“We’re not together, let alone engaged, Maggie!” I shriek.
Ollie grins. “Hey, I just went with it.”
I blow out a breath. “I know. And thank you. What you did upstairs is incredible. I don’t even know how to repay you for that.”
Ollie shrugs. “I had a buddy from the fire station whose parents own a hardware store. They gave me a great deal at cost, and I just worked on it a little bit at a time. It really wasn’t much.”
“No. It’s amazing. Thank you,” I say softly.
“I don’t think it was Coach Toddy,” Maggie says. “On her notes, it was an anonymous call from a female.”
Weird. I thought for sure that it was probably Jeremy Toddy turning us in for him losing his job, but apparently not. I know it wasn’t Sully because he’s in hot water with abandoning Owen and wouldn’t draw attention to that fact. Maybe Toddy had someone else call. A girlfriend maybe? I try to think if he was married but I actually have no clue. Not sure what woman would want to be with someone like Jeremy Toddy.
That night, too upset to even think about packing or cooking, I ride out to the ranch with Ollie and Owen to meet with Weston. He’s coming down from Bozeman and meeting us there.
We get to the main Wilder House lodge that Jack and Cami are staying in while their house is being built, and Tessa is there, cooking up a storm.
“Hey, Tessa.” I step inside and round the island to give her a hug. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Poppy, I’ve missed you! What are you doing here?”
“We came out to visit,” I say, my eyes cutting to Owen, who is pleading with me to run down to the barn. “Go.”
He scampers off, yelling behind him, “Hi, Tessa! I gotta go see the horses. Bye!”
Tessa smiles. “Have fun!”
“Is Jack in the barn?” I ask, knowing that some of the wranglers will be down there.
“He is, and so is Cami,” she says as she pulls a tray of bread out of the oven.
Ollie’s quiet and sits at the table. I sit next to him and Tessa says, “Okay, spill. I know something is wrong. What is it?”
“We’re waiting to talk to Weston. I’m in a pickle with Owen, and I need him to help me get guardianship of Owen,” I say as I slide my hand over Ollie’s.
Tessa’s eyes watch our hands, and her eyes widen. “Are you two officially a couple or what?”
Panic flashes across my face before I can stop it.
Ollie clears his throat. “It’s… complicated.”
Tessa snorts. “That’s not a no.”
I squeeze Ollie’s hand a little tighter. “We’re figuring things out.”
Her smile softens instantly. “Well, it’s about damn time.”
Chapter 11
Ollie
Your Place by Ashley Cooke
“Should I keep this?” Owen asks, holding up a hoodie that looks like it lost a fight with a lawn mower blade.
“Only if you plan on starting a new trend,” I say. “Distressed but not on purpose.”
He snorts and tosses it in the not-keeping pile. I make a mental note to take him shopping as soon as we get the time. He has plenty of things that still work but it always feels good to have some new things.
