Cash nodded. “I think Jeff is going to ask her to buy it if she likes it, but she’s getting in tonight, and we need the hands.” Giving Abi a kiss, he plopped his hat on his head and slapped my shoulder. “She’ll be here in a few hours. See ya there?”
Cash left through the back door, not even giving me a moment to answer him. I looked at my sister, who was studying me intently.
Out of everyone on the ranch, she knew.
She was the only one whom I trusted with everything. Maybe it was a twin thing, or maybe it was because I knew she would hit me with hard love and whip my ass back in gear. Whatever it was, she knew every single detail. There was nothing I would keep from Abi. She knew why I wasn’t getting jobs. She knew how I felt about Quinn, even after what she had said to me. She knew I was slowly falling apart and hiding it very well.
“You don’t have to go help. I actually agree with you,” she said, her tone mixed with a sigh. She walked up to me and wrapped her arms around my middle, her chin resting on my shoulder. I loved being her twin, but I loved how unique we were. “Quinn would absolutely hate having you there.”
I let out a laugh. “I’ll call Hawkins. Maybe he has some good news for me. And I’ll find Lach. And help Cash until he heads to Quinn’s.” I wrapped my arm around her, squeezing her shoulder. “I’ll stop ‘lazing around.’”
Abi shook her head. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Sure you did, but it’s okay.”
She pulled away from me, giving me a soft smile. “Call Hawkins.” Her smile vanished as she pointed at me, before turning and grabbing her book from the counter. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a chapter to finish before I tend to some horses.”
“Enjoy.” I raised my mug to her as she left the kitchen, leaving me in the silence.
Glancing out the window, I could see Cash greeting his client in front of the stables, a smile on his face as the girl jumped from her truck, the mud slushing onto her jeans and boots. Cash shook her hand and patted her shoulder, leading her into the stables. I looked down at my own jeans and boots—not a speck of dirt on them.
Quinn was right in everything she said to me that day.Playboy, childish, more starch than man.And it stung more than it should have.
Three
Quinn
Jumpingfrommytrailer,I slapped my hands on my thighs. Everything that I put in the trailer was finally in my own small condo, and the joy that radiated through my body was palpable. All the mixed emotions I was feeling while packing were gone, and contentment flowed through me. A stillness that I wasn’t quite used to. Was this what life was supposed to feel like? Because if it was, I didn’t want any part of it to change.
“That’s everything.” Lachlan, the only Hartwell I knew nothing about, came out of the condo,mycondo. He flipped his hat forward again, giving me a quick nod. “Anything else?”
I shook my head. “No, thank you. I really appreciate the help.”
“No problem.” He walked past me, giving my shoulder a quick pat. “See you at the ranch.”
“Bye, Lachlan,” I called, waving even though he was already in his truck, before I jogged my way intomycondo.
I was going to love calling it that.
Cash and Rhett were still inside, each grabbing a box and putting it in the correct room. The condo had an open concept, which I adored. The living room and kitchen blended into one space, the small kitchen island the only thing to mark which room was which. The stairs leading up to the two bedrooms were off to the right, and a small coat closet sat empty, waiting for my many hats and boots. There was also another small closet for a washer and dryer. A window let the natural light in, and I could just see all the possibilities I could do with it.
When I handed Jeff Richards, the owner of the condo, the check for the entire year’s worth of rent, his jaw basically dropped. It was half my earnings from the year prior, but looking at the place…it was worth it.My condo.
“Do you have any pots and pans?” Rhett asked, opening a single box that was labeledkitchento reveal two of everything. Two plates, two cups, two bowls, two sets of silverware, but no pans. He pulled out the plates and set them on the counter. “This is the only box that says kitchen.”
“I have to go shopping. I need to get a few things.” I smiled, excitement that I got to pick out my own things soon showing on my face. “Like a couch.” I looked at the empty living room. “Or a futon.”
“A couch. This isn’t a bachelor pad,” Cash said as he came up behind me. “Abi and Kyla could go shopping with you. I’m sure they’d have a blast.”
“Is it weird I want to do it alone?” I pinched my brow and looked at my trainer.
He snorted. “Not at all. I take it you want to organize and unpack by yourself, too?” He looked around at my condo and the piles of boxes in front of me.
“Kinda.” I shrugged my shoulders up to my ears.
“At least let us set up your bed.” Rhett didn’t even wait for an answer; he just bounded up the stairs two at a time. Cash gave me a smile before he followed, leaving me alone in the living room.
I pulled out my phone, bringing up the chat with my dad. I had updated my parents on the journey so far, but once I made it there, I got so caught up in the unpacking that I had forgotten to let them know I was already feeling settled.
