“You should know that I slept with Colt last weekend,” she says, red rushing across her clavicle and up her cheeks.
We just stare at each other for a moment, blinking. That is not what I was expecting her to say.
“I can tell by the way you’re holding my hand that maybe you think we might hook up and I just don’t want to cause any issues between you guys like I did last time,” she looks at the ground.
And that’s when I realize we are not on the same fucking page at all. It’s not that she hooked up with Colt. I’m not an idiot and was able to put two and two together that something must have happened between them. The thing that bothers me is that she thinks I’m holding her hand just to fuck her.
“So you hooked up with Colt, then were hoping to meet your mystery guy today, and now you’ve forgotten about him because you think I just want to hold your hand to fuck you?” I clarify what she’s saying back to her.
She stares at me, her mouth moving to say something, but nothing comes out. Then anger washes over her features.
“Slut-shaming is a little outdated, Reese, don’t you think?” She crosses her arms and walks past me down the trail.
“You think that’s what this is?” I follow her. “I don’t give a damn that you slept with Colt.”
“Mm-hmm,” she says mockingly. “I’m sure you don’t give a damn, Reese. Just long enough for you to get yours and have one up on him.”
“God damn it, Blaire,” I say as I try to reign in my anger. “If that’s what you think of us, then why even spend a second of time with us?”
“It’s not like I’ve had much say in the matter!” She shouts back at me.
The truth settles on me like an avalanche. All the signs are there that the men she’s been talking to online are us. She’d have to be a damn idiot to not put it together. And Blaire is no idiot.
So there’s only one other option. She doesn’t want it to be us. She’s convinced herself that there are three other local guys that she has chemistry with, who love the outdoors, and happen to all want to be with her. Anyone but us.
“No problem, Hollywood.” I say, all the fight gone from my voice. “I get it now. I’ll leave you alone.”
She looks at me once before returning her attention back to the trail. And that’s the last time she bothers looking at me for the entire hike back down. She even manages to take a water break without so much as glancing at me.
When we settle ourselves into my Jeep, I don’t even bother turning on the radio, so we just sit in silence. The welcome gate of Rile Ranch is just around the corner and I know that getting home means she very well might pack her things and leave this same day.
I turn the corner and slow down when I see a red convertible pulled over to the side of the road and a woman checking her tire.
“Shit!” Blaire exclaims, her voice crackles from lack of use the past hour. “Turn around!”
I look at her like she’s lost her mind.
“Listen, I know you hate me right now, but please just pull a U-turn and get me the hell out of here.” Her big eyes look at me and I can’t help myself when I see the desperation in them. I whip the car around on the dirt road, seamlessly heading back in the direction we came.
I might not know what the hell is going on, but my shoulders fall with relief that I’m not dropping Blaire off to pack her bags and leave.
“Where to, Hollywood?” I ask, appreciating the ease in her eyes when I do so.
“Somewhere private,” she says, looking behind her to make sure we’re not being followed. “And where no respectable woman would dare go to look for someone.”
I smirk. “I’ve got just the place.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Blaire
The first thing I do is text Briggs and Colt. I give them clear instructions that if Patricia rings the doorbell, to not tell her I’m staying there, and as a bonus to say they haven’t seen me in years.
I can’t believe she came all the way here. She managed to put two and two together and figure out where I am. I’m actually surprised it took her this long. She’s been calling me about five times a day every single day, so I certainly knew she didn’t just decide to give up and let me have some time.
But what I can’t understand is how she figured out to go to Rile Ranch? She must have asked around town. The people here used to protect me. I guess they no longer like me enough to do that. Or maybe they only ever did it for my Gram and it was never for me after all. Either way, I can’t have her dragging me back to Los Angeles with threats. My time here isn’t meant to end right now.
The second thing I do is unbuckle my seatbelt and climb my upper body into the backseat to see what Reese has that I can put on to disguise myself. My hips wedge in between our car seats as I dig through the ridiculous things he seems to need to keep in his car. I toss a whole tent to the side and a beach towel.
