Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
My mouth dropped open. “What makes you say that?”
Then he rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so stupid, Chloe. Even Dad was hoping you two would figure your shit out eventually.”
“Dad said he thought Rip and I would be together?”
Gage scoffed. “Everyone thought that. Obviously, everyone but you and Rip. I mean, why Easton? He’s such a douche.”
I smacked Gage on the chest. “He is not, and don’t say things like that. He’s here.”
“Not here in our house, so I can say it.”
“Gage, I love Easton.”
“Enough to leave all of us?”
“That’s not fair.”
He looked down at me. “You’re right. It’s not fair. It’s not fair to any of us.”
He turned and walked away.
“Oh, my word.” I said, rubbing my temples.
My mother returned. “He’ll be fine. He’s a bit upset. He always planned on it being you and him on the ranch together.”
“This fall he’ll be in College Station, so what does it even matter if I’m here or not?”
She raised a brow. Her mouth opened to say something, but Daddy’s voice cut her off.
“Let’s go or we’ll be late, ladies!” my father called out.
My mother kissed my cheek. “You might want to change, sweetheart. We’ll be downstairs, ready to go when you are.”
Before she had a chance to walk away, I grabbed her arm.
“Mom, is it true what Gage said? Was Daddy really thinking Rip and I would end up together?”
She chewed on her lip and looked down.
“So it is true.”
When her blue eyes met mine, she sighed. “Oh, Chloe, honey, everyone thought you two would end up together. You were always inseparable, and you always had such a crush on him. That wasn’t a secret.”
“He didn’t feel the same way about me.”
“Are you talking about what happened back in your freshman year of college? He was probably confused and scared.”
“So, what? You’re saying he did love me but couldn’t admit it?”
She simply shrugged. “Did you two ever talk about it again?”
Guilt hit me like a knife to the chest. “No.”
“No?” she asked, her brow raised in a judging way.
“I mean, Rip tried to talk to me about it, but I told him I wanted to forget about it. Move on. And he did. He started dating Heather.”
I spit her name out like it was poison. My mother laughed.
“And that made you start dating I take it?”
“Yes. I’m okay with us being friends, Mom.”
Her hand came up to my face, and I leaned into the warmth.
“Are you? Is he?”
I frowned. Before we could say anything else, my father yelled upstairs.
“We need to get going, girls!”
“I’ll change really quick.” My voice sounded weak, and I hated that. Hated feeling confused over my own emotions. It felt like I was a pot of water, and I was fixin’ to reach my boiling point.
She nodded and rushed down the steps.
Glancing through my closet, I found the blue and white dress I bought a few months back in a little boutique on the square here in Oak Springs. It was long and free-flowing but hugged my curves in the slightest way. Slipping on my cowboy boots, I grabbed my phone, and headed downstairs.
Everyone was already in the truck waiting for me. My hands shook as I reached for the door handle. What was I nervous about? Telling everyone about the engagement? Or knowing Rip would be there tonight? Maybe he would have a date, and everyone would see he’d moved on.
Just like I had.
Chloe
THE MOMENT WE walked into the kitchen, I couldn’t help but laugh. Easton stood at the sink, attempting to peel potatoes.
“Son, have you never peeled a potato?” Grammy asked, taking the potato from his hand and gently pushing him to the side.
“Um, no, Mrs. Parker.”
“Melanie, Easton. Just call me Melanie.”
“Mom, what in the world are you having him peel potatoes for? All the food is done,” my father said as he walked in and kissed my grandmother.
She gave my father a wicked smile. “I needed to see the boy’s cooking skills.” Then she turned and faced me. “After all, my granddaughter can’t be expected to do all the cooking after she gets married.”
My smile faded instantly, and I looked at Easton.
“You told my grandparents?”
He shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal.
“Oh, hell,” Gage whispered from next to me.
Anger built in my veins—that pot was getting hotter. “How could you, Easton?” I asked, staring at him. My entire body was shaking.
“Sweetheart, maybe he thought you might have already told them?” my mother gently pointed out.
“We were going to announce it after the dinner. I told you I wanted to tell my parents and grandparents first myself.”
Easton looked at me with apologetic eyes. “I’m sorry, Chloe. It just slipped.”
“Chloe Parker, before you go tearing the boy a new one, he’s right. He accidently slipped and said something. He tried to catch himself, but I’m too quick—every member of this family knows that—and I got it. Your granddaddy doesn’t know yet, though.”