Mo glances at me, smirking. “The one and only. You know him?”
“Yeah. He’s one of our ranch hands. There’s a reason they call him Loverboy.”
Callie passes their phone back. “He’s cute, I guess.”
I glance up at the ceiling and inhale a deep breath to steady myself. My mind is a jumbled mess ofmine mine mineplaying on repeat like some kind of psychopath.
“Don't worry. I’ll take good care of our girl,” Mo says. “It's just a drink or two at The Ridge.”
“You’re really gonna throw her into the deep end with that asshole?”
Callie brings her legs up under her, adjusting her position. “Could you two stop talking about me like I’m not in the room?”
Fueled by a mix of frustration and jealousy, I reassemble the cat tower and clear a spot for it in the corner near the window while Callie and Mo catch up on recent events. As soon as the tower is set up, Atticus climbs to the very top and stares out the window.
I place the rest of his things in the hall closet and set his food and water bowls in the kitchen. In the absence of anything else to keep me busy, I grab a beer and make my way out to the porch.
I spent more time out on the ranch today than I have in a long while. Having Callie with me made it easier to digest, but seeing Copper again, being that close to a reminder of everything I lost, has thrown me into a tailspin.
I couldn’t hide it from Callie. She had a good look at my damage—more than I’ve ever shown to anyone before, and she didn’t run. She didn’t hide. She reached for me, and fuck if that doesn’t give me all the more reason to keep her.
Callie
As Mo’s leaving, I catch sight of Jaxon sitting on his porch steps with his elbows draped over his knees, picking at the soggy label on his beer.
I pull on the jacket he gave me. Maybe someday I’ll give it back, but not today. Today I’m clinging to it like a lifeline
“Mind if I join you?”
There’s something off about his smile as he pats the stair next to him. I sit before I’ve had time to consider why I’m out here in the first place. When I stare out at the pasture beyond the fence, I remember the moment I saw Jaxon’s light dim. For the first time, I glimpsed something raw and honest beyond the casual, kindhearted man he presents to the world.
If any other man had pounded their fist against their truck, I would’ve recoiled in an instant, but I never for one second felt like I was in danger. Not with Jaxon. It was done out of anguish, not anger. There’s a world of pain in those emerald eyes I could easily lose myself in. I want to build a bridge from his world to mine and see how many of our paths would cross.
“It’s cold out here,” he murmurs. “You should go back inside.”
I link my arm through his and rest my head on his shoulder. “You’ll keep me warm.”
As the silence stretches, my mind begins its all-too-familiar spiral into self-doubt. I start to pull away.
Jaxon captures my hand, holding me to him. “Don’t.” His hand remains there, enveloping mine. “Atticus settling in ok?”
“Are you kidding? He’s probably already locked us out here. Atticus is king, and we’re but his humble servants.”
Jaxon laughs, lowering his chin to rest against my head. “How long have you had him?”
“Almost two years. He was my birthday present to myself,but he’s kind of more than that, you know? He’s been through a lot with me.”
I swear I feel his lips on the top of my head, but the touch is so gentle, I can’t be sure. Maybe I imagined it, or maybe he just kissed me for the second time in as many hours.
“I get it. I have that bond with Maverick. He’s the jet black stallion Wilder was working on earlier. He’s carried me through a lot of shit.”
I want to ask about Copper so I can understand why he reacted the way he did, but I’m afraid he’ll close off if I do. Despite my best efforts, I can’t resist this undeniable pull I feel whenever he’s near.
A shiver skates down my spine, and my shoulders draw up.
“Let’s go inside before you freeze to death.” He stands and offers me a hand up. “What time do you work tomorrow?”
“Eight o’clock.”
