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“I’m ready,” I said, but I approached carefully. The female bison was enormous, with big furry shoulders, a large, black, wetnose, and somber dark eyes. “You look like you’ve seen some things,” I whispered to Gigi as I held out an apple slice.
She took it, her surprisingly soft tongue swiping my palm.
“Oh my goodness,” I whispered, “she’s amazing.”
“Here, you can have my apple slices,” Audrey said. “I think Gigi’s amazing, too, but I don’t want her to lick me.”
I accepted the apples gratefully and fed the rest to Gigi. When she finished, she sneezed.
“You’re welcome,” I said.
In response, she snorted.
We stayed for a bit longer, and I took in the moment fully, trying to remember every detail so I could play it later like a movie in my mind. I would never forget the Silver Rivers Ranch. I would never forget Betsy the horse or being so happy for James and Audrey’s wedding. I would never forget Gigi the bison and her dark, wise eyes.
Most of all, I would never forget Cole.
Audrey and the guide talked for a few minutes. Audrey asked the guide questions about her job, the ranch, and normal, real-life things.
“I’m never going to have a normal life,” I whispered to Gigi. She let me pet her neck. “Which isn’t exactly anything new. Except that I got my hopes up—which was dumb, Gigi. Real dumb. Take it from me.”
In response, Gigi blinked. I felt seen.
“I wish I were a bison,” I said wistfully. Gigi appeared skeptical. Maybe she was disappointed there weren’t more apple slices; I wasn’t sure.
“We should get going!” Audrey called brightly. “We’re meeting James and Cole for drinks and pool time. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see my man again!”
Before I turned around, I plastered a smile onto my face—the one I usually reserved for clients. “Me either, Audrey. Me either.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
cole
I tossedmy phone down and took a hot shower before meeting James for breakfast. My father’s words rankled. Our conversation was getting under my skin.
“I’m starting to wonder if having this girl back is the problem. I’m wondering if this girl is the difference.”
He wasn’t right about Jenny, but in some ways, he wasn’t wrong. My business was usually my whole focus. It was my entire life. But since I’d met Jenny, I started to care a little less. I’d started wondering if there might be something to life besides adding to my piles of money. That thought would’ve scared Old Cole, but New Cole was wondering if there was something to it.
But something else troubled me: my father’s insinuation that Jenny was up to something.“I find it curious that she’s suddenly interested in your business dealings.”He was trying to start shit, I knew that. Still, Jennyhadacted funny earlier. The juxtaposition of her actions and his comments left me feeling unsettled and off-balance.
My thoughts circled as I headed down to the restaurant. Insecurity—so foreign I almost didn’t recognize it—zipped through me.Thiswas what made me want to avoid relationships. I did not have time for this shit.
“Hey,” James said. He looked me up and down. “Why do you look so pissed? We’re on vacation with two beautiful women, and we’re going fly-fishing. What the hell are you frowning about?”
I sat down heavily, gratefully accepting the coffee the server brought over. “I just got off the phone with my dad.”
James smirked. “Enough said. I’ve made a point of not talking to anybody in my family for the past forty-eight hours, and I feel great.”
I shook my head. “What’s going on with your mom, anyway? I know she got brought in for questioning, but I haven’t heard much since then.”
James’s expression darkened. His mom had been arrested in conjunction with a cold case involving the death of his high school girlfriend. “She hasn’t been formally charged yet. They’re still in the investigation phase. Honestly, the case is so old that there’s little direct evidence. But I still feel like my mother’s arrest is some small justice for Danielle’s parents. It will never change what happened, but the truth coming out might help them heal.”
“I’m so sorry.” I shook my head. “Here I am complaining about my father because he’s being a pain in the ass about getting approvals from the city—boo fucking hoo. What you’re dealing with is so hard. I’m sorry, James.”
He shook his head, then smiled. “Don’t be sorry. I know your dad’s a real ass.”
“Ha, it makes me feel better to hear someone else say it.” I had another sip of coffee, and our mood lightened again. It was always good to talk to my friend. No matter what crazy things were happening around us, he’d always been a constant in my life.
