She nods as our server returns with our meals. “Thank you,” Mae says with a smile before turning back to me and diving in. “I think we’ll be able to. This is a fairly open and close case. Leah feels confident that Harper will respond and agree to taking the paternity test before the baby’s birth.”
“That’s a relief.”
She smiles. "How’s your family doing?"
"Mom and Dad are good. Wilder is engaged to his girlfriend Teagan and marrying her in a few months. He's managing Ashwood ranch full time now and his girlfriend is the city of Lonestar Junctions’ veterinarian."
"That's amazing. And how’s Georgia doing?"
"You two never kept in touch?" I ask, surprised considering my cousin and her were glued to the hip from the moment that they first met working together at the rodeo.
"Sadly, no. We spent a lot of time together my senior year of high school despite me going to San Angelo High in the fall but once I left for Texas State and met Vance, I was so wrapped up in managing the unplanned pregnancy, college, and planning a wedding that I lost touch with all of my friendships from high school."
I nod because that checks out. We lost touch with each other too. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. "Yeah, Georgia’s pregnant. Met a guy while nannying in New York City. Still trying to figure out the logistics of what she’s going to do with Cameron Ranch since the guy’s tied to North Carolina now.”
"Wow… I bet her parents are thrilled about the possibility of getting an heir for their ranch."
"I know Uncle Wylie and Aunt Stevie will be relieved if they can work out something. They’ve always wanted her to move home and take over things.”
She smiles again and nods and it’s that familiar feeling in mychest of talking to an old friend. A friend where there’s a chasm of years and space between us. I wonder what she’s thinking. What she thinks of me turning up here so unexpectedly.
"So, where’s Elsie tonight? With your friend, Sienna?"
Mae shakes her head gently. "No," she sighs, "my parents somehow convinced me to let her go on vacation with them in Florida. It’s an annual thing they do, and I’ve been avoiding it since she was born, but Elsie's at the age where she asks about them and wants to go, so I decided to make an exception this year. I think it'll be good for them both. If they were anything less than doting, loving and supportive to her, I wouldn’t allow them in her life."
I clench my jaw at the mention of Mae’s parents, remembering how little they approved of our relationship when we were younger. I’m surprised she’d allow them back in for Elsie, but I suppose it makes sense. Mae has always been reasonable, putting other people’s feelings above her own, even if they’ve hurt her. A lot unlike Mae’s parents who’ve made every decision for her and controlled what she did, fully knowing they were hurting her.
"After they cut me off, I felt like my life was over. Then, slowly, I began to realize that really, my life was just beginning. For the first time since I was born, I had the ability to do what I wanted, how I wanted without worrying about their disapproval or threat of pulling financial support. It provided me with a freedom I'd never had before. I waited almost nine years to let Elsie go anywhere with them alone because I wanted it to be her decision. “ She sighs. “My parents are flawed in many ways, and though I don’t want a relationship with them because of how they treated me, they’ve been nothing but gentle and kind to Elsie. It’s like they are totally different people when they are with her."
"I see… I guess that makes sense and I’m glad they’re treating her differently. You always deserved better than how they treated you.”
She smiles.
“How long is she gone for?”
“Two weeks.” Mae sets down her knife and fork and dabs at her lips with a napkin.
"What are your plans for that time?" I ask.
She shrugs. "Catch up on work mostly, I suppose."
How about catching up on the time that you’ve missed with me?
Except that feels too forward and completely wrong. Because she’s made it clear that I’m a client and she doesn’t sleep with client. And yet… I want to be the exception to that rule. Not just to sleep with her, but to spend time with her. To get to know the new Mae. Despite the tumultuous situation I’m in that has me begging for her help. I want her to see that I’m still the guy I was back then. That yeah, maybe we fell apart for a few years, but time and distance hasn’t dampened my attraction to her, my feelings or made me forget just how much she meant to me.
In fact, I’m starting to wonder why we fell apart at all except that shortly after getting to college, I saw the news of her relationship with Vance and their pregnancy and decided to protect my heart by never reaching out to her again.
But seeing her now. I’m deciding I don’t want to be safe anymore.I want her.
"Are you seeing anyone right now?" I ask trying to sound casual and failing miserably.
She shakes her head. "I'm not in a relationship. I don't have much time with the exception of an occasional date here and there."
I smile wickedly as she rolls her pretty eyes. “Cody…” her voice holds a warning that I am choosing to ignore.
I lean forward. "Being back with you, it feels like no time has passed."
She blows out a breath of air. “But a lot of time has passed. A lothas changed.”
