“Savannah’s got a leak in her bathroom and asked if I’d take a look.”
“Good thing I’m not actually here to see you, then. I’ve got a girl outside. I wanted to show her the land.”
“The land?” Christian repeats, like Travis just suggested they go stargazing on the moon. “Since when do you give a damn about this place? Last I checked, I had to practically drag you up here kicking and screaming.”
And now I want to melt straight through the porch boards or disappear into the trees behind the house. Anything but sit here perched on the edge of their family drama, feeling like the world’s most obvious eavesdropper.
“Could you not?” Travis hisses, not bothering to keep it down. “She’s right outside. I’m just trying to do something nice.”
That’s my cue.
I stand quickly, brushing my palms on my thighs as I step toward the porch stairs, willing the boards not to creak under my weight. The plan is to retreat quietly and pretend I didn’t hear a damn thing, but then I hear two pairs of heavy footsteps approaching the door, followed by my name rolling off a familiar tongue in that low drawl that scrapes down my spine like a lit match.
“Piper?”
I freeze mid-step, eyes squeezed tight for half a second, then turn and manage the most awkward wave in the history of waves.
“Hey, Christian.”
Fuck me.
That black cowboy hat is going to be the death of me. He looks good. No, he looks unreal. Like,drop to your knees and pray to his dickkind of good, and yes, I’ve been trying to get over that particular obsession, but clearly God hates me because here he is, looking like this.
Christian just stares between Travis and me, his eyes narrowed, like he’s trying to figure out what the hell is going on.
“Sorry,” I blurt out, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. “I just thought it’d be better to wait out here. I didn’t want to intrude or anything.”
“It’s not an intrusion, is it, Dad?” Travis asks.
Christian just shakes his head and pulls off his hat, fingers slidingthrough the dark mess of his hair. His hand lingers at the back of his neck briefly, as if he’s trying to decide what to say or maybe biting back something he won’t. Then he shoves the hat back on, completely unaware of the power it holds.
“No… of course not. It’s nice to see you, Piper.” He disappears inside for all of five seconds before coming back with a set of keys in his hand.
“I’m going to take Piper around the farm and show her everything up here.”
Christian’s mouth pulls tight, his eyes moving between us like he’s trying to piece something together that doesn’t quite add up.
“I’m heading out, but can you lock up before you leave? I won’t be back for a while.”
“Sure,” Travis replies with a smirk, and I swear he’s moments away from laughing, as if my uncomfortable energy is the most entertaining thing he’s felt all week. “Tell Savannah I said hi.”
Christian just stares at him for a beat, like his son’s sprouted horns, then nods once and turns toward his truck. But not before his eyes cut to mine one last time.
He climbs into the black pickup and doesn’t say another word. He just throws it in drive and tears off like he can’t get away fast enough.
When Travis walks down the steps, he lets out a low whistle, shaking his head with a half smirk. “See what I mean? You don’t get to pick your family—you just get stuck with them.”
“I feel like he wasn’t exactly thrilled about us just showing up,” I say, glancing back at the house, the screen door still swinging behind us.
“Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. He’ll probably drag Savannah back with him anyway, so we’ll make sure we’re long gone before that happens.”
I smile and nod as Travis’s hand settles against the small of my back, his palm warm through the thin fabric of my shirt as he guides me toward the rows of trees. We walk for what feels like miles, but I don’t mind one bit. We talk about everything and nothing the whole time we’re out here, and it feels surprisingly effortless.
So far, I’ve learned that Travis still lives with his mom, and honestly, I get it. Once he started talking about the house, the privatechef, the pool, and all that comfort, I wouldn’t be in a rush to leave either. He says he wants to travel one day, but I’m not sure he actually would. He didn’t come out and say it, but it’s obvious from the way he talks about his mom and grandparents that he’s rooted, whether he admits it or not.
We eventually wander past an area that’s fenced off with a whole cluster of trees behind it.
“What’s in there?” I ask, nodding toward it.
