Chapter 7
Jesse
I’m skipping out because I texted Ella late last night and asked about going out for dinner.
Thankfully, she was free tonight because tomorrow I can’t.
I’ve gotta run these clients back to the airport after their last hunt.
I’m starting to realize why Cody always follows and preaches about a no-dating rule during hunting season.
It’s impossible to make plans because you never know how your day’s going to go, not to mention it’s exhausting and the last thing you feel like doing is going out.
My bed is the only place I want to be after a long day.
After getting all the ducks gathered up for a few pictures with the hunters and dogs, we get cleaned up and head out. I get the guys back to the big house for lunch. Cody and Dad are just getting back as well with their group.
“Didn’t think it would be that good this morning,” Cody says, walking toward me.
“Yeah, especially where you went. Wasn’t it a swamp?”
He shrugs. “Not too bad.” Pointing to all three dogs covered in mud, he adds, “’Bout the same as you guys.”
I look back at them. You could almost mistake them all for chocolate labs they’re so muddy.
“I’m gonna get them cleaned up before we head out later so they can rest up. They’re beat,” I say.
“Ok. You coming in to eat first?”
I shake my head. “No, I wanna get some other things done, maybe take a nap.”
He lifts his chin at me. “You got plans tonight?” His words hold some weight; he’s testing me.
I scoff with a head shake. The one, and probably only, bad thing about living this close to your family is everyone knows your business. Whether you like it or not, it’s just how it is.
I shrug. “Something like that.”
“Please tell me you’re not getting back with Lexie.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Absolutely not.”
“But it’s a girl?” He pauses to think, pointing his finger at me when it hits him. “Ella?!”
“Shh!” I hiss.
“Seriously?!”
“Keep your voice down! If Addison catches wind, she won’t let me hear the end of it.”
If things do work out between Ella and me, I know I’ll have Addie to thank.
I don’t know how long it would’ve taken me to ask her out on my own.
She sped up the process for sure. While we seem to have picked up right where we left off, she still feels like a breath of fresh air, something new and exciting.
I just want to do everything right. I was fortunate enough to get a second chance; I don’t want to mess it up again.
We stop talking when we hear someone coming up the driveway. Looking up, we see it’s Wesley, our neighbor’s son.
Our property backs up to the Stettler cattle farm; they raise beef cattle and do some crop farming. They’re a nice family and have been here about as long as we have. They have a daughter who’s Mason’s age and Wesley is the same age as Addison, seventeen.
“Speaking of Addison,” Cody mutters when the sound of the front door opens. Out comes Addie wearing jeans, a sweatshirt, and her brown hair up in a ponytail through the back of her hat.
Wesley steps out of his truck and says hi to us. Cody and I toss up a wave and head nod.
We watch Addison make her way into the passenger seat. “You’re early,” she tells him.
“You said any time after 8:30,” Wesley argues gently with a laugh. Addison bickers back at him but I don’t exactly hear what. Cody and I exchange a glance at each other.
These two have been best friends their whole lives. They do nearly every dang thing together but kiss. Swearing up and down that they’re just friends.
As Wesley starts to back around to leave, Cody waves. “Have fun,” he says and turns back to me. “They’re definitely doing it.”
I nudge him in the shoulder. “No, they aren’t.”
“They’re at that age—”
I cut in, my voice tight. “Stop. They’re not.”
“You know they’re not twelve anymore, right? Remind me, what exactly were you doing at her age with … who was that girl again?” he plays dumb. “Oh, that’s right, Ella?” His smug smirk is irritating.
“You’re a pain in the ass, Cody, you know that?”
“I’ve been told.” He shrugs. “Does anyone else know you and Ella are rekindling your passionate burning love for each other?”
“No… and don’t mention it,” I all but demand. “We haven’t talked about anything.”
“Yet,” he adds.
“Well yeah, that was kinda the point of tonight,” I mutter and start to walk away.
