Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
The Ranch
Hadley looked at her cell phone. “It’s past seven in New York. We should call Wyn and Poet and give them an update.”
Nodding, I scooched my chair closer to hers. She fiddled with her cell and found Poet’s name first.
She held up the phone to our faces as we waited for our best friend to answer.
Poet appeared after two rings. Her glasses were smudged and her brown hair was in a haphazard, lopsided ponytail.
“Hey,” she greeted.
“Hey,” Hadley replied. “Are you okay?”
Poet’s fairy-esque face morphed into a frown of confusion. “Yeah. Why?”
“You look a little . . .” I trailed off.
“Oh. I was napping.”
“Napping? At seven at night?” I pressed.
Poet clamped her mouth shut.
“Let me get Wyn on the line,” Hadley announced. “And then we can talk about the fact that going to bed at seven at night is not a nap—that’s depression.”
“It’s only depression if you make it a habit,” she grumbled.
“How many times this week?” I asked.
“I’d rather not say. Besides, we’ve got more important things to talk about,” Poet replied.
A few moments later, our other best friend joined the call. Her blonde hair was down around her shoulders and the dim lighting of her surroundings sculpted her cheekbones, carving them into a work of art.
“Hey,” Wyn greeted.
“Where are you?” I asked.
“The Carrington’s Park Avenue apartment,” she replied. “They’re at some fundraiser, so I’ll be spending the night.”
“Show me Mildred,” Hadley demanded.
The covers rustled, and then a long-haired miniature dachshund appeared, looking completely put out that she’d been awakened from a sound sleep.
“God, she’s cute,” Hadley said.
“Super cute,” I agreed.
“Think she’d get along with Tempest?” Wyn asked.
“My baby goat thinks she’s a dog,” Hadley said with a laugh. “So yes. I’m pretty sure Mildred would get along with Tempest.”
“So, what’s going on?” Poet asked, directing the conversation away from adorable animals. “How’s your dad?”
“Muddy’s staying the night at the hospital,” Hadley explained.
“She coerced the nurses into letting her sleep in an on-call room that the staff normally uses. So far, there’s no real change.
I mean, Dad came through surgery and the pressure on his brain has been relieved.
But we won’t know more for a few days—until they try to wake him up. ”
“Say the word,” Poet said. “And we’re on the first flight out of here.”
My heart panged. I opened my mouth to tell them to come, but Hadley jumped in first.
“You guys are the best. Really,” Hadley said. “But there’s no reason for you to be here right now. It’s chaos and we’re just trying to figure out a way through it.”
I looked at her and frowned.
“I think Salem disagrees,” Wyn murmured. “Don’t you, Salem?”
I blew out a breath of air. “Yeah, I disagree. I want you guys out here. But Hadley’s right about it being chaos.”
“Well, if anything changes, you say the word and we’re on our way,” Poet said.
“Even though we’ll be there in a few weeks for the wedding . . . these are extenuating circumstances,” Wyn said.
“You think the Carringtons can spare you not being with them for a month?” Hadley asked. “Who would raise their child? And tuck him into bed?”
“And change his sheets after a nightmare,” I added.
“Yeah, you’re right. God forbid they parent their own child.” Wyn shook her head. “They’re talking about having another one.”
“Dear God,” I murmured.
“I know, right?” Wyn snorted.
“I wouldn’t mind coming out early,” Poet said.
“It’s getting worse, isn’t it?” I asked. “Your job.”
“There’s no joy anymore,” she admitted. “I’m starting to wonder why I ever wanted to work in a traditional publishing house.”
“Because bookworm,” Wyn said with a rueful smile.
“I’m not cutthroat enough for this environment,” she said. “Maybe I’ll take a sick day tomorrow and go visit my grandfather in Bay Ridge.”
“Oh, can I come? It’s my day off tomorrow,” Wyn said. “There’s that bakery right by your grandfather’s house that makes me salivate just thinking about it.”
“Yeah.” Poet brightened. “I’d love that.”
Another pang went through my heart. They would have one of those perfect New York days. Riding the subway, adventuring to a different neighborhood that might as well be a different country. A whole world of experiences just waiting to happen because it was a city of eight million people.
“Keep us posted on your dad, okay?” Wyn said.
“We will,” Hadley replied.
“He’s got a girlfriend,” I blurted out.
“No way,” Wyn said.
I nodded. “Way.”
“When did this happen?” Poet asked.
“Ask Hadley, I only just found out about it,” I stated.
