Chapter Four
Tex
I don’t usually follow women around. In fact, I’ve never followed a woman before. The whole concept is desperate and a little stalker-like, which isn’t my thing, but I make a special rule for Marley.
Something isn’t right.
When I saw the picture of Richard online, I could tell something was off about him, but I figured it was that I hated him by default. He’s touching the woman I love. That’ll make me hate anyone.
Meeting him in person, I realize that I hate him for actual reasons too. He’s a fucking asshole. Who the fuck says they love someone then puts them down the way he did at the store? That and he’s clearly pushing his agenda on her with this no wedding bullshit and the modernization of the bookstore.
The Marley I know wants a house full of kids, a cabin in the valley, and a big wedding by the river with a fancy white dress, a pair of red boots, and a horse that carries her away.
This Marley is a Marley making concessions, and I don’t like that. That’s something that will never work for me.
I wait for her to finish at the bookstore then follow her car up the mountain, past the Christmas tree farm, and toward the cabin where her friend Kit lives.
I remember Kit quite well. She’s one of Marley’s closest friends.
We’d often do game nights with her or meet up at Mullet’s for a beer together after work.
I don’t need to approve of Marley’s friends, but if I were approving of them, I’d approve of Kit.
I’ve only ever heard her lifting Marley up, which is exactly what I want.
I never want a day to go by that she doesn’t feel like she’s the best thing that ever walked the face of this Earth.
Damn it! I need to get a grip.
What the fuck am I doing? It’s been eight years. Eight years.
It’s over. She’s an adult. A fully grown woman with her own life.
Maybe she does have new dreams now. Maybe she decided she hates kids, weddings, dogs, the whole thing.
Maybe she’s happy with the guy and I misread what was happening.
Maybe I should turn off the trail and leave her be.
I’ve got enough to do with building a plan for the store and getting some benches built.
Then again, I could park at the end of the dirt road between a cluster of pines. I could wait for her to come back through. I could follow her home from here.
I tell myself this is all to keep her safe, to make sure she’s really happy, but I know the truth.
Deep down, I need Marley back, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure it happens.