Immediately my hands ball into fists, ready for whatever bullshit is going to come from him. “Get in the house, Lark.”
She moves toward him, her voice almost panicked. “Tristan drove me back because I drank too much.” Her father nods once. “And I fell in the driveway, so he helped me to the door.” Another nod. I’m not sure this is going well, and my presence isn’t needed. “Again, he helped me. You know…he’s being kind and all that. I know that’s not usually something we think, but I guess lightning can strike twice.”
She’s standing between us, like two storm clouds that are about to collide. I shouldn’t be here anyway. So I clear my throat, and she looks to me. “I’m going to head home. Good night.”
And with that, I turn, walking back down the driveway. Regret and anger fill me with each step as I get farther from her.
I should’ve kissed her.
I shouldn’t want to kiss her.
Tomorrow I’ll be grateful I didn’t do it, and I’m going to keep far away from Lark Gatlin.
Hopefully.
Chapter 11
Tristan
Iwake up to the feeling of someone watching me.
My eyes fly open, and Sadie is standing there, blue eyes staring at me. “Are you dead?”
I flinch and then rub my eyes as my heart goes back to normal after being woken like that. “Not sure.”
My head is a mess. I’m freaking exhausted.
Instead of coming home after dropping Lark off and falling asleep, I was up.
All damn night.
Tossing and turning, grabbing my phone, only to stop myself from texting her to make sure there wasn’t a blowup in her house. Then remembering it’s not my problem or place. She and I aren’t a thing, and we’ll never be a thing either. I’m supposed to be forgetting about her and moving on.
I just couldn’t get my brain to fall in line.
“You look dead.”
“Dead people usually don’t talk,” I remind her.
She shrugs. “So you’re alive. Goodie.”
I’m not really sure she means that, but my brain isn’t exactly awake. I need coffee. An entire pot of it.
“What time is it?” I ask, rolling over to reach for my phone.
“Ten.”
“Ten?” I ask, jerking upright in surprise.
“That’s why I thought you were dead.”
Yeah, I haven’t slept in past six since…well, ever. I’ve been up before the sun for as long as I can remember, taking care of the animals, getting chores done before I went to school. Sleeping in was a luxury I never had.
Immediately, I’m pushing out of bed.
“I fed the horses,” Sadie tells me. “Aunt Harper took care of the goats. Aunt Fallon said since you’re a slacker, she would work on the hayloft. Aunt Roni is doing something with numbers and a plan—and Grandad…well, he and I are working on our own project. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t dead.”
“Thanks for that,” I say to my daughter who, again, I’m not sure is glad I’ve lived another day.
