Then he heads out the back door, and I fight the stupid urge to run after him.
6
PAIGE
“Baylee,”I hiss. “We have to talk. This is an emergency.”
“Why are you whispering?” she asks on the other end of my cell phone.
“Because I’m at Rhett’s.”
Silence. “What? Sorry, this convention is so loud. I almost thought you said you were at Rhett’s, and we both know demon pigs would have to be flapping across the sky for that to happen.”
I glance up at the bright blue sky that’s full of wispy clouds. “There are no demon pigs as far as I can tell, but yes, you heard me right. I’m at Rhett’s.”
“What? Hold on. I need to go somewhere I can talk.” A minute later, she returns. “I just locked myself in a utility closet. Tell me everything.”
As I sit curled up on Rhett’s comfy couch, staring out the window, I fill her in on the last twenty-four hours.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I leave for one week, and this happens? Why didn’t you go to my house? You know my mother loves you.”
“Isn’t your sister staying with you now?”
“Damn, I forgot. Yeah, that would be a problem. I’d offer you my bed while I’m gone, but she’s sleeping in it.” She chuckles. “Did Rhett really get pissed off that you were in your underwear?”
My lips tug up. “So pissed. Like I had personally offended him. You know what we wear when we train. I’m constantly in sports bras and spandex shorts that barely cover my ass. If I wear more, it feels constraining. Anyway, he was acting like a big, growly bear. If I hadn’t been so irritated at him, I would’ve laughed.”
“What are you gonna do? Living with the Walker brothers won’t be easy. They’re messy, loud, and handsome as hell.”
“They’re definitely messy.” There are toys everywhere, mud on the floor, crumbs on the island, and dishes in the sink. But if Rhett pays me to work in the office, I suppose I could help out in the house too. I can’t judge him. Running this ranch is a lot, and between that, raising his kids, and dealing with his father’s passing, I’m sure it’s been overwhelming.
She gets quiet. “Is Maverick home yet?”
Baylee’s always had a thing for the youngest Walker brother, who’s our age. They call each other their best friends—other than me, that is—but they have crazy sexual tension. But Mav’s not ready to settle down, and Baylee won’t put up with him having extracurricular activities. Not that they’ve ever discussed it. They just dance around each other in this weird love-hate relationship.
“No, he’s not back. Mav’s probably still partying at school.”
We both know what that’s code for—hooking up.
“Whatever. I’ve decided to get on dating apps. I’m gonna get over that asshole once and for all.”
“Good for you.”
“Okay, enough about my sad love life. What are you going to do about your Walker brother problem?”
“I’m not sure it would be healthy to stay. I don’t want to get wrapped up in Rhett again.” I glance around the beautiful log house. It’s old and worn down, but the bones are great. I’ve always loved the Walker Ranch. They have acres and acres of rolling hills that sit along the western part of the Eden River where we all used to go rafting on lazy Sunday afternoons.
When I was young, I used to fantasize about living here. Rhett and his brothers always made me feel so safe, and when I’d visit, I could envision a life free from Irma and her toxic ways.
Running through the pasture and riding horses felt like coming home. The memory of Rhett smiling at me when I learned to trot one of the horses was the image I’d conjure when Irma would go off on me in her drunken rants. In my mind, I’d escape to the Walker Ranch where I’d raise chickens or cook one of my mama’s recipes I found hidden under the kitchen sink.
As I got older, that morphed into having a family and life here with Rhett.
Which was pure delusion.
Now it feels like some cruel joke. Do I even want that for myself anymore?
Those can’t be the reasons I do this.
