Chapter 9
The Heart Wants What It Wants
? Cowboy Kind of Love - The Castellos
Griffin
Present Day
Girls, Hayes, and Neighs
Me: Anybody up for a ride tonight?
Wilder: I’m in.
Jaxon: Me too.
Olivia: I’m kidnapping Callie, then.
Callie: Fuck yes! Girls night!
Olivia: Ruby are you in?
Ruby: I’m actually gonna hang with the guys this time. Rain check?
Callie: Ugh. Fine.
Jaxon: Hell yeah. Hayes night!
Olivia: Technically we’re all Hayes now.
Jaxon: O.G. Hayes night!
Callie: Looks like someone wants to sleep on the couch with Atticus tonight.
Olivia: Angie? Girls night?
Wife: Count me in.
I lead the way down our usual trail outside the west pasture with Ruby on my heels, followed by Wilder, and Jaxon bringing up the rear.
Knowing Angie is just up the road at Wilder’s place has me keyed up.
It’s taking every bit of my self-control to stay on the trail rather than divert my path to get to her instead.
There’s a reason I wanted to get out tonight, and racing to Angie’s side would be counterproductive. I still haven’t wrapped my head around what Wilder said about the phone number. Then there’s the annulment papers.
She didn’t seem at all fazed when she slid them across the desk, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sting. Could it be that she’s finally realized it was all a mistake on her part? Did she only marry me as some way to get back at Tyler?
Ruby pulls up alongside me on Buttercup. “Ok, spill. You’re being way too quiet.”
I glance at my sister out of the corner of my eye. She looks lighter these days, happier. It probably has something to do with that giant ruby on her ring finger and the man who put it there.
“I’m just processing this whole marriage thing.”
“Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts.”
I almost forgot Ruby wasn’t at the bonfire the other night, so she might not know what went down between Angie and me. “Fuck no. It’s just… I’ve been sitting on some new information, and I’m not sure how to bring it up.”
Buttercup snorts, and Ruby gives her a gentle pat. “I’m gonna need way more details to go off of if I’m gonna give you my sisterly advice, Griff.”
“Surprised Olivia hasn’t already filled you in.”
“I’ve been busy,” she says. “Get on with it.”
I let out a ragged sigh. “Five years ago, Angie and I had a weekend fling. She gave me her number, and when I left, I texted. That’s when I found out it wasn’t actually her number.”
Ruby laughs. It goes on for far too long, and irritation prickles under my skin. “Oldest trick in the book.”
I shake my head. “It was a mistake. She thinks I ghosted her.”
“And the dipshit didn’t think to fucking ask,” Wilder chimes in from behind me.
“You could’ve fucking said something,” I say defensively.
Ruby interjects. “Ok… so you’re all a bunch of dumbasses. Tell me something I didn’t already know. You haven’t talked to Angie about it?”
I tighten my grip on the reins, knuckles blanching. “No. I don’t want to risk losing her.”
“You’re just gonna have to rip off the band-aid. Communication is important in a marriage, and if you’re going to stay together, you need to get it all out in the open. I’m honestly surprised she married your dumb ass if she thinks you ghosted her.”
“In her defense, she was pretty tipsy when she proposed. It probably could’ve been anyone.” The words taste like acid on my tongue.
The thought of Angie marrying someone else that night sets my teeth on edge.
“Please tell me you didn’t take advantage of her.”
“Hell no. If anything, she took advantage of me. I was defenseless against her charms.”
Ruby snorts. “Her charms. Sure. It definitely had nothing to do with the fact that she’s fucking gorgeous.”
“Gorgeous, smart as hell, and way too fucking good for the likes of me. I’m surprised to hear you, of all people, reducing her to her appearance.”
“Not at all. I just assumed you were thinking with your dick. Thanks for proving me wrong.”
The path widens, and Jaxon and Wilder pull up beside us. “Look, we can’t afford to get on the bad side of the only vet in town, so you’re gonna have to make it work,” Jaxon says.
“Fuck you, Jaxy.”
Wilder barks out a laugh. “Just talk to her, man. It’s been five years. A lot has changed since then, and you’re both grown adults.”
“She asked for an annulment the other day.”
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to tell anyone, but I could use their support. Those papers have been weighing on my mind ever since, even though I tried to play it cool.
Jaxon’s face falls. “Shit, man. What did you say?”
“Told her I don’t make mistakes, and then lunch showed up. I left without signing the papers.”
Ruby grins. “Never thought Griffin would be the last Hayes to fall.”
Wilder nods in agreement. “I thought for sure it would be Jax.”
“Fuck you, Wild Man,” Jax says. “I’m by far the best brother.”
