Chapter 10
Kayla
Kayla
I can’t come today. Something came up. Let’s reschedule.
Grumpy Cowboy
Can’t. Need 24 hours' notice to cancel.
Kayla
Colter, seriously. I can’t come tonight.
Grumpy Cowboy
Kayla, either you show up on your own, or I come and get you.
Once all the students are out of the class and on their way to the buses, I pull out my phone. What I wasn’t expecting when I left my apartment this morning was to be evicted via text.
According to Billy, it’s going to take too long to get the part to fix the faucet, and I can’t stay in an apartment without working water. A huge change of tune from a few days ago when he told me the apartment was still livable.
With a little bit of begging, I’d convinced him to let me stay the rest of the week, until I can find an alternative, but I mean, seriously? How much worse could this week get?
First, Kyle ghosts me, so I’m forced to wash my hair in the school bathrooms after all the other teachers have left—cause that’s not embarrassing. And now Colter is threatening to come get me if I don’t show up for tutoring. Of course, the universe can’t let me hold on to my last shred of dignity.
I drag myself to my car, slump into the driver’s seat, and stare at the cracked windshield.
It needs to be replaced.
I need to be replaced. Preferably by someone whose life isn’t falling apart in slow motion.
Still, I know Colter well enough now to know that he means what he says. If I don’t show up, he’ll come looking for me. And the last thing I need is to become the reason Ben's father gets arrested for kidnapping.
So I drive.
By the time I pull up the long dirt road to the ranch, the sun is hidden behind clouds, rain making the road muddy and even more difficult to navigate.
I should have expected it. Sunshine would just make my life too easy.
Colter is leaning against the fence like he’s been there for hours, arms crossed, boots caked in mud. He doesn’t move when I get out of the car.
"Thought you weren’t coming," he calls over the sound of the rain.
"I almost didn’t," I reply, locking my car and walking toward him. "But then I remembered that you’re too stubborn to take no for an answer."
His eyes flick toward me, scanning me up and down. "You look like hell."
"Thanks," I mutter. "That’s exactly what a girl wants to hear after washing her hair in a school sink."
His expression softens, but only slightly. "You hungry?"
I blink at him. "You don’t need to feed me every time I come over."
He doesn’t smile, but the corner of his mouth twitches. "Ben’s inside. Dinner’s almost ready." I guess it’s ignore Kayla day. Again.
I follow him into the house, and it still hits me every time—the warmth of the place. It’s not fancy, but it’s full of life. Family photos, muddy boots by the door, the faint smell of something baking. It smells like a home, and I hate how much that gets to me.
Ben is at the table, already flipping through his math workbook like he’s been waiting all day. "Ms. Carson!"
"Hey, buddy," I say, ruffling his hair as I sit next to him. Colter watched for a moment before disappearing down the hallway. "Ready to show me how much smarter you are than last week?"
He grins. "Always."
We dive into word problems, and for the next hour, I let myself forget about the broken apartment, the flaky landlord, and the complete ghosting from Kyle.
I focus on Ben. On his little smile when he gets something right.
On the confidence that slowly builds as he gets more and more answers right.
Our tutoring session flies by, and then he’s dragging me to the kitchen to get dinner.
After dinner, which is homemade lasagna, because of course Colter can cook, Ben heads upstairs to get ready for bed. Kid free for the moment, Colter leans his back against the counter, arms crossed. "So, what’s going on?"
I shrug, picking at my piling shirt. "Nothing."
"Bullshit," he says. I look up, surprised at the edge in his voice. “Tell me.”
“Colter, it’s fine. I don’t want to bother you.”
"You’re not a bother," he expression darkening. “Out with it.”
"Colter."
"I’m serious."
I blink, my throat tightening. "Billy kicked me out." I wait for the shock to hit him, or for his concern. I wait for anything, really. But he just stands there, looking indifferent. “There’s like no other rentals in town.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“Live out of my car?” I crack a smile, partially joking. “I don’t know, I have the rest of the week to figure it out.”
His eyebrows twitch, and he chews the inside of his cheek. “You do?”
