“I think we can. I need a wine night.”
Presley sounds tired.
Shit. That can’t be good. What if it’s because of me? She wasn’t happy when I told her what I did to Paul, but I apologized. I thought we were okay, but maybe we aren’t.
Fuck.
“Hey.” I take the last of the stairs down and lean against the front desk. “What are you guys doing here today?”
“Poppy wanted to go for a ride today,” Presley says. “I hope it’s okay I brought her over.”
“Of course is it.”
Yeah, something is definitely off. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Presley look so tired.
“I miss Lollipop.” Poppy wraps her arms around my leg, peering up at me with sweet blue eyes. “And you.”
I smile at her before taking her hand. “Then let’s go.”
“Yay.”
“You guys have fun,” Joey calls out after us.
“Is everything okay?” I ask so only Presley can hear.
“I’ll tell you later.”
She doesn’t look at me.
Fuck. That does nothing to soothe the anxiety growing inside of me. It’s only because I can tack the horses in my sleep that I’m able to get us ready to go riding.
Poppy is the only one that is chatting away as we follow the trail up to our favorite spot in the mountains. A cold breeze blows through, whipping Presley’s hair around her.
I love her so damn much, it’s a physical presence inside of me. Why haven’t I told her before now? Could that be why she’s so off? I don’t know, but I’ll make a point to tell her when we get to the lake.
The trees are almost barren with winter coming. A few last wildflowers hang on to their roots, trying to suck out the last of their days.
It seems to mimic my mood as we stop and hop off the horses.
“Can I go pick some flowers so we can take them home?”
“Why don’t you pick a few extras and we can put them in the lobby?”
Her eyes light up. “Okay!”
I don’t know how I ever thought I could leave her. Leavethem.
With so many projects going on back home, it’s going to be hard to leave and tie up loose ends. But I can’t imaginenotcoming back here now.
“Pres—”
“The meeting is tomorrow,” she cuts me off.
“What?”
My eyes find Poppy, hands overflowing with wild blooms.
“To finalize the estate.” When her gaze turns to me, her eyes are filled with tears. “I have no idea what’s going to happen, but I got the email this morning that I need to be at the lawyer’s office at ten tomorrow.”