“Oh no,” Wyn murmured.
“Oh yes.” Hadley nodded, frowning at me like a teacher disappointed in one of her students. “They’ve been together for a few months.”
“Months?” Poet asked. “And you didn’t tell Salem?”
“Thank you,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “She’s on my side.”
“I’m on no one’s side,” Poet protested.
“Of course she wouldn’t tell you,” Wyn said with a smug look. “How did you find out? Where did you find out? And what did you break?”
Poet giggled.
My cheeks heated. “Hey. I’m not that predictable.”
“Only in the sense that you probably went nutty,” Wyn said. “Didn’t she, Hadley?”
“Only a little,” Hadley said.
“I was blindsided. It wasn’t fair,” I said. “And after seeing Dad, I find out he has a girlfriend—a hot girlfriend by the way, who doesn’t look that much older than us . . .”
“Shut up,” Poet said, her eyes widening.
“Oh yeah.” I nodded.
“She’s pretty,” Wyn said. “And young?”
“Yep.” I popped the p.
“Well, of course she is,” Wyn said with a nod. “Your dad is hot, so two hot people getting together? Makes sense.”
“Ew,” Hadley and I said together at the same time.
“Ew, ew, ew,” I repeated.
“Yeah, I’m with Wyn on this one.” Poet nodded. “Your dad is attractive. Not sorry.”
“Ugh, you guys . . .” I mumbled.
“What’s her name?” Wyn asked.
Hadley sighed. “Jane.”
“Nothing fucking plain about her, either,” I said, my tone snarky.
“She’s a vet, too,” Hadley supplied.
“Like your mom was?” Poet asked, her eyes drifting to me. “Oh. I see.”
“We gotta go,” I announced.
“Right.” Wyn nodded. “Too many feelings for Salem.”
“Wait, I want to hear what happened after you found out about Jane,” Poet said.
“Yeah, I’m curious too,” Wyn agreed.
“Later,” I said.
Wyn pouted. “Tease.”
“Say hi to Declan,” Poet added. “And Muddy.”
The two of them waved, and then their faces disappeared from the screen. Hadley ended the call and set her cell phone down.
She reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. “You look downright miserable.”
“I’m jealous of them,” I admitted. “They get to be there. And I have to be . . . here.”
“Dad’ll be fine. You’ll be back in New York in no time.”
Hadley shifted her position and her shirt pulled across her gently swelling belly. She wasn’t showing too much yet, but by the wedding, she would definitely have a baby bump.
“Yeah. I’ll be back in New York before I know it.”
And for some reason, that thought depressed me too.
I was setting the dinner table when the front door opened. Declan and Bowman stalked into the kitchen and I pretended Bowman’s gaze hadn’t locked directly onto me.
“Something smells good,” Declan announced.
“Peppercorn steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans.” I looked at Bowman. “And pie for dessert.”
His jaw ticked, but he said nothing.
“Where have you guys been?” I asked.
“Thought we’d give you and your sister some twin-time. So I took Bowman for a trail ride,” Declan said.
“Gorgeous property,” Bowman said, his eyes resting on me. “Must’ve been a nice place to grow up.”
“It didn’t suck,” Hadley said as she came into the dining room, carrying a platter of steaming steaks. She set the platter down as Declan came to her. He cradled her cheeks in his hands and planted a kiss on her lips.
I turned away, wishing it didn’t feel so intrusive to watch them.
But then my eyes found Bowman’s and something stirred between us.
The spell broke when Declan dropped his hands and stepped back. “Let’s eat.”
We took our chairs, and without Muddy and Dad, it felt empty. I glanced at the chair that had been Mom’s.
Did Jane sit there when she came over for dinner?
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask, but I decided not to start a fight.
“You get settled in okay?” Hadley asked Bowman as she handed him the bowl of mashed potatoes.
“Yeah, fine,” Bowman said. “Clean sheets and everything.”
“Good. Make yourself at home,” Hadley said.
“She means it, too,” Declan said. “People say that all the time but they don’t really mean it. But Hadley does.”
He took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
“There’s something wrong with the bathroom lock, though,” Bowman said, glancing between me and Hadley.
“Which door?” Hadley inquired.
“The one in your bedroom leading to the bathroom,” Bowman explained.
“Probably just accidentally locked,” Hadley said with a shrug. “Salem can take a look at it.”
“I’d appreciate that.” Bowman smiled, and then cut into his steak. “Ah, perfect.”
“Not too rare?” Hadley asked.
