27. Juliette
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
juliette
Riding the high from the event, I’ve spent the last few days smiling more than I ever have in my life. There’s been a lot of relaxing together, making meals, watching movies, and even a tea party where Kash rocked the shit out of some fairy wings.
I’ve got photo evidence, otherwise known as blackmail .
There’s something about seeing the way my daughter interacts with each of the guys that turns me into a pile of mush every time. Her bond with Kash, especially. Those two go together like peas and carrots.
With each day, there’s more and more hints of the old Kash peeking through—the boy who was observant and thoughtful but always a little too serious. Now, there’s this playful, carefree side of him really coming out to shine, and it’s absolutely heartwarming.
For the first time in days, the place is quiet.
Kash is up at the main house with Hudson and Charlotte.
Beck is volunteering at the local fire department, learning how they operate and where he might be able to assist during his downtime from the horse ranch they’re working hard to establish here.
Wyatt is off somewhere on the estate, going over a fence inspection from the ranch foreman on site.
When my phone rings with a call from our group chat, I get a little giddy.
We’re way overdue for some girl talk. Clicking the button, Ezlynn’s smiling face and big blue eyes are the first things I see, and I’m not embarrassed to admit I squeal like a pre-teen who just caught sight of her favorite boy band.
“Ez! It’s been too fucking long, girl. Where are you?”
“Hey, Jules. I’m so sorry. I know you were going through some shit. It’s just been a whirlwind here in Sydney, and I’m finally at a point where I could take a breather and call.”
“Girl, don’t you even worry about it. Things here are looking up, finally.”
“You better believe I want to hear all about that !” She props her chin on her palm, long dark hair tumbling in waves down her arm.
Elliott’s face finally pops up on the screen, her cheeks flushed and her hair sticking to the sweat along her temples. “Shit. What did I miss?”
She’s breathing heavily, and I’m pretty sure she’s naked, which is not all that unusual for Elliott, honestly.
Ez leans into the camera, squinting. “Did you really just finish getting fucked and hop on this call without cleaning up first? Don’t you know you’re supposed to at least pee, otherwise you risk a urinary tract infection?”
My snort echoes through the empty house, but Elle just rolls her eyes.
“I haven’t talked to you in over a month, and I was seriously about ready to open a missing person’s case if you didn’t show your face.” She heaves out an exhausted breath, propping herself up with her forearms on a pillow. “I just made Raff speed things along, is all. I’ll owe him one later.”
Ez and I laugh.
“Elle, you are something else.”
Ez nods. “Look, I don’t know how much time I’ll have before someone will need me for something, but I just wanted you both to know I haven’t forgotten about you. I’m still trying to come visit during my downtime in a few months. Just not sure for how long yet.”
“We will take you for as long as we can have you.”
“Which brings me to the real reason why I called…” Ez wags her eyebrows. “I want all the deets on these hotties you’ve been keeping on the down low.”
For the next few minutes, I give them the latest updates including my massive comeback win, my reconnecting with Kash, and how amazing it is to finally be loved by men who aren’t after my money or my name.
“I finally feel like everything is settling into place, and?—”
“And it feels fucking amazing, am I right?” Elle smirks.
“It really does. But I honestly wouldn’t have been able to make it this far without the two of you. Y’all have had my back for the last four years, and I owe you both so much.”
Elliott’s face turns serious. “That goes both ways, Jules. You guys propped me up when I was at my lowest and never once asked for anything in return. I’m so fucking grateful for you girls.”
“She’s right, Jules.”
“I usually am,” Elle quips.
Ez just sticks out her tongue. “As I was saying, had it not been for the two of you, I would’ve walked out of that trauma center no better off than I was before, still fully allowing my parents to rule over my life for eternity.
Regardless of Dr. Craig’s skills, I truly believe that your love and support made all of the difference in the world.
It’s your voices I hear in my head when shit hits the fan, and it helps center me so I can make the right decision. ”
Elle’s lips purse. “I deserve a What Would Elliott Do? sticker. Just saying.”
“Glad I’m not the only one who hears that crazy bitch in my head.” I snicker when said bitch narrows her eyes at me.
“Gotta admit, she’s really got a knack for intervening even from thousands of miles away, always getting her two cents in.”
