“Yeah. What’s wrong with that? She seems nice, and I just thought she could use a night of fun. She carries this sadness around with her, and I know what that’s like, so I just thought—” Seeing the flames lit in Callie’s eyes, I stop. “Should I not have invited her? What did I do wrong?”
She presses her thumb and forefinger to the bridge of her nose. “It’s fine. Lauren seems nice enough. It’s just that… everything about the Rhodes family feels off. It’s a cute story and all that they’ve been passing down that ranch for generation after generation, but that’s so much pressure, and Lauren is just Little Miss Perfect, already engaged to her high school sweetheart and ready to take over the ranch for her brother who failed to fulfill the family legacy. I just don’t feel the need to get wrapped up in that dysfunctional world and whatever game she’s playing trying to be the perfect child.”
“That seems a little harsh. Do you even know Lauren?”
“We went to school together, and I knew Charlie.”
“That’s her brother who left?”
Callie winces and I immediately get the sense there’s something she’s not telling me, some history with the Rhodes family that she’s keeping hidden.Why does everyone in this town seem to be keeping secrets?
“Yeah, that’s the one.”
“Maybe you have a good reason for not liking her, but she looked so sad when she walked in the door today, and I just thought she could use a friend. I was trying to be like you, making sure she didn’t feel alone.”
Callie instantly looks guilty. That wasn’t my intent.
“I guess I can give her a chance, but this is one hundred percent for you, not for her.”
“Really? I’m so excited. We’re all going to have a great time.”
“Famous last words,” she mumbles.
ChapterThirty-Seven
Rhett
Callie
Repeat after me: I deserve to be happy and I’m worthy of that happiness
Me
It’s been over a week Cal. Moment’s over
Have you talked to Olivia yet?
I’m trying to find the right time.
Then you must not believe it enough yet. SAY IT!
I deserve to be happy and I’m worthy of that happiness.
Very good. I’ll check in again tomorrow.
* * *
I roll over and glance at the clock. It’s after 12:30 in the morning.Why am I being woken up right now?
I hear drunken giggles and stomping up to my porch, so I climb out of bed and march down to the front door.
Before I get a chance to open the door, I hear Olivia’s sweet voice. “Shhh! I think the front door should be open. We can just slip in and out without bothering Rhett. It’s late. He’s probably asleep.”
“Not anymore I’m not.”
I swing the door open, and Olivia’s mouth gapes as I stand there in the doorway in nothing but boxers. I know she’s attracted to me. I just wish I knew for sure that her feelings were enough to get her to stay here with me.
When I take her in, the world stops. Everything around me goes quiet for a moment, and all I see is Olivia. She’s wearing Callie’s cowgirl boots again, but this time they’re paired with a white cotton dress with colorful little flowers on it that remind me a lot of the wildflowers she’s come to love so much. She blinks, and her eyelids shimmer a soft pink that makes her eyes pack even more of a punch than normal when she draws them back up to meet my gaze. She’s absolutely stunning.