“Just rare enough,” Bowman stated.
“I miss rare steak.” Hadley sighed. “I have to eat mine well done for a while.”
“Criminal,” I said, slicing into my perfect pink steak.
“Seriously.” Hadley sighed. “Better get creative with dinner choices or it’s going to be a long seven months.”
“We can do chicken,” Declan said.
Hadley looked at me. “Chicken.”
I nodded. “Chicken.”
“Tomorrow morning, I’d like to go to the hospital,” Hadley announced. “Bring Muddy breakfast.”
“How early?” Declan asked. “I’ve got to be here to meet the crew.”
“Crew?” I asked. “What crew?”
“We’re starting construction on the house,” Declan announced. “We found a family from Sandpoint, actually. Dad’s the builder, and the four sons do everything else from engineering to general contracting.”
“Oh, right,” I murmured. “I’d love to see where you decided to build.”
Declan nodded. “We’ll ride out there.”
Hadley cleared her throat.
“Or take the side-by-side,” Declan said. “Pass the beans, please.”
Bowman picked up the bowl and handed it to him. But to me he asked, “You don’t ride horses?”
“No.”
“But you grew up on a ranch.”
“Yep.” I shoveled a heap of mashed potatoes onto my fork and ate it so I wouldn’t have to answer.
“Scared?” Bowman taunted.
My eyes narrowed. I swallowed and replied, “I’m afraid of nothing.”
“Then why don’t you ride?” he pressed.
“Because I don’t like it. I love horses. But I don’t like being atop them.”
“What about motorcycles?” Bowman asked. “Do you like motorcycles?”
“Love them,” I stated.
“You’ve never been on a motorcycle,” Hadley interjected.
“I’ve been on a motorized scooter,” I stated. “How different can they be?”
“Very different,” Bowman and Declan replied at the same time.
“When were you on a motorized scooter?” Bowman asked in curiosity.
My brow furrowed in thought. “Few years ago. When I was in Paris.”
“Paris?” Declan asked.
I nodded and went back to eating.
Hadley sniggered.
“What?” Declan demanded. “What do you know that we don’t?”
“You tell them,” Hadley said to me.
“We were out one night, the four of us—Wyn, Poet, Hadley, and me. And we met these guys that were having their last night in New York. They were flying back to Paris the next day. Well, it was one of those crazy New York experiences and by the time the sun was coming up, the four of us had an offer to go to Paris with them.”
“I think I know where this is going,” Declan muttered.
“Hardly,” Hadley laughed. “I was in a relationship, Poet was too afraid to go, but Wyn was between nanny gigs, and Salem was jobless. She’d just gotten fired from the coffee shop.”
I shook my head. “Dog walking.”
“Oh, right. The dog walking stint.” Hadley nodded.
“Anyway. Wyn and I went with them. We stayed a week. Lived to tell the tale,” I said with a smile. “Saw Paris on the back of a scooter. Ate like a local. And to this day, I still don’t speak French.”
“Neither does Wyn,” Hadley said, causing us both to laugh.
The two men at the table did not look amused.
“You went to a foreign country with strangers?” Declan asked me. “That’s dangerous.”
I raised my brows. “It was a once in a lifetime experience. And you used to rope calves for a living. You really want to lecture me on dangerous activities?”
Bowman laughed. “She’s got you there.”
I looked at him. “No lecture from you?”
“Nope. I’m all about the experiences.”
“They didn’t even pay for their own plane tickets,” Hadley said with a smirk. “Salem has the kind of charisma that makes grown men start wars.”
“Stop it,” I said with a laugh.
“It’s true. And you know it.” Hadley shook her head. “That night was unreal.”
So was that entire week, but by the way Declan and Bowman were looking at me, I decided not to expound.
“Does your dad know what you did?” Declan asked.
“Yes. I told him after the fact.”
And the moment he’d started scolding, I’d put the phone on silent and let him talk until he realized I wasn’t listening. And then after he hung up, we didn’t speak for six months.
“I’m sure he loved that,” Declan replied.
“Lecture, lecture, lecture.” I snorted. “But then when I finally got a chance to defend myself, I called him a hypocrite.”
“Why did you call him that?” Bowman asked.
I shrugged. “Because he is one.”
The table fell silent and suddenly, our previously good-natured conversation turned and the meal-time began to sour.
I was no longer hungry.
“Dinner was good,” I mumbled, taking my plate and rising from the table. I set it on the counter, and then fled out the back door, wondering why I was always trying to escape.