“I’ve been working a lot,” I said, trying not to think about the real reason I had been busy lately.
I told myself I would not let Iris and Nash take up all my time, but apparently, that was just a suggestion to myself. I had seen one or both of them every day this week, whether it was at the bar or for lunch or a quick romp. This was a bad idea waiting to blow up in our faces, but did I care? Apparently, no.
“Work at that bar, twenty-four seven?” she quipped.
“No, but late nights?—”
“Oh, bullshit, we worked lots of late nights,” she sighed. “Are you sure you're ok?”
“Yes, I am fine. I have been hanging out with Iris,” I said, hating I had to give her a morsel of something or else she wouldn’t stop bugging me.
“Iris.”
“Yes, Iris,” I said, waiting for her to say something or scold me.
“Beau, did you go to Sterling Ridge for her?” she asked.
“What?”
“Are you in love with her?” She pressed.
“What are you talking about?” I chuckled.
“I’m still trying to figure out why you left and this is the only thing that makes sense,” she said. “Look, I’m just trying to be a friend and you’ve been worrying me.”
I tried not to feel guilty. “No, I'm not in love with her and I didn’t come here for her.”
“Ok,” she said.
The silence made me feel even worse.
“I was?—”
“Lenny!” Someone called Valencia.
“Hey, I gotta go,” she said, hanging up before I had time to say bye.
I looked at my phone, hating that I couldn’t tell her the truth or wondering why I couldn’t tell her the truth. It was to protect her, right? I missed my friend and my life in Denver, but I just had to lay low until I felt it was safe enough to go back, because the messages hadn’t stopped, they had become more frequent, more aggressive.
Fuck, what if I was never safe?
I hated where my thoughts were leading me, and I needed something to do before my fear consumed me. Nash and Iris were working the ranch today, so maybe that was my perfect excuse to visit. Checking my watch, it was around lunchtime and maybe we could have lunch together. I texted our group chat.
Me: Have time for a quick lunch break? My treat.
Nash: Only if I can have you for lunch.
Iris: Can I watch?
I laughed. I swear I had found the two horniest people in Colorado.
Me: How about food first?
Nash: Boring.
Me: I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Is that ok?
Iris: Nash should be at the barn by them. I’m further out.
