longed to take part in.
Humidity in Virginia wasn’t as bad as it was here in Texas. And in May it was ungodly hot already.
“Safe travels,” I said to him as we stood on the pavement in front of the slew of cars waiting to pick up travelers.
“It was nice meetin’ you. You sure you’re good to get to wherever you’re goin’?” he asked, genuine concern crossing his face.
“I’m sure. Thank you, though.” I smiled as I touched his arm to reassure him. I’d always been the type to reassure people through touch, even a stranger. I’d been warned numerous times I’d end up on an episode of some show about being kidnapped, but that was just who I was.
I pulled back, wary of invading his personal space.
“It was a pleasure meetin’ you,” he replied with a grin.
I smiled, nodded, and pulled my phone from my back pocket.
A message from my ex, the current thorn in my side, sat unread. I refused to open it. Refused to entertain his excuses.
I didn’t see my mom or dad or any of my siblings, and I didn’t know why any of them weren’t waiting for me at the exit.
I opened the text thread to my mom and sent a message to find out where she was.
Me: Mom, where are you? I’m at the exit.
The message said delivered then read almost immediately. Three dots appeared and then disappeared.
An email notification appeared at the top of my screen as I waited for her reply.
I’d been waiting for responses from the companies I’d interviewed with before graduation, and my hands shook as I clicked on the notification. The contents of this email would determine my fate. If I went back to Virginia, or if I stayed home to reevaluate my plans.
Mom: I’m so sorry. Your ride should be there any minute.
My ride? What in the world was going on? And why wouldn’t she just tell me who was picking me up?
Me: What do you mean? Who’s coming to get me?
Unlike the last message, my mom didn’t read my text immediately.
I tapped my foot on the concrete and looked around for anyone familiar.
I hated that she didn’t elaborate. I hated not knowing anything because I needed to be prepared.
Call it a flaw, but having structure and well-thought-out plans calmed me, especially after everything that had happened to lead me away from here.
Without a response from my mom, I took a deep breath and clicked on the email notification.
Please be good news.
Just as I was about to read the contents, a familiar voice called out, thick in a Southern drawl, causing my heart to speed up in a way it hadn’t since I left.
“Hey there, butterfly.”
Goosebumps covered my whole body at just the sound, causing me to shiver even in the Texas heat. I knew I’d see him eventually. The town was too small. I’d just hoped I’d have a few days to get acclimated before I had to lay eyes on the man whose heart I broke four years ago.
I hope he doesn’t notice my reaction to him.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I blinked rapidly to keep them from falling. I took a deep breath and counted to five before I squared my shoulders, readying myself to face the man I’d left all those years ago.