Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 114263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
I hook my thumb into her belt loop. “You think that’ll keep me away?”
“Somehow, I knew it wouldn’t.”
It hits me that a month ago, I would’ve unequivocally turned down Mollie’s invitation. I hated her, for starters. And no way I could be gone an hour, much less a whole weekend. My brothers, Ella, the cowboys—everyone needed me, and I wasn’t going to let them down.
Now, though, I am going to accept the invitation. I’d be letting myself down if I didn’t. My brothers have proven they can hold their own while I’m gone. And I’m not gonna miss a chance to be with the girl who’s turned my world upside down in all the best ways.
I am done missing out on the good shit.
“I’ll come with you, sure.” I give the loop a tug. “But then what? I know we’re thinkin’ ten steps ahead…”
“But we have to,” she replies quietly, reading my thoughts. “It’s the right thing to do.”
It’s right, because we’re both in deep. We want to make this work long-term.
That confession, more than any others we’ve shared tonight, has my heart in a death grip.
It’s not like I planned on falling in love with Mollie. We all like to think we have control over who we want, but I’ve learned over the past month that’s not at all how it works.
I didn’t want to fall, but I did. Knowing full well Mollie comes from a world that’s totally different from mine.
I would’ve never opened myself up to that kind of slaughter if I could help it.
But now I have to figure out a way to keep Mollie in my life without either of us having to giving up everything else that we love.
We have to figure that out. I guess I begin by taking John B’s advice. I have fun with her. Make her laugh. Care for her.
And hope for the best.
Garrett, if you’re listening, please help me out.
Mollie bites her lip, eyes fixed on my mouth. “I don’t know what happens next, Cash. I think we take it one step at a time? Now we know how quickly things can change.” She chuckles. “Maybe…I mean, who knows what can happen? I just want to be with you for as long as I can.”
I glide my hand up her side and cup her nape in my palm. She’s soft here, delicate, and her eyes go hazy when I draw my thumb down the column of her throat. “I’m yours, honey.”
I do my best to prove that to her again and again that night.
Sweat drips into my eyes as I survey my work.
It took some rusty Tetris skills, but I think I nailed it. Mollie has spent the last two days figuring out what needed to come back to Dallas with her and narrowed it down to three suitcases, a laptop bag, a hatbox, and something she called a “weekender,” which are now tucked neatly into the trunk of her Range Rover.
“Y’all are only going to Dallas for two nights, right?” Wyatt appears at my elbow, a brown paper bag in his arms.
I wipe my forehead on my sleeve. “Believe it or not, yes.”
“Why we’re surprised Mollie isn’t a light packer, I don’t know.” Wyatt holds out the bag. “Patsy made some snacks for y’all. Chocolate chip cookies and her homemade pimento cheese and crackers.”
I scoff, even as my heart twists. “Of course she packed us snacks. I’ll give her a call to thank her.”
“You know Patsy. She doesn’t want any of her people going hungry.”
My brother watches me set the bag on the front console. As ridiculous as this car is, I’m looking forward to driving it. It has air-conditioning for one thing. Satellite radio with several country music channels for another.
And, yeah, the idea of Mollie riding shotgun beside me, feet on the dash, long legs stretched out, doesn’t suck either.
There’s an awkward beat of silence between Wyatt and me as I close the door and wipe my hands. I filled him in on the broad strokes of my situation with Mollie. He knows we’re more than friends. He knows she’s no longer required to stay on the ranch to get her inheritance.
He doesn’t know I’m a strung-out fucking wreck wondering if I’m gonna lose her after this weekend. Or maybe he does, and that’s why he’s out here right now seeing us off.
“So this is the first time you’ve been out of Hartsville in…how long?”
I glance at the New House’s front door. Mollie is inside, finishing her makeup. “I’ve left plenty. The rodeo in Houston that one time. And the duck hunt outside Austin.”
“That was fifteen years ago.”
“So? Still counts.”
More silence.
And then, from Wyatt, “She’s the one, isn’t she?”
I don’t bother denying it. I just shove my hands into my pockets and watch the front door.
That’s all the answer he needs.