“Jesse!” She laughed. “I’m serious. Enter the date auction. You’ll be raising money for your own project and you’ll at least go out on a date. One date. Break the seal, man! Also you remember Lilah’s terms. She said she’d join if you did. I think it would be good for you both. There is no reason for the two of you to be single because Iknowit’s not what you want.”
“Revenge is her reason, and it’s a good one.”
“God, you Pleasants are stubborn.”
Jesse reached over and lightly punched her shoulder. “Welcome to the family.”
“Oof. I’ve made a terrible mistake. It’s late. And cold. Let’s go back.” They turned on the driveway and walked back toward Zach’s house on the far end of the cul-de-sac. Evie stepped up on the porch. “Just think about it, okay. All jokes aside. I—I see how you can get lost in all of this. And I see how you hold yourself back and what happens when it all comes bubbling out. You deserve something of your own. A love of your own. No need to keep punishing yourself.”
“Who says I’m punishing myself?”
Evie looked at him for a moment, before she stepped off the porch and wrapped her arms around his waist. He held her back, soaking in the way she seemed to squeeze him tighter. No one in his family hugged him the way Evie did, not even his grandmother. But for some reason, in the moment he thought of how much taller Lily-Grace was and how well she would fit against his body. How warm she might feel against his chest.
“Love you, Jess,” Evie said, before she stepped back into the porch light.
“Yeah, yeah, grumble grumble. Love you too.”
“Night.”
Jesse waited until she was back inside and he heard the door lock before he made his way back to his house, Sugar Plum trailing behind him. He got the dogs settled and climbed back into bed. Before he did something stupid, like texting Jenny Yang to see if he could get Lily-Grace’s number, he put up his phone and went to sleep.
* * *
The sun in the cloudless sky beat down on Jesse’s shoulders as he and Lilah made their way to the stables. They could have taken a staff golf cart, but it was Jesse’s bright idea to walk. He looked forward to returning to the AC in his office as soon as their meeting with Dr. Vasquez was over.
“Why is California so hot?” Lilah whined.
“Climate change. Proximity to the equator. You want my hat?” Jesse slathered sunscreen on his bald head every day. He could spare his Stetson for another five hundred yards.
“No. It doesn’t go with my outfit. Also it’ll look like I’m playing dress-up cowgirl. Your head’s so big.”
“Thanks.”
“I mean that in a good way. Your brain is huge.”
“That is true. You don’t have to be here for this though. I was gonna catch you and Zach up next week.” He’d given Lilah the week off so she could help Evie with wedding stuff, but she’d hopped in his truck with him that morning and come over to the ranch with him like it was a regular Tuesday.
“No, it’s fine. I needed a wedding break. Your dad asked me like forty questions about my dad last night, and I almost asked him if he knew how to use a phone. Being here with you is safer than being around Senior and Aunt Regina right now. She keeps telling me how pretty I am and then just stares at my face.”
“How come people think your temper is cute?” Jesse asked his cousin.
“’Cause I am cute. Also no one takes my temper seriously. Pick your struggle, Jess.”
He couldn’t argue with that. People were afraid of him, and that came with a certain level of respect. When Lilah tried to assert herself, with her dimples and her soft, sweet voice, people just patted her on the head and went about their business. “You think if I start crying, Dr. Vasquez will put off his retirement for like another ten, fifteen years?”
“Maybe if we both cry. It’s worth a shot.”
They continued walking in silence, the main reason he and his cousin got along so well. As they got closer, Dr. Vasquez stepped out into the sun. Jesse could see his bright smile at a distance. Jesse really didn’t want to go through the process of finding a replacement. Dr. Vasquez’s smile shifted as Jesse got closer, and he cocked his head a little to the side. Jesse knew that look. Dr. Vasquez was in full caregiver-grandpa mode.
“Who told you?”
“Delfi. We’re gonna miss you, Doc.”
“Not leaving town. Just freeing-up time to help with the grandkids. I don’t want to miss any more moments with them. It’s official at the end of the month, but this will be my last visit to the ranch.”
Lilah stepped forward and let Dr. Vasquez take her hand. “But who is going to sing to the goats?”
“I’m sure you can carry a tune.” He smiled back at her. “Before we head inside, I just want you to know I brought my replacement along. Chris is showing him around.”
