Chapter 30
M om does more crying as she pulls me in for a hug.
“Call when you get there,” she tells me, as Dalton swings my suitcase into the back of the truck.
A few of the bunkhouse boys, including Mitch, have stopped working to say their goodbyes, but there’s no sign of Garrett.
The fact I haven’t burst into tears over that is a miracle.
When Mom’s cell sharts to ring, she looks at me awkwardly, and I put her out of her misery.
“Take it. I’ll call you when I land.” I assure her, and she quickly kisses my cheek before answering it and rushing back inside the house. I hug Mitch, then Finn and figuring that Tate isn’t much of a hugger, I nod at him instead.
“You ready?” Dalton jumps into the driver’s seat, and when Garrett comes and stands on the porch, dressed the same as he was the first day I saw him, I have a little hope that he’s come to say goodbye, too.
He nods his head at me as if assuring me one last time that I’m doing the right thing.
But nothing about being apart from him feels right.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” I manage a smile for Dalton as I step around the truck and jump inside.
The truck rumbles when he starts it up, and I keep my eyes on Garrett’s as Dalton reverses and pulls us further apart.
Garrett stares back at me, his expression neither angry nor sad, and I fight every urge inside me that screams for me to tell Dalton to stop the truck.
I close my eyes when the truck turns around, and we start driving down the track that leads to the road.
Then when we reach the gate, I flick them open again and see through the wing mirror that Garrett’s still watching.
Dalton talks all the way to the airport.
I wonder if that’s because he knows I’m heartbroken and is trying to distract me or if he’s just the most friendly guy I’ve ever met in my life.
When we eventually get there, he pulls up at the drop-off, and gets out to grab my suitcase.
I wipe away the lone tear that falls over my cheek, then take a breath before I get out myself.
“Well, I guess I’ll be seeing you at Thanksgiving,” Dalton smiles.
“No,” I shake my head and force back all the tears I want to cry.
“Christmas?” he checks, looking hopeful.
“No. I’m done with this place,” I decided last night that if Garrett let me leave I’d never come back. I don’t know what we had, but the power of it was overwhelming, and I won't put myself through the pain of losing it again.
“Well you got my number if ya ever need anythin’, just holla.”
“And if you're ever in L.A…” I laugh just thinking about it. Dalton is a purebred country boy.
“I doubt that, Miss, but it’s been a pleasure.” He lifts off his hat and kisses my cheek, blushing as he pulls away. Once he’s back in the truck, I lift the handle of my suitcase and start wheeling it across the pedestrian crossing toward the terminal.
“Safe travels.” He honks the horn and makes me jump when he pulls away, and I find a smile for him as I wave him off.
I’m searching the big screen in the terminal for my flight number when I hear my name, and all that hope I left back at Copper Ridge suddenly floods back into my chest.
I spin around, searching through the people for Garrett, and pain strikes me all over again when it’s Wade I see rushing toward me.
“Didn’t think I’d let ya leave without saying goodbye, did ya?” he stops and catches his breath, and despite wanting to burst into tears, I smile at him.
“I wondered where you got to last night.”
“Chicks dig a grieving man, darlin’,” He shrugs unapologetically, then dropping the cheeky grin from his face, he turns serious.
“He’s really letting you leave, huh?” his head shakes disapprovingly.
“Looks that way,” I let out a disappointed laugh.
“Listen, I know you don’t understand his logic right now. But he’s doing what he thinks is best for you, and believe me, it’ll be hurting him just as much as it is you.”
I have nothing to say to that because although I’m mad at him, I take no pleasure in the fact Garrett is hurting too.
“Take care of him,” I move closer and wrap my arms around Wade’s shoulders, “And tell her how you feel,” I whisper before pulling away, and the sad smile he gives me back confirms he won’t be taking my advice.
“I’ll be seeing you again,” he promises.
“You think so?” I laugh.
“I know so. That brother of mine is gonna realize what he’s let go, and I can’t wait to watch him grovel to get you back.”
“Get out of here, Wade.” I kiss his cheek and leave him in the terminal, grateful for the friendship we made. And as I walk away to catch the plane back to L.A. and the life I never wanted to leave behind, I feel like a different girl to the one who arrived.
Copper Ridge taught me a lot this summer. I learned how to ride, I learned to find beauty in such simple things, and I learned that love really fucking hurts.