“I’ll settle up later.”
Didn’t wait for a response.
8. CHAPTER JAMIE
Walked straight out, swung onto Shakespeare like I’d done it a thousand times. My jaw was locked so tight I tasted blood. I didn’t look back. Didn’t need to.
By the time I made it back to the ranch, the sun was gone and so was the part of me that thought she was different.
I left the lights off. Dropped onto the couch with the bottle. Still in my jeans, boots, and that goddamn shirt she liked.
I drank fast.
Didn’t even feel it going down.
Just kept drinking, trying to drown whatever the hell that was. Trying not to see her face. That kiss. That smile. That stupid, stupid feeling like I’d finally found someone real.
Should’ve known better.
No more pretty eyes. No more strangers with soft laughs and harder secrets.
She fooled me once. That’s on me.
There won’t be a second time.
The couch was stiff, the room too quiet. I sat there like I’d been dropped into someone else’s house.
I drank because it kept my hands busy.
Because thinking was worse.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her on that bull.
Saw him climbing up beside her.
Heard his voice.
Baby.
I gritted my teeth and stood.
Couldn’t sit still anymore. Needed to hit something that wouldn’t talk back.
I grabbed the axe from behind the door and walked out into the dark. Didn’t care where I was going. Just knew I needed to move.
The woodpile was there. Waiting. Like it always was. I set up a log. Swung once. Didn’t even feel the impact. Just let the rhythm take over.
“They always act sweet,” I muttered. “Make you think you’re safe.”
Crack.
Another swing.
“Then they let you find out the hard way.”
I kept going until my shoulders burned and I couldn’t breathe straight.
Then I dropped the axe and stumbled back inside.
