"I have Emma to think about."
"I know you do. But Tucker, you've been alone for seven years. Seven years of putting Emma first, putting the ranch first, putting everyone and everything before yourself. Don't you think you deserve something for you?"
"Not if it risks hurting Emma."
"And what if it doesn't? What if it makes Emma's life better? What if having someone in your life who makes you happy also makes you a better father?" Wade steps closer. "Look, I can't believe I'm the one saying this. Two weeks ago, I would've told you to focus on the ranch and forget about women. But Sierra changed my perspective on a lot of things."
"Like what?"
"Like the fact that being happy doesn't make you weak or distracted. It makes you stronger. Better at everything else you do." He pauses. "You've been just surviving, Tucker. For seven years. Don't you want to actually live again?"
I look at Wade and I see something in his expression I've never seen before. Peace. Contentment. Like he finally figured out something the rest of us are still struggling with.
"What happened to you?" I ask.
"I fell in love." He says it simply, like it's the most natural thing in the world. "And it scared the shit out of me, but I did it anyway. And now I can't imagine my life without Sierra in it."
"You've known her for two weeks."
"I know. Sounds insane, right? But Tucker, when it's right, it's right. Time doesn't matter as much as you think it does." He steps closer, his voice dropping. "If you have any interest in her, even if it's just a tiny bit, you should go for it. Love is worth trying."
I can't believe Wade Turner—Wade fucking Turner—is standing here telling me that love is worth trying. The same man who told Colt two months ago that relationships were a distraction we couldn't afford. The same man who worked eighteen-hour days and slept in the barn when things got busy because nothing mattered more than this ranch.
"Who are you and what have you done with Wade?" I ask.
He grins. "I know. Sierra did a number on me. But I'm serious, Tucker. You've got a chance here. Don't waste it because you're scared."
"I'm not scared—"
"You are. And that's okay. But being scared isn't a good enough reason to let something pass you by. Especially when I can see how much you want it."
I think about Marley adjusting her glasses, the way she said the ranch wasn't broken, just loved. The way she listened when I talked about my dad without looking at me with pity.
"What am I supposed to do? Just show up at her clinic and ask her out?"
"Yeah. That's exactly what you do."
"That's insane."
"So is letting her leave without telling her how you feel." Wade claps me on the shoulder. "Look, I'm not saying you have to propose marriage. Just ask her to dinner. See where it goes. But do something, Tucker. Because if you let this pass because you're scared, you're going to regret it."
He walks away before I can respond, heading back toward the equipment barn where Mason and Garrett are probably still working on that ancient baler.
I stand there in the driveway, the sun beating down on my shoulders, my heart pounding in my chest.
Wade's right. I know he's right. But the thought of driving to Marley's clinic, of walking in there and asking her out in person when she probably has clients waiting and work to do is terrifying.
But so is the thought of not doing it. Of calling her at five about the catheter and pretending everything's professional and fine when it's not. Of seeing her tomorrow morning for Butterscotch's final check and not being able to say what I really want to say.
*Fuck it.*
I pull out my phone and text Boone: *Can you check on Butterscotch in an hour? I need to run into town.*
His response comes immediately: *Everything okay?*
*Yeah. Just something I need to do.*
*This have anything to do with the pretty vet?*
