How does news travel so fast in that small town? My sister had texted me to be safe driving home and that she was going to look into what happened at the jail and why. For once, I’m thankful Brandi is an attorney and pries into other people’s business.
And that’s exactly what Hadley accused me of doing. Maybe it just runs in the family. But is it really such a bad thing when you’re doing it because you genuinely love and care about protecting someone? I get that Hadley is independent. I get that she hasn’t had the best upbringing and has had to do so many things by herself with only her disabled Grandmama in her corner. But I’m in her corner. Can’t she see that?
No one should have to do life all alone.
“Stopped for a minute to stretch my legs,” I reply to Michael after he clears his throat, bringing my attention back to him.
“How much longer until you make it back?”
“A little under four hours now. Hopefully I won’t have to stop again after this one.” I decide to go ahead and fill up the tank though the gas price here is probably forty cents higher than that of one I’d find in the next city.
“I’ve got a proposition for you,” Michael says.
“Mhmm,” I mumble before taking a sip of the drink. I almost spit it out because it definitely doesn’t taste like the cotton candy flavor it claims to be. Setting it inside the truck, I pay for gas then get to pumping.
“My company landed a huge contract on a vacation home for Mason Kane. Do you know who that is?” Despite my current broody mood, I laugh.
“Yeah, I know him.”
“I thought so because he has one stipulation.”
Not too weird for a star, I guess. “What’s th—?”
Michael begins before I even finish the question. “He wants you to design it. Now obviously since you aren’t licensed, our current architect will have to—”
I hear Michael continuing to talk in the background, but I’m not processing his words. Mason Kane wantsmeto design his vacation home? I showed him a few pictures of houses I either designed or helped Mom design while Mason and I worked out in a hotel gym bonding over the friend zone.
It’s almost as if I can hear God saying, “My plans always work out in My timing.”
“Whoa,” is the only word that I can manage to get out.
“So, will you do it?”
Will I? Designing, becoming an architect, was the dream. But when Mom got sick, and I needed to step up, I did. The medical bills are mostly paid off now, and I could afford a career shift. Is it too late in life though?
“Not to pressure you or anything,” Michael laughs, “but I could genuinely use this contract.”
I weigh the idea. I would need to go back to school to get licensed, but I do have a few classes under my belt from the beginning of college. I think it would make Mom happy if she was here. Plus, I’m sick of leaving Hadley for a month at a time. Even when we were just friends, I hated leaving her.
Are we still a couple?
Ha, who am I kidding? No matter the hurtful words, I love that woman more than anything. She’s not going to self-destruct herself out of my life that easily. She threw onmyshirt to travel in. There’s no way I’m letting her go without giving it my best fight. She’s going to stop self-sabotaging herself, or she’s going to really miss me by the time this is over.
And this career shift just might help me out in that department.
“I’m in.”
Chapter Thirty
Hadley
Beep.Beep.Beep.The sound of the heart monitor echoes through my ears. It should provide a comforting feeling, knowing Mama’s heart is working and pumping at a normal rate. But instead, each beep stirs a new level of dread within me. The fact that she’s handcuffed to the bed also infuriates me.
“She’s going to be okay,” Lorelai whispers beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“There are so many things we could do together if she would clean up her act,” I vent, trying unsuccessfully to hold back tears. “We could restore our relationship. Become an actual mother and daughter combo. She could give me away at my wedding, and I could pick at her for dressing like an old woman while secretly loving her hipster fashion choices. We could have dinners around the table. Me, her, and Braxt—” I stop myself.
Braxton isn’t a part of the equation anymore, and it’s all my reckless and selfish temper’s fault. There’s no way he will accept me back after that off-hand comment about his mama and their perfect life. There was a line, and I flew past it like I was gunning for the Nascar championship title.
