Nope, not a chance.
I tossed and turned until the contents of my stomach came barrelling back up again. I haven’t spent the night hugging the toilet since I was ateenager, and it was a rookie mistake to make.
I take a look at my reflection at eight-thirty in the morning; I could look better.
After the last twenty-four hours I realise, I could also look worse. Glass half full and all that.
I fix my bun back into a more comfortable position and take my purse off the coat rack. I decide to take another scan of the driveway before walking out my door.
The paranoia’s in really deep.
I know Ellie will be fine with mama and daddy this morning, but the last thing I want to do is run intohimagain.
After yesterday I’ve no idea what’s going to happen now. Apparently, he’s going to keep popping back up. Twice in one day was far too much, after disappearing for thirteen years.
Locking my front door, I let out a deep sigh, resting my head back onto the door that I’ve just come through.
Aside from the deep hurt at his visit that’s coursing through the valves to my heart, he looked good.
He’s aged exactly how I expected him to.
The thought that I should have aged with him, not with him completely removing himself from my life, leaving a trial of misery and memories behind, causes a sting.
He doesn’t look any taller than the last time I saw him. The stubble around his jaw’s working for him, making him look more distinguished as the years have gone by.
Those green eyes still shining through what looks like pain. Those beautiful green eyes that I’d spent years looking longingly into.
At thirty-one years old, I’m painfully aware that Maverick was just a childish dream, the thought of forever just wasn’t practical. However, watching those around me, my parents and their friends, I always thought it could be possible.
Damn, even Hope and Luke got it.
Just some things are better left buried in the past. I have Ellie now, and she is my forever. She isn’t some childish dream that was taken away from me.
She is everything.
Reaching the door to my office, I pull the keys from my purse; happy I brought the small one today, so I don’t have to rummage.
I don’t have the energy today.
With almost no sleep and debating on whether I’m still drunk or if I threw it all up last night.
Placing the key in the lock, I pull down thehandle and open the door. “Right girl, get the ad out and we are done.” I try and give myself a pep talk.
I begin to feel the headache forming in my frontal lobe. I rub my eyes and place my purse onto my office chair, heading straight towards my mini fridge where I pull out two bottles of water. Those will be welcome down my dry ass throat.
Popping the cap on one bottle, I take a seat at my chair and pull open my laptop to fire it up. Leaning over to my radio, I turn the knob, to turn it on.Chris Stapleton’s - Tennessee whiskeyhums through the speaker, and I adjust the sound, opting for a lighter option with my forthcoming liquor-induced migraine.
Looking back towards my laptop, I check the ranches main email to see if there is anything important that needs actioning right now, or if it can all wait til’ Monday. I notice Mrs Hamilton has emailed over the schedule for the ponies for next Saturday at the town fair.
Wow, only a week to go until the celebration of the year.
I reply quickly before forwarding the email over to Colter, so he has it for his records. I’ll make sure to remind him to actually check it later, the man never looks at his email.
Moving over to our website, I click onto the job openings link. I let out a long sigh. I really hope we find someone Colter gets along with. Moving onto the previously deleted job adverts, I bring up the latest one and hit reactivate.
The cowboy position is once again live.
Leaning back in my chair, I still feel defeated. Taking my bottle of water in my hands, I open the lid again. Taking a long hard gulp, it doesn’t seem to be helping the dry mouth.
