I chew on my lip. "I met her briefly. In a bar, the night Hunter was arrested in Red Creek. I took her to the police station." I pause. "I gave Lola your number to call you."
His mouth drops open.
And he laughs. Not thethis is funnylaugh. Thethis is a fuckin' jokelaugh.
"So you were in New Falls. You were right here. You helped my brother's girl call me instead of using that number yourself."
"Ace—"
"That's a new level, Harper. Even for you. Why are you so damn scared to be near me? What did I ever do to make you need this much fuckin’ distance from me?" he asks, the hurt clear in his voice.
He looks out of the window, and I fight back the tears.
“I’d never be scared of you, Ace. It’s not you.”
He shakes his head. “It’s not you, it’s me. Yeah. Heard that one already, darlin’. Change the tune. It clearly is me. You don’t want me, you didn’t want me. And I’ve been pining over you for six goddamn years. I should have taken the silence loud and clear.”
I suck a breath.
“I missed you, too,” I whisper.
But what I mean is I love him. That I never stopped. That my biggest regret in life is moving to LA and choosing my career over him.
That deep down, I believe I would have been happier staying here. Building a life with him. And that I’m scared of how much I love him. I’m scared about what his family is really involved in.
It truly was never him. It was me. Being young and stupid, thinking the world had more to offer than this small town. It wasme letting embarrassment win, thinking I’d become a joke if I failed.
I lean over and rest my hand on his thigh. The muscle tenses under my palm. The size of him makes my fingers look small.
"I'm sorry, Ace," I whisper.
He looks down at my hand. I go to slide it away, and he holds it in place. His palm covers mine, his rough fingers pressing my hand flat against his leg. He doesn't interlock them. Doesn't lift it to his mouth the way he used to. Just holds it there.
We sit like that for a long time. The engine ticking and the horses calling from the paddock.
"You want to see her?" he asks, breaking the silence.
"Penny?"
"No, Gary the goat," he deadpans. "Yes, Penny."
I'm out of the truck before he's finished the sentence and running to her stall.
She's in the third stall from the end, and the second she hears my voice, her head swings over the door.
"Hey, baby girl." I press my face against her neck, and the tears come. I can't stop them. She's nuzzling into my hair, her soft lips searching my pockets for treats like no time has passed at all.
"She does that every time someone new walks in," Ace says from behind me. "Don't feel special."
I laugh through the tears and wipe my face. "Liar."
"Yeah." His voice is softer now. "She only does that for you."
I press my forehead against Penny's cheek and close my eyes. Behind me, I can hear Ace moving through the barn. I turn and find him tacking up a huge black stallion two stalls down. Seventeen hands at least. Built for power, not beauty, though he's got both.
"Who's this?" I ask, wiping my eyes.
"Seven. My boy." Ace tightens the cinch, and the stallion stamps, tossing his head. "He's got a temper and trust issues. We're a good match."
