Chapter 28 #2
Her arms wrap around me, giving me a tight squeeze before her hands go to either side of my face.
My heart leaps at the way she looks at me, like I’m the melody she hums when the world is silent.
Like I’m her favorite person in the world.
Before I get a chance to speak, her lips tangle with mine, kissing me like she hasn’t seen me in months.
I kiss her back with just as much fervor, crushing her body against mine.
Averie’s throat clears as she comes up beside us. “Well, girl, as much as I love watching you make out—”
Sadie unlatches her lips from mine with rose colored cheeks.
“—I’ve got a plane to catch,” Averie smiles.
“Right, sorry,” Sadie nods, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
“A plane?” Ryker asks, stepping forward.
Averie seems taken aback by his response, like she doesn’t understand why he cares or why he’s talking to her in the first place.
“Yeah, I’m heading back to Nashville.” Her eyes dart to Sadie and me, seemingly just as confused.
“Why so soon?” Ryker asks, rocking on his heels. “It’s not even Christmas.” He tries to be playful about it, but I can hear the sadness in his voice. The want for someone who doesn’t even notice him.
Averie’s mouth opens, but nothing comes out.
Before she can respond, Cole and Annie pull her in for hugs, saying their goodbyes.
Waving at us at the threshold as we walk Averie outside to her Jeep.
Light and fluffy snow brushes against Ryker’s jean jacket as he straggles behind us with his hands tucked into his pockets, staring at the frosted ground.
Sadie throws her arms around Averie when we reach her Jeep, covered in softly packed snow. “I’m going to miss you,” she murmurs into her hair.
“You have to visit me,” she pulls her in tighter, surely squeezing her too tight, but Sadie doesn’t protest. “Tell Kit to share from time to time.” She gives me a look, and I smile back with a nod, confirming I will.
As much as she wants to.
Sadie laughs, pulling back with glassy eyes. “Of course,” she promises. A single tear falls from her cheek, and my arm instinctively wraps around her torso, tucking her close. “Oh,” she glances at her sweater. “This is yours.”
“Keep it,” Averie smiles. “Looks better on you, anyway.” She turns to Ryker, studying him for a moment. “And umm… thank you, Ryker. For calling me.”
Ryker smiles, but he doesn’t move. Standing a few feet away with a sad look in his eyes that I’m too familiar with. He also doesn’t respond, which surprises me.
Averie opens the driver’s door.
“One drink,” Ryker pipes up, desperation clinging to his strangled voice.
Sadie’s eyes dart between them, and I’m positive I know more than she does. She looks as if she’s trying to do a crossword puzzle but keeps coming up empty on seven down.
It’s cute as hell.
Averie glances back with pink blush in her cheeks, and for a moment, I think she’s considering it. Taking longer than I thought she would. “Maybe next time, Malone,” she smiles.
“I’m holding you to that, Knox,” Ryker smirks, trying to hold her there as long as he can.
And that’s when I feel the air change between them. I was never sure why Ryker chased after her. She’s way out of his league, but the shift between them is as clear as day. He smirks, and she blushes. Pretty sure Sadie sees it now, too.
“I figured as much.” Averie purses her pink lips and then hops in. Waving at us as she drives down the winding driveway, taillights glowing in the evening light. Soft pink and orange streak the big Montana sky.
After a few moments, Sadie picks up Foxie, heading to my truck, ready to go home. Ryker hangs back, sitting on the snowy porch steps, watching Averie disappear behind the pines with his hands tucked under his chin.
“You need a ride?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “I’m going to sit here awhile.”
“She’ll come back,” I assure him. Despite her new life in Nashville, she always came home. And I’m sure she’ll come back every now and then just to see Sadie.
“I know,” he quietly smiles. “And I’ll be waiting.”
I place a firm hand on Ryker’s shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze before heading to my truck.
One hand is on the steering wheel, and the other is in hers as we drive back to our spot on the ranch.
She traces patterns on the top of my hand, staring out the windshield.
Soft country music plays while Foxie is passed out cold in the back seat.
I’m sure Bandit is already fast asleep on my front porch, waiting for me to come home.
“Ryker has feelings for Averie, doesn’t he?” She turns towards me, quirking her brows.
A low chuckle rumbles in my chest as I adjust my hand on the steering wheel. “You could say that.”
“What kind of feelings? From what I’ve heard about Ryker… he can be quite the player.”
I now understand her fear. She’s worried that Averie is just another one of his flings. A fear I’ve also had, but I don’t think that’s the case. “Well, they’ve known each other since grade school. There’s… history between them.”