“You’re lucky I love you bitches,” Elle mutters.
“Which brings up a good point. Now that your baby daddy is around, does that mean you can make a solo trip down here to see me, Jules? Not that I don’t love your mini me, but we can’t talk dick with little ears around, and you have so many to discuss. ”
“I mean…” I lounge back on the sofa, letting the thought bounce around in my brain.
“I could ask Beck if he would be okay with that. I haven’t had girl time in so fucking long.
With my training schedule and how much I already leave Charlotte, I’ve felt guilty, but with her daddy here, it would give them some time to bond. ”
Ez pouts dramatically. “You two are just trying to make me jealous now.”
“Says the woman who gets to jetset around the world and rub elbows with the rich and famous. I’m a well-credited journalist. I could come and do a whole segment on you, but do you ever invite me along? No! ”
“Oh god, can you imagine the guys’ faces if Elliott told them she was joining you for a press tour?”
“A couple of weeks without kinky sex on every available surface? Whatever would they do?” Ez mocks.
Elliott glares at the screen. “I have a healthy sex drive, okay?”
Ez and I cackle, but I get distracted when a text from an unknown number flashes across my screen.
Unknown
Hey, I’m over at the new property, near the stables. Thought I could give you a tour if you’re not busy.
It’s odd that his name didn’t pop up, but there was mention of storms later today and sometimes when they gather in the mountains, service can get a little spotty.
“Hey, girls, I think I have to go. Pretty sure Kash just messaged. He wants to show me the acreage they just closed on yesterday.”
“He wants to give you a tour of somethin’, alright,” Elliott murmurs, lifting both hands—one in an O shape while a finger on the other pokes through the opening.
“You are worse than a twelve-year-old boy.” Ez rolls her eyes, then smirks back at me. “But she’s also not wrong.”
I laugh, realizing just how badly I needed this. “Alright, you two. I love you both. Don’t go so long without checking in, you hear?”
“Yes, Mama Jules.” Ez smiles just as someone calls her name in the background. “Looks like my time is up anyways. Love you girls.”
She blows a kiss as Elle does the same.
“Love you bitches!”
When they disconnect, I’m left feeling whole and happy, something I never would’ve imagined I’d say even a month ago.
On cloud nine, I rush into the bedroom to change out of Beck’s t-shirt, throw on a pair of jean shorts, my boots, and a white tank.
After I grab my favorite hat, I’m out the door.
I shoot off a text to Beck, letting him know I’m heading over to meet Kash, then make my way to the stables.
The darkening clouds give me pause, so I decide it might be smarter to take my truck since Beck drove it over here at some point.
In seconds, I’m driving over to the smaller parcel of land that was once a piece of the Ford estate.
It had been a gift that Jack sold the second he was able, splitting off from his family’s legacy in a way only a man full of vengeance and hate could.
At least the guys finally brought it back to its rightful owners.
When I pull down the drive, there’s an unfamiliar truck parked toward the rear of the vacant house, closer to the barn doors.
Did Kash finally get tired of waiting for their stuff to arrive from Austin and cave on getting a new one?
Parking nearby, I get out and head down the path toward the stables, passing the two pens which are in desperate need of some maintenance.
One of the double doors is open, but the place seems eerily quiet.
The sky is slowly turning an ominous gray, and I know we’ll be seeing rain in the next hour or so.
I can already smell the scent of damp earth on the breeze as the clouds roll in.
It’s dark when I walk through the entry, and it takes my eyes a moment to adjust to the dim light filtering through a layer of filth on the upper windows.
Stalls line the length of a building that’s smaller than the Ford and Callahan stables but still newly updated with the latest technology.
There are two bales of hay toward the back, and the smell of dust and manure hangs heavy in the space.
Underlying that is a heavy hint of tobacco that seems… off .
“Kash?” I call out, my voice echoing down the length of the room.
I make my way down the center aisle, heading for the tack room at the end.
I’m about halfway down when a man steps out from one of the stalls, scaring the shit out of me.
He’s in a full suit and tie, his dress shoes covered in a layer of dust, but he seems wholly unbothered as he takes a drag from his cigarette.
For a moment, the only thing I can think of is how dangerous that is.
The hay in this place has to be dry as the Sahara.
One small spark and it’ll all go up in flames.