“Of course I am. Jesse, say hi to your son.”
“Happy New Year, Zachariah.” His dad’s booming baritone shook the inside of his truck.
“Happy New Year, Pop. Listen, I hate to rush off the phone but I have maybe ten minutes to get ready for a wedding. Can I call you two tomorrow?”
“Sure, that’s fine. We’ll talk then.”
“Zachariah, wait,” his mom said.
“Yes, Mom.”
“Is Evie still there?”
Zach closed his eyes and managed not to let an annoyed groan slip out. “Yes, ma’am. She is. She’s probably with Lilah right now.”
“Oh, good. So you two made up?”
Zach swallowed, knowing what was coming next. They hadn’t had this conversation in years. Not since he made it clear that he’d ruined things with Evie and that she wouldn’t see him again if she could help it.
“What makes you ask, Mom?”
“Oh, your dad and I were just wondering how long she’s staying in town.”
“Not sure yet, but you know she had a serious accident. I think she’s just happy to have some place quiet to rest.”
“Oh. You think she’ll be sticking around for a while?”
Zach tried to not to sigh too loud, but failed. The last thing he wanted to think about was Evie leaving town again. Next on that list of do-not-wants was his parents trying to get involved in his love life from a whole hemisphere away. He loved his mom and dad, but they’d decided to take off and leave him and Jesse to run the ranch, and lead their own lives. He wished they’d follow through on the latter.
“What’s on your mind, Mom?”
“I just know how busy you and Jesse are and I know how you two are when you get consumed by work. I just hoped Evie could convince you to come up for air for a moment.”
“If you are on speaking terms—” his dad chimed in, but Zach cut him off. A flash of annoyance he hadn’t felt in years rushed over him. His parents had found each other and fell in love instantly. They were a good match and set an even better example for Zach and his brothers for what a healthy partnership could look like. For some reason they couldn’t understand that not every relationship came together so easily.
“We are on speaking terms again, but things aren’t that simple.”
“I don’t see why not. You still pretending you don’t love the girl?” his dad said.
“I—”
“You won’t let us set you up. You won’t get online and find someone for yourself. What’s wrong with the woman who’s right in front of you? Is she seeing someone?”
“Listen, I gotta go. I love you guys. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“There’s no reason to be upset, sweetheart,” his mom said. “We just know how you two used to feel about each other and now that she’s back, maybe this is God’s way of giving you a second chance.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. I have to go.”
“We love you. Happy New Year,” his mom said.
“Love you too.” They said their goodbyes. Zach might have hit the End Call button a little too hard. Slammed his door a little hard too when he got out of his truck.
“Hey, what’s up?” Jesse called from across the driveway. He jogged over, Clementine at his heels.
“Nothing. Just got off the phone with Regina and Senior. They were on one, talking about Evie. Walk and talk. I gotta change.” Zach felt like that’s all he’d been doing the last three days. Jumping on and off horses and running back and forth for showers and a change of clothes. He was taking a day off. Soon. He opened his front door and Jesse and Clementine followed him to his room. He toed out of his boots and immediately started loosening his tie.
“What they say this time?” Jesse asked.
