Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“It feels like we’re lying and sneaking around behind his back.”
Trevor jerks his head back as if I’ve slapped him. I ball my hands into the front of the sweatshirt he’s wearing. He shakes his head as if to clear it.
“So I want to do the right thing and stop sneaking around. Make you my wife and tell your daddy you’re the only one for me, but you feel like we’re doing just the opposite?” he says incredulously.
I lift my hands in the air and look around us. “This isn’t exactly how we go about gaining his trust. I did just sneak out my bedroom window.”
Trev places his hands on his hips and looks down at me exasperatedly. “Then you tell me your suggestion, darlin’.”
I sigh. “I don’t know,” I admit honestly. “Mama put her foot down before Daddy grounded me. She told him I’m going to Nashville and New York. Which only made your rejection more confusing for me.
“I… I don’t think I’m ready. Maybe all of this is happening for a reason. This could be a bad time. Let’s give it a while. Maybe in a year, we’ll be able to see things differently without my father’s influence.”
He shakes his head before I can finish my words. He palms my cheeks and runs his thumbs across my wet skin as we stand there as if the rain isn’t coming down on us. Trev places his forehead to mine and breathes me in.
“I don’t think that’s the right thing to do. It don’t feel right. Lynn, baby, marry me.” He kisses me. “Marry me, Babycakes.” He kisses me again. “Come on, darlin’. You’re the one for me. Be my wife.”
He kisses me again, and this time, it feels like he’s trying to pull a yes from my lips. He begins to sway us as if dancing to a song only he can hear.
My breath hitches and I’m tempted to say yes. However, there’s something holding me back. I love him, I truly do, but this is too soon. If I say yes, it will ruin us.
“I’m sorry, Trev, but I can’t. I love you. I do. I… I just don’t want to rush into anything we’ll regret. You don’t even know how your daddy is going to react to you not going into the draft.”
“I don’t care. I’m a grown-ass man. I don’t need my daddy to plan my life for me,” he growls.
“Oh,” I say and drop my head.
“Oh, Lynn, baby, no, no, no. I didn’t mean it that way.”
“I should get back. It’s cold out here,” I mutter.
“Darlin’, wait.”
“I have to get back—”
He rushes around me and tugs me into his embrace. He buries his face into my wet hair. Reluctantly, I wrap my arms around his waist.
“I’m sorry. I’m losing my mind trying to figure this out. I don’t want to rush you.
“Take all the time you need. I’ll finish school and sort out my own mess. You go do what you need.
“If you need me, you have my number. Don’t ever think you’re bothering me. I love you, Lynn.
“I’m not giving up on you. I will always do what’s right for you. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Trev. I’ll see you next summer.”
He stiffens a bit and pulls away to search my face with his gaze. He nods to himself and plants a kiss to my forehead. Then he takes a step back, releasing me.
I run for my house, allowing the rain to wash away my tears. I don’t know if I just made the right decision. While it feels like the right thing to do, on the other hand, I feel like I just opened the door to disaster.
The snake that spooked Smoke and sent me flying off the horse comes to mind. Something about the thought causes me to sob uncontrollably. I go to turn back, but he’s gone.
“What did I just do?” I sob.
Trevor
I trek back to my family’s ranch. I don’t pay much mind to the rain pounding down on me. My mind is too consumed by what just happened. I’m confused and lost.
I love you too, Trev. I’ll see you next summer.
Did we just break up? Did she not know I told her daddy we were over so she could go to New York? How did I fuck this up so bad?
“Trev.”
I look up as my name is sobbed out. Cliff is sitting on the porch looking lost and torn up. I hadn’t even noticed him there as I walked up the steps.
“Cliff? What’s going on?”
“It’s my daddy. I don’t think I can do this. I’m losing everything, everyone.”
“Wait, slow down. What are you saying? What’s going on with Uncle Travis?”
“He’s gone,” Cliff sobs. “He had a heart attack right at the dinner table, right in front of me and Mama.