Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Reed and my relationship wasn’t perfect, but it was a hell of a lot better than when I’d come home nine months ago.
“You can go, you have to know that,” he said softly.
I turned to face him. “You’ve said that twice in the last three months.”
“Yeah, well, this time I don’t mean for the weekend.” He blew out a breath. “You’re miserable here, Weston. For a while there, I thought you were happy, but…”
I was miserable without Callie. We both knew it. I wasn’t sure how I was still managing to breathe, how I kept forcing air through my lungs.
“I’m just saying that if you need an out, I’m giving you one. I know you came back because I needed you.”
“And you don’t need me anymore?” I looked over his shoulder and saw Mrs. Rupert a block away, fighting with a fallen tree branch. Late spring snows were the worst, and last week’s dumping had been the heavy kind that took down trees and a couple power lines.
“I need you to be happy. I need to not be the cause of your misery.”
You’re already in love with her.
And yet, if this pain had anything to do with that emotion, I couldn’t understand why everyone was so hell-bent on feeling it. Hell, even Callie was sad according to Sutton, and she was out there living her dream.
Damn it, I hated that she was sad. She was supposed to be happy. That was the only saving grace of this whole cursed situation. She was supposed to thrive, and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it.
Except maybe there was.
I’d let her go so she could be happy, but if she wasn’t, then all bets were off.
“You’re not the cause of my misery.” My eyes narrowed on Mrs. Rupert. Shit, she was struggling. I started walking in her direction.
“You could call her. I’m sure she has international service.” He sighed. “Are you seriously walking away right now?”
“Give me a second,” I called back over my shoulder as I walked up the incline toward Vine Street. “Hey, Mrs. Rupert. Need a hand?”
The older woman was currently at war with what looked like an entire trunk of an Aspen tree.
“Every year, Edward Baker just lets his branches tumble into our yard, and every year I have to yank them out.” She grumbled.
“I’ve got you.” I gripped the thick branch with both hands and she let go.
“It’s been a few years since I’ve seen you around, Weston Madigan.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I made quick work of hauling it to the street, where other limbs were gathered for pickup.
“I swear, I’m getting too old for this kind of upkeep. I’ve been asking my husband to downsize for the last year, but he refuses to sell to Airbnb vacation rental people.” She shook her head, her silver curls wobbling.
“But you’d sell to a local?” A knot threatened to form at the base of my throat. What would it mean if Callie wasn’t even here? But she’d be back in nine months…if she chose to return to Madigan.
My chest constricted. I wasn’t going to make it that long without seeing her, without telling her the truth. And if exposing my emotional jugular was what it took to ensure she’d come back here when she was done with her internship…
“Maybe.” She lifted her brows under her lavender hat. “You know anyone who might be interested?”
I nodded.
Five minutes later, I made my way back down to where Reed was waiting.
“How is Mrs. Rupert?” he asked as we started walking, heading across the street.
“She’s good.” My smile stretched from ear to ear.
“It scares me when you smile.”
I laughed.
“That’s fucking terrifying.” He glanced sideways at me.
“I know how we hit that demographic you’re so worried about,” I said, yanking out my phone.
“Okay. I’m all ears.”
I looked over to see if he was being sarcastic, but he wasn’t. He honestly wanted my opinion. “We need a new terrain park with a world-class half-pipe.”
“He isn’t going to come home for that.”
“No, but he’ll know someone who can help design it.” I lifted my brows. “Besides, that’s not the only reason to call him, is it?”
His eyebrows rose. “You’re going to ask?”
“Yep.” I dialed the number and lifted my phone to my ear. “Oh, and I’m going to need some time off,” I said to Reed as the line rang and rang. “Starting tomorrow. We only have scenic tours booked, and Theo can fly, so it’s not like I need a temp or anything.”
“Have somewhere to be?” he asked.
“Actually, yes,” I answered as he finally picked up.
“Are you dying?” Crew sounded winded, and I wondered where he was, who had snow this time of year. Chile? Argentina? I never knew when it came to him.
“Nope.”
“Reed dying?”
“Nope.”
“Okay, now you have my curiosity piqued. What’s up?”
“I need a favor. Well, Reed needs a favor.” I caught Reed’s glare. “Fine, we both need a favor.”