“Lennox!” I shouted, watching her disappear down the ladder.
“Love you, Rapunzel!” Lennox hit the ground and waved up at me. Then she pointed toward a figure in the shadows. “Don’t fuck this up, Loverboy.”
When Grady stepped up toward the ladder, the sight of him took my breath away. Fear had my heart rate spiking, making me want to run, but there was something else there, too. Something warm and comforting, like a warm blanket on a cold night. Seeing him here, in this place,ourplace, felt right.
He looked up, a tentative smile on his lips. “Hey, bluebird. Mind if I come up?”
grady
. . .
I wasn’t exactlysure what made me drive out to Black Springs Ranch. One minute, I was sitting on the couch, listening to Charlie and her mom chat on the phone, and the next, I was telling Liv we had to go. Even though she had no idea what was going on either, my daughter was giddy as I buckled her in and told her where we were headed.
Lennox’s words had played on repeat since we’d talked yesterday. I wanted to give Cleo all the space she needed, but how much space was too much? The last thing I wanted was to give her the idea I was giving up, and I worried if I didn’t show up for her or push just a little, then that was precisely what she would think.
I knew my unexpected appearance at the ranch for the summer camp had come as a shock to her, but it was the only way I had of getting her attention. Electronic communication was clearly out of the picture, given her proclivity for blocking my number. I was sure if I’d sent her an email, it would’ve ended up the same way. And I had no doubt, if I’d sent a letter, it would’ve ended up in the trash without a second thought.
So, what was another random pop-up? I’d managed to breakthrough her walls long enough to steal an earth-shattering kiss—one I still hadn’t been able to get off my mind—with the last one. Might as well try for number two.
Deja vu smacked me straight in the face as I walked up to her house and knocked, just like I had when I’d picked her up for our first date. And, just like before, it was Mrs. Ruby Hayes who’d answered the door. We just stared at one another for a moment before her gaze drifted to my daughter at my side. She was holding her stuffed bunny tightly to her chest, grinning widely at the dazed woman.
“Is Miss Cleo here?” she asked. “My daddy wants to talk to her.”
I thought we were going to get turned away. Maybe we would’ve if Lennox hadn’t popped her head around the corner and told her mom to let us in. Charlie ran past Ruby toward Lennox, who immediately opened her arms for a hug. Ruby excused herself to check on Cleo, which left me, Charlie, Lennox, her father, and her fiancé awkwardly staring at one another with nothing to say.
When Ruby came back in a panic and told us Cleo was missing, Lennox offered to look for her. I said I would stay behind with Charlie. Instead, I was dragged out the front door by a death grip on the collar of my T-shirt, and Lennox was telling her parents and fiancé to keep an eye on my daughter.
“You just don’t listen, do you?” Lennox asked, finally letting me go.
I held up my hands. “I wanted to, I tried to, but I just kept wondering how much was too much. I don’t want her to think I don’t want her, Lennox. She needs to know?—”
“I’m glad you didn’t listen to me,” she said with a sigh. “Sometimes I forget that while Cleo asks for space, sometimes it’s the last thing she really wants or needs. It’s like she wants time to think things through, but she also needs the reassurance of the chase. To know you’re going to be here?—”
“I am,” I said, earnestly. “And this is me trying to prove it.”
Lennox stopped near the fence line. I could make out the treehouse just ahead. “There just might be hope for you yet,” she said with a smirk. “Now, I’m going to go chat her up, make sure she’s alright, then the rest will be up to you.”
Before I could say anything else, she skipped over to the tree and called out for Cleo. I couldn’t hear much, but after a moment, Lennox climbed up the ladder and disappeared from sight.
Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I was curious to know what they were talking about. What would Cleo tell Lennox she would be too afraid to say to me? Did she let her sister in, or did she meet just as many walls as I did?
Slowly and quietly, I walked over, careful to avoid tripping over a fallen limb that might snap and give me away. That was the last thing I needed right now. I looked up and realized the hatch was left open. I wondered if Lennox did that on purpose, or if she didn’t care. Either way, I wasn’t going to let the opportunity go to waste.
I could only make out little fragments that didn’t make much sense on their own. Frustrated, I was close to giving up and slinking back to the shadows when I heard Lennox’s voice, clear and strong. “Do you love him?”
I waited impatiently, straining to hear Cleo’s answer, but nothing was clear. They were speaking in hushed tones and hurried whispers. Goddammit. I needed to know what she would reply to that question more than anything else.
If she loved me, it meant I had a shot.
If she loved me, we could make it work.
I never really stopped to think if love was in the cards so soon. I knew regardless of what had happened in the past, I never stopped loving her. If she asked me the same question right now, I would’ve said yes. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. I couldn’t be sure about Cleo’s answer, though. Her head was aminefield. At any moment, one misstep might see your whole world ending. I didn’t fault her for it, knowing I damn well contributed to planting some bombs of my own. It was very well possible I sealed my own fate.
But only time would tell.
A loud shriek from above had my eyes drifting to see what the commotion was. Lennox climbed down the ladder as fast as she could, and I almost wanted to laugh at the look on Cleo’s face as she stared after her sister, full of disbelief.
Lennox pointed at me. “Don’t fuck this up, Loverboy.” And then she ran back toward the house, her footsteps a rapidly fading rhythm.