“Yeah, took a bit of my dignity to beg Billy to let me stay, but I did what I had to do.”
“Sure.” He blinks. I pull at my bottom lip, rolling it between my fingers. When he doesn’t say anything else, I decide I might as well make myself useful. Standing, I start piling all of our dishes together. “What are you doing?”
Blowing bubbles, I want to say, but I don’t. “Cleaning?”
“Leave that, I’ll get it.”
“You cooked, I’ll clean,” I insist.
“You tutor my son for free.”
“It’s my job.”
“It’s definitely not.”
“Colter.”
“Kayla.”
“Move in here.”
“What?” Was he drinking during dinner? Is that pure vodka? I thought it was water.
“Move in here,” he repeats.
I hold up my hand, shaking my head. “No, I heard what you said. I just don’t understand. I can’t move in here.”
“Why not?”
“Cause that’s so inappropriate.” How does he not see that? Surely he knows what an absurd idea this is.
“Why? You need a place to stay, and I have the space. I can even charge you rent if it makes you feel better.” I mean, it would, but it’s still a terrible idea.
“It’s just not a good idea,” I drop the dirty dishes in the huge sink and start rinsing them off.
“What other option do you have?”
“Going back to Chicago?” I shrug it off, like the thought doesn’t bother me. In reality, the thought of returning to Chicago, with my tail tucked between my legs, makes me want to puke.
“No.”
“Colter, we’ve been over this. You can’t just tell me no. I’m not your employee.”
“Aren’t you?”
“Colter!”
“I didn’t mean as a teacher, I meant as my son’s tutor.”
“You’re not paying me, so no, I’m not.”
“If I start paying you will you start listening to me?”
“Seriously?” I blink.
“Okay, yeah, that sounded bad,” he winces. “My bad.”
“Look, it’s not ideal, but what else am I to do?”
“Move in here,” he repeats, expression deadpan. “Think about the kids. Three teachers in one year? That’s hard on them. And what about Ben? A new teacher won’t recommend him for testing, and he’ll be stuck in the same situation.”
“That’s not fair.” I don’t like him using the kids against me. It’s low, even for him.
“Look, take the week and see if you can find another option. But if you can’t, then move in here. It can be temporary, until something else pops up in town.”
“I’ll think about it.” I concede, not because I was easily manipulated, but because I’d honestly rather move in with Colter than move back in with my brother. At least Colter actually listens to me.
“Good,” he checks my hip, booting me out of the way.
“Now go shower. Guest bath is the first door at the top of the stairs. There are towels and shampoo up there.” He takes the plate out of my hand.
“I’m going to drop Ben off at his mom’s place, they live in that black eyesore,” he gestures vaguely over his shoulder, and I’m guessing he’s referring to the newer house that veers off to the right at the end of the driveway—kinda ideal that they all live within walking distance, I suppose.
“I have to camp out tonight, but I should be back before you leave.”
“Colter.”
“You want a shower.”
My shoulders sag. He’s right. I really, really want a real shower. “I was just going to say thank you.”
“No, you weren’t.” He’s right once again.
By the time I’m out of the shower, Colter is gone with Ben.
I sneak out like a one-night stand.
I spend the rest of the week looking for a place to live.
I even ask for a temporary setup at the motel, but apparently, they’re all sold out for some festival happening a few towns over.
If I weren’t so panicked about being homeless, I would consider checking it out.
But instead, I’m in my shitty little apartment, counting down the minutes until I’m evicted.
Literally.
I have 28 minutes.
“Who cares if it leaves them in a bind? They haven’t exactly been too welcoming to you, have they?” Fletcher asks over video chat, munching on a carrot. We’re currently discussing my options for housing, and surprise, surprise, my brother thinks I should move home.
“It’s not that they’ve been rude, it’s just that I’m so much younger than the rest of them.
” My coworkers are nice, and I get along with them all, but there’s an obvious generational divide going on.
While they talk about how excited they are to spend the summer with their grandkids, or about how their kids are going off to college.