“History?” Her voice rises.
“Not that kind of history,” I laugh. She relaxes at that. “I don’t think Averie knew he was alive back then. They didn’t exactly hang out in the same crowd.” From what little Ryker told me, Averie was popular in high school, and Ryker was sort of an outcast. They were worlds apart.
“Yes, that part she’s mentioned to me.” She crosses her arms tight against her chest, sighing deeply. “But she didn’t mention the fact that she finds him attractive.”
“Does she?”
“Yup.”
If only Ryker could hear this.
“She tried to convince me that she doesn’t like him, but that’s clearly not the case.”
“I’m sure she’s just conflicted about her feelings for him because of her boyfriend,” I suggest.
“Yeah, maybe.” She fiddles with her horseshoe necklace.
“If it makes you feel better, I think Ryker truly likes her. In a way, I’ve never seen him like someone before.”
“He’d be better for her than Josh…” Her nose twitches.
“But?” I can tell by her voice that something is lingering on her mind.
She sighs. “Averie’s not a rancher. She doesn’t want this lifestyle.”
And Ryker loves it here. It’s his whole life. I squeeze her hand. “Maybe it’s good she’ll be in Nashville for a while.”
Time and distance could only be good for them both.
She nods, and silence passes between us. A quiet moment as storms whirl around inside her head. I can feel her anxiety growing as our homes pop up over the hill.
She reaches her free hand to her bruised cheek, lightly touching the deep purple marks.
“He’s not coming back,” I murmur, assuring her.
“…What did you do to him?”
I smile. “Something poetic.”
She traces patterns on my hand. “I don’t know why I feel this way. I shouldn’t care.” She pauses. “It’s just… I did love him once. I know that doesn’t make any sense, but he wasn’t always such a—”
“Massive shitbag?”
She laughs. “Yeah, that. When I first met him, he was nice to me. Promised me the world… I spent my whole life feeling unlovable, growing up in a family that resented my brother and me. Then I met Markus.” She pauses, fiddling her hand in mine.
“But once I married him, he changed. For the longest time, I thought it was my fault. That I was the reason he hit me.”
My grip tightens on the steering wheel.
“But still… I wasn’t strong enough to leave him. I was too afraid.” Her shoulders sag.
We pull up to our cozy spot on the ranch. I put my truck in park, turning it off. Bandit stands, staying on the porch, watching. Waiting patiently with excited eyes. Evening light filters in through my truck windows, casting a soft glow around us.
“Do you want to know what I think?” I ask her.
She turns towards me, eagerly awaiting my answer.
“After all you’ve been through, Sadie. You didn’t let the world break you. I think that’s what I admire about you the most. Your strength, and your fearless heart.” I squeeze my hand in hers, reminding her that I’m never going to let go.
Her smile brings warmth to her cheeks, blooming down to her chest. A moment passes, and she drifts somewhere in her mind, expression going dark. “My real name is Emma North,” she admits, not able to meet my eyes. “I’m sorry I lied to you. About everything.”
None of that matters to me. I know her heart, and that’s more than a name. “Which name do you prefer?”
I’ll call her whatever she wants.
She smiles, a smile bright and warm like sunshine. “I like it when you call me Sadie.” Her eyes drift down and back up again, filling my body with heat. “And Tequila,” she admits with a fiery look in her eyes.
After all this time, I knew she liked that nickname.
“Then, Sadie, it is. And Tequila on special occasions,” I smirk.
She lets out a shaky breath, grabbing my hand. “I might love you, Cowboy.”
“Good,” I smile. “Because I’m in love with you, Sadie.”
She smiles, humming with reddened cheeks, fumbling for the door handle as she exits the truck. Asking to stay at mine, not wanting to go to hers. Of course, I prefer that, but I hate the way she cringes when she looks at her cabin. The fear that pales her face and dulls the colors in her eyes.
It makes me want to tie him up all over again. Brand off his balls like Blake wanted. Perhaps I should’ve.
“I’m hiring more security tomorrow,” I say.
“You don’t need to do that for me.”
But I disagree with her.
“Everyone here has a past, Sadie.” There are plenty of crazy exes amongst the ranchers, and many who came here to escape something. “Besides, with all of the stuff that’s been happening, I think it’s an important investment,” I add, opening my front door, gesturing for her to walk in first.
“Well, if you think so.” She enters with Foxie trailing behind her, running up to greet Bandit.
I take off my coat, hanging it on the rack. “I do.”
And I’ll do anything to make her feel safe.
She removes her boots, mirroring me. “You don’t think it was Markus who did all of this, do you?”