Miles’s eyes narrow. “I’m sorry. Wait, it’s true? You really did bring a girl home from the bar?”
Lachlan laughs. “Well, I didn’t see that coming.”
Ironically, it’s Everett who puts a stop to it. “Let’s leave him be. He’s got a lot of shit going on and we can always make fun of Lachlan—it’s easier.”
“Seriously, he’s stupid,” Miles agrees.
“Fuck right off, assholes.”
I snort. “Go get the disc. I have an hour before I need to pick the pieces of my life back up.”
Then we play Ultimate Frisbee and I forget for just a bit about all my troubles.
After an hour of running myself ragged, I’m back at my car and Miles calls my name.
Great, this again.
I really don’t want to have another round from earlier. I’m physically exhausted and just want to enjoy the feeling for a minute.
“Killian, wait.”
I stop walking, releasing a heavy breath, and wait. “What’s up?” I ask, a little too tersely.
They don’t know that their teasing about my age brought up another layer of self-loathing I’ve been struggling with. I don’t know how old Tessa is, but it’s clear she’s not in her forties.
She’s at least twelve years younger, but if I were guessing, it’s more than that. She’s just starting out in her life and here I am, fucking things up for her. I really need to keep away from her and my mind off anything more than a professional relationship.
Miles chuckles. “I promise, I’m not going to give you shit.”
That’s a relief. “I appreciate that.”
“I just want to know if you’re all right. I know all the shit with the ranch is weighing you down, but…it seems like there’s more.”
I lean against the quarter panel of my car and shrug. “I’m fine.”
I’m not. I’m worried about everything and nothing feels as though it’s going right.
The ranch is going to fall apart, and I can’t find a way to stop it. Not to mention, I don’t even know what the hell is going on. I can’t fix something if I don’t know how it’s broken.
Miles raises one brow. “You aren’t fine, dude. I wouldn’t be if I were you.”
“I guess I’m not, but I need to face all of my mistakes.”
Lord knows I’ve made a few and one of them happened two nights ago.
So much for not thinking about Tessa.
“We all do at some point, but it’s also why friendships are important. All of us will do everything we can, even if you just need to vent,” Miles assures me. “I won’t judge.”
I huff a laugh. “I think people always judge.”
He shrugs. “Maybe, but I’ll at least pretend I’m not.”
We both laugh. “How kind of you.”
“Hey, I’m just a nice guy. So, seriously, I’m worried. I’ve known you for years and I’ve never heard a damn rumor about you, but now the whole town is talking about you and some young girl leaving the bar.”
Of course that one word is now the only thing I can hear. “Young, huh?”