I’m not quite there. “Maybe if I have a kid, I’ll have more to talk to them about. ” I hum, as if actually considering it.
“Kayla Marie Carson!”
“Oh, he used the middle name,” Faith leans over his shoulder, smiling.
“Oh no, am I grounded? Are you going to drive all day and all night to come and take away my phone?”
“You’re a little shit,” Fletch snickers.
“I learned from the best,” I shrug. We both know I was the best behaved out of all my friends. Fletcher had it easy—as easy as a teenage boy raising his little sister could have it, I suppose.
“So, really, what are you going to do?” Faith asks, using her husband’s shoulder as a support for her elbow.
I really only have two options at this point, move in with Colter or move home to Illinois. Only one of those options makes me break out in hives.
“My friend offered me a place to stay.”
“You have a friend? Ow!” My brother rubs at his forehead, where his wife just flicked him. “I didn’t mean it like that. You just haven’t mentioned anyone. We thought you were all alone out there.”
“I have friends,” I scoff. “There’s Delia, and Kyle, and Mandy, and Sylvie, and Colter.” I don’t know why, but I start listing off names, specifically names of people I rarely talk to, like a rap sheet.
“You never talk about any of them,” Fletch defends himself. “So which one offered you a room? Delia? Mandy?”
“Yeah,” I nod absentmindedly, chewing at my thumbnail.
“Kayla. Which one?”
“Uh,” I hesitate. “Delia.”
“Are you sure about that?” He asks, eyeing me skeptically through the camera. Fair enough, I just pulled that lie out of my ass, and I definitely didn’t execute it well.
“Of course, I’m sure about it. I was just reading a text.”
“Oh. Do you need to go?”
“Actually, yeah, I do,” I frown apologetically. I have to finish packing, and then I have to phone Colter. Probably best I don’t just show up at his door with my bags like some hobo. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Just phone me once you’re settled somewhere a little more permanent, yeah?”
“Mhm,” I agree halfheartedly. “Love you.”
“Love you too.”
“Love you,” Faith chimes in.
The video chat ends, leaving the apartment weirdly quiet. Once again, I’m wrapped in loneliness. Dropping my head back onto the bare mattress, I throw an arm over my eyes. Being an adult is harder than it looks.
I take five deep breaths, and then I do what I’ve been dreading all week, and I call Colter. The phone rings twice, and I almost think he’s not going to pick up. And then he proves me wrong. Again.
“Is everything alright?”
“Do you ever just answer your phone with hello?” I answer his question with a question of my own.
“Kayla.”
“Colter.”
“What do ya need? Jake! The gate! Jesus Christ, get the fucking gate, you dipshit!” I pull the phone away from my ear, grimacing.
“Colorful,” I mumble, and Colter huffs out what sounds like a laugh on the other end of the line.
“Sorry, I’m just working.”
“I didn’t mean to bug you.”
“You’re not. What do ya need?”
“Um, well, I was wondering if it’s still okay with you, and it won’t cause any issues with Ben, well–”
“Spit it out, Kayla.”
“Is that room still available?” I’m met with silence, which honestly is a little more concerning than if he laughed in my face. Shouldn’t there at least be background noise? Farms aren’t quiet. “Colter?”
“Yes.”
“Did you hear what I asked?”
“Yes. The answer is yes,” he clarifies, speaking in a rush. “Are you coming now?”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. Do you need help? I can’t get away, but I can send a few of the guys.”
“Oh, no, that’s okay. I don’t have much. The place came fully furnished.”
“So you need a bed?”
“Fuck. I didn’t even think to ask if you had a spare bed. I’m sorry.” I rub my forehead. Way to take advantage of the poor guy.
“It’s okay, Kayla. I’m a grown ass man, of course I have a spare bed.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Just come over. The door is unlocked since the guys come and go throughout the day. Make yourself at home, and we'll talk when I get home later tonight, okay?”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, Kayla. I’m sure.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek, giving the universe one more moment to change its mind and give me a break. It doesn’t. “Okay. Thank you, Colter.”
“It’s what’s best for the kids.”
Right. The kids.