We reach a fork in the path that diverts toward the waterfall where we used to swim as kids.
“Anybody up for a dip in the creek?” I ask.
“Always.” Ruby takes off like a shot. The creek is her favorite spot on the ranch.
Jaxon spurs Copper into motion, taking off after her.
Wilder sidles up next to me on Storm. “If I thought it was serious, I would’ve said something sooner. You know that, right?”
I nod once. “I know.”
Growing up, Jaxon and Ruby were joined at the hip. As for me, I had Wilder. He’s the one who encouraged me to start the sanctuary. We all doted on Ruby because she was the baby of the family, but Wilder was and still is my best friend.
“You’re good for each other, you know? She balances out your gruffness, but she’s tough enough to handle your bullshit, too.” He lets out a humorless laugh. “She’s your Olivia.”
“Nobody’s ever made me feel the way she does. I don’t know what I’ll do if she wants to go through with the annulment.”
“I think you know where I stand. Just don’t fuck it up. Angie’s important to my family.”
“I know. Do you think…”
“Yeah. Jess would be ecstatic.” There’s a flash of sadness in his expression before he clears his throat and jerks his head toward the creek. “Come on. Can’t let the youngins have all the fun.”
When I get to the waterfall, Ruby and Jax are already wading in while Wilder ties Storm to the hitching post with the other horses.
“I’ll text Liv to bring us some towels and spare clothes,” he says.
My brow furrows. “Won’t they be on their second bottle of wine by now?”
He stares down at his phone as the screen lights up with a response. “Her stomach’s been bothering her the last few days, so I doubt it.”
“Shit, man. That sucks. Hope she’s not getting sick or something.”
His only response is a grunt. There’s something he’s not saying, but I have enough of my own shit to deal with.
After securing Phoenix, I wade into the cool water until I’m waist-deep. Ruby’s in the middle of the creek, floating on her back. When she spots me, she rights herself and splashes me.
I get her right back, but it doesn't faze her. Ruby’s always loved the water. She shakes it off and runs her fingers over the shimmering surface.
“Do you remember when we used to come here as kids?” she asks. “We’d trudge home soaking wet, and Mama would be pissed.”
Wilder chuckles. “You would think she would’ve gotten used to it at some point, but she never did.”
I tie my hair up in a knot, keeping it out of the murky water. “I remember that one time when Pops caught Jaxy out here with some girl.”
“That wasn’t me, asshole,” Jax says. “That was Wilder and Jess.”
A crooked grin breaks across Wilder’s face as he dips his toes in the water. “She coerced me into skinny dipping. I was just along for the ride. Would’ve followed her anywhere.”
It’s getting easier to talk about Jess these days.
Wilder finally accepted that her death was an accident, letting go of the guilt that had tormented him for years.
They say time heals, but I don’t think that’s the case.
Time dulls the pain and makes it easier to look back on the memories with fondness.
Without Jess, there’d be no Angelina. I tried to keep my distance, but that time has passed. She can burn those annulment papers in the same pit where she burned her wedding dress, and I’ll gladly strike the match.
Angelina
It was just my parents and me growing up. I had a few cousins scattered around the country, but we weren’t close. All this to say, the Hayes group chat is new territory for me. But the opportunity to spend time with Callie and Olivia without the guys around was too enticing to pass up.
When I pull up to Olivia’s place, I park next to a familiar pink ride-on Jeep that belongs to Emmy. It’s lined up with the other vehicles in the driveway, and I just know she insisted it belonged there. She’s headstrong like her mom was.
I’m just about to knock on the front door when it swings open, and Olivia comes into view. Smoke billows out of the house as a shrill alarm blares inside.
“Hi, Ange.” She steps onto the porch, and Callie comes out behind her. “Accidentally burned the macarons. It’ll stop soon. We can hang out here for now.”
Callie gags as she sinks onto one of the rocking chairs. “That smell is horrid.”
“It’s not that bad. It’s probably just the pregnancy talking,” Olivia says, taking a seat on the top step. “Shit. I didn’t mean to blurt that out.”
A familiar pang resounds in my chest. I manage to plaster on a smile, but it’s forced. “You’re pregnant?”
Callie’s nose crinkles, and she nods. “It’s still early. We haven’t told anyone yet. Big mouth over here just figured it out.”
Olivia grimaces. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine. We were going to announce it at family dinner on Sunday anyway.”
“Congratulations.” Bile rises from the pit of my stomach, but I swallow it down, hoping they don’t sense my discomfort.
I should be happy for Callie, but it’s a bitter reminder of what I’ll never have. I’m just Auntie Lina now.
It’s fine. I’m fine.