Chapter 9 #2
I glare at her. “If you’re trying to get a reaction out of me, you won’t.”
“Whatever you say.” She lifts her hands in mock surrender.
“Does he know?” The question’s out before I can stop it.
She stiffens. “Know what?”
“That you’re leading him on. You’re only here until the end of summer. What then?”
”I do not lead people on, Wesley.”
“No?” I step closer. “Could’ve fooled me.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“No. What’s unbelievable is you thinking my not-girlfriend would have a boyfriend without me knowing.”
She scoffs, rolling her eyes. “Sorry to burst your bubble, Wesley—but I don’t have any boyfriends.”
Then she brushes past me, jogging up the porch steps.
“That’s not what I heard.”
She freezes with her hand on the door, then turns back toward me slowly.
“What?” Her voice is sharp now, all humor gone.
I shrug. “People talk.”
She scoffs again, shaking her head, and disappears inside.
The door clicks shut behind her.
But the damage is done.
And clearly, I’m not over it.
After a few miserable hours wrangling Outlaw, the dark bane of my existence, I’m excited to finally get a sliver of time for myself.
The guest ride I was supposed to lead bailed to stay at their cabin and hit the bonfire instead. Probably a sign from the universe that I should take Falcon out for a solo ride and clear my head—or at least try to.
I’m tacking him up when I spot Sadie dragging a bag of animal feed across the ground.
Aside from our awkward run-in outside the lodge earlier this afternoon, we haven’t really talked. We haven’t really talked, period. Every text I’ve sent her has been left on read, unanswered.
I’ve seen her a few times in passing. Either she didn’t notice me or she’s been making a point not to. Judging by the tight set of her jaw, I’m betting it’s on purpose.
Still, it’s a little satisfying to know that I rattle her. That I get under her skin. That she’s thinking about me.
I shouldn’t want that. I’m supposed to be moving on and letting this go.
She groans, letting go of the bag and planting her hands on her hips.
I should keep walking, but my feet are rooted to the ground and I can’t look away, especially when she tips her head back and exhales deeply. Her eyes are closed, face tilted to the sun.
Even pissed off, she’s stunning.
I hate that she’s mad at me.
I hate that I didn’t ask her to dance.
I hate that no matter how many times I tell myself otherwise, I’m still not—
“Are you going to help me or just keep staring?”
“I wasn’t staring.”
She arches a brow. “Wesley. Come on. You’re a lot of things, but a liar isn’t one of them.”
“Alright,” I concede. “I wasn’t staring intentionally.”
“Mhm.” Her tone is dry. “Think you can pause the not staring long enough to help me with this?“ She nudges the bag with her foot.
I give Falcon a quick pat and cross over, handing her the lead and hefting the bag onto my shoulder.
“Jesus,” she mutters behind me. “How do you make that look so easy?”
“Years of practice. I had to carry feed bags, hay bales, calves—you name it—for years before my dad let me have even an inkling of responsibility.”
“Years?”
“Mhm.”
“Why’d it take so long?”
“That’s a question for my dad.” I keep walking, brushing it off.
But I know the answer.
I fucked up the summer before I turned eighteen. Dad made me earn every ounce of trust back—starting over from square one, shoveling shit and everything else until I proved I was ready for more.
“Well.” She peels off her gloves and tosses them into a green bucket. “Thanks for the help. I’m gonna head out.”
Just then, Iris trots around the corner, her tiny puppy paws scrambling to keep up with her oversized ears. She skids to a stop at Sadie’s feet and lets out a sharp yap, tail wagging like she’s just found her favorite person in the world.
Sadie’s whole face softens as she bends down to scoop her into her arms. She giggles—quiet and unguarded—and it hits me square in the chest.
I don’t want the moment to end.
I want to stay right here—watching her smile like that, watching Iris melt into her arms like she belongs there.
“Training going okay?” I ask, clearing my throat and forcing myself to sound casual.
She looks up at me, still cradling the puppy. “I think she’s getting the hang of it. She hasn’t tried to chew my boots in two whole days, so…progress.”
I huff out a breathy laugh. “Good.”
She grins, and for a second, it’s easy to forget the complicated mess.
We’re just two people standing in the glow of the setting sun, pretending things are simple.
But they’re not.
“You and Lydia going to Lucky’s later?”
She pauses. “Not sure. We haven’t talked about it yet.”
“Where you headed in such a rush?”
“You don’t know?”
The way she says it sets me on edge.
“What don’t I know?”
She studies me, eyes slowly sweeping over my face. When she registers I’m not playing dumb, her smile shifts—just slightly.
“Wow. I figured my not-boyfriend would already know all about my date tonight. You know…since people talk and all.”
A date.
My stomach twists.
No way it’s someone from the ranch. Dad’s rule is known and respected. And if it’s someone from town—when the fuck would she have even met them? I make her schedule. I know she has no free time.
“Haven’t heard anything about it. Must not be worth talking about.”
“Or…maybe people just aren’t as chatty as you think.”
Then she turns and walks off toward the main house.
To get ready for her date.
With someone who isn’t me.