I lean back on the couch and start scrolling through my phone.
Now that I have a plan, I have to go about putting it into action.
But before I can, Max calls me.
“I’m busy right now…” I start to say.
“Go check out Ash’s social.”
“What…”
He’s already hung up.
I do as he says.
* * *
Ashley
I set up my camera phone and, without taking time to rehearse, I press record.
As I stare into the camera, at first, the nerves hit me, but then I relax.
“Hi, y’all. For those of you who’ve been tuning in to my live feeds, this one is going to hit different.
You see, tonight I’m not riding a horse or a mechanical bull.
I’m not doing anything unusual.
But for me, I am.
For Wild West Ash, this video right here is the scariest thing I’ve ever done.
Deep breath.
The truth is that yes, this Southern lady took a risk moving to Montana.
But the biggest risk was the one I took with my heart when I got here and agreed to be roommates with the boy I’ve loved my whole life.
I’ve always been terrified of risking it all in love. I could never figure out why I hadn’t clicked with anyone I dated.
Now I know it’s because I gave my heart away a long time ago to a boy with dark messy hair, soulful brown eyes, and pain so deep you could drown in it. I carry pain too, but together, we made each other whole again.
He’s come through for me in my darkest nights and grayest of days, and his light has always burned so bright I never lost hope in humanity.
So this little video is me being brave, braver than I ever dared to be before.
Looks directly into the camera—
Jared Storm, I love you.
I dare you to please move back into our cabin. I miss you.
I click off the recording and spend the next two minutes shaking.
Texts roll in.
Winter sends a happy screams emoji.