I head back to my cabin with the dogs. By the time they’re cleaned up, I’m in need of a shower too, the smell of wet dog lingers heavy on my body.
* * *
Just as I’m getting ready to shower, I hear my phone go off in the kitchen where I left it. The anticipation building, silently praying it’s not Ella canceling.
Ella: Just wanted to let you know, I’m not sure what exactly you had in mind, but we don’t have to get dinner, we can just hang out too.
Me: How about both?
Ella: That’s good with me.
Me: 5 still good?
Ella: Perfect.
Me: See you then.
Ella: :-)
I step into the hot shower and daydream.
I’m looking forward to seeing her again but I’m also pretty nervous.
The breakup between us wasn’t exactly my proudest moment, and I know at some point we’re going to have to acknowledge it.
I think she’d agree she was also at fault.
We were young, still somewhat immature, and looking into a future together that looked vastly different in each of our eyes.
I’m fully ready to apologize, forgive, and forget, but the big question that hangs in the air is if she’ll be ready as well. Does she want to try again?
* * *
“I’m having insane déjà vu,” Ella says when I open my truck door for her.
She looks great. Light wash jeans, copper-orange sweater, her hair partially pulled back and the rest curled down over her shoulders.
I shut her door and round to my side. Getting in the driver’s seat, I chuckle. “Same truck, same guy, but I do have an upgraded radio—Bluetooth now.”
“Oh, fancy,” she teases and stretches the seatbelt across her body. She has barely aged, still so beautiful, honestly probably even more beautiful than before. Who would’ve thought that would be possible? I sure didn’t.
As I back around to get onto the road, the quick glance I get of Ella when I change mirrors is giving me déjà vu as well. The memories her and I made in this truck… the dreams we shared with each other, the goals we had for our future. I mean, we fell in love in this truck, but we also fell apart.
We no sooner get started down the road and she breaks the silence. “So. Are you nervous?”
“Little bit,” I lie. I can barely breathe. I’m more than just a little nervous.
“I’m trying to tell myself it’s just dinner and catching up but”—she pauses—“it feels more serious than that.”
“Yeah. I think there’re some things we need to talk about.”
Tucking her hair behind her ear, she swallows hard. “Definitely.”
I catch her hands fumbling together but she directs her attention out the window.
Wanting to lighten the air, I say, “Are you enjoying being back here?”
“Oh, yes. I hated the heat and city life in Texas.”
I laugh. “That doesn’t surprise me. You are nothing close to a city girl.”
She smiles. “You’re telling me.”
We enter the restaurant and get seated in the back, away from the chaos. Sitting across from her feels so natural, so normal. I make sure she knows she can order whatever she wants and that I mean it. Knowing her, she won’t, though.
Throughout dinner, the conversation stays light.
We talk about our families, things that have changed, and who’s up to what.
I talk about my family more then she does.
Which again, reminds me that something is definitely wrong between her and her parents.
Trying to get it out of her without making it too obvious, I make sure to mention the dynamic shifts I feel in my family as Dakota Flight continues to grow year after year.While it’s a topic that’s easy to discuss for me, the brief moments of silence between are when I realize she isn’t going to budge.
After dinner I decide not to take her back to my place to talk. I don’t want her to feel pressure or uncomfortable on my turf. Instead, I decide on parking the truck at one of our old swimming hole spots.
Ella looks out the window, observing the area. “Oh, this has grown up a ton since I’ve been here.”
“I know, it’s wild.”
You used to be able to see the Stettler farm from here, but now with how much the trees and everything have grown, you can’t even see a glimpse of it.
I put my truck in park and pull the key. The sound of the running diesel engine comes to a halt and it’s quiet now. Ella doesn’t look at me, her body is stiff and unrelaxed.
My voice is steady. “Should we just talk about the elephant in the room?”
Waiting for her response has me holding my breath.
Finally letting out a small sigh, she looks to me. “Yeah, I guess …”
Her usually bright green eyes dim with uncertainty as we both brace ourselves to confront the memory of the day that ruined everything between us.