“Hey girl!” she all but shouted as she opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat, tossing her jammed full backpack into the back.
“Hey!” I grinned, pulling away from the curb. “How was the flight?”
She waved me off. “Easy. Ifinallycaught up in the book club book on the flight. Oh my god, girl! That mating bond kiss was—” She broke off, making a chef’s kiss gesture.
I laughed. “It was pretty epic.”
She eyed me heavily, a devious smirk on her lips. “And you’re telling me your little boy toy kissed you like that and you were going toleavehim?” Her words shook with disbelief towards the end.
A giggle escaped me even as I rolled my eyes. Leave it to Whit to be so damn dramatic. “It was a momentary lapse of sanity, okay? We figured things out.”
“Good. You enjoying your time with him?” she asked, waggling her eyebrows.
I filled her in on any of the details I’d missed in our conversations over the last few days while we drove back to theranch. “What about you? How’s work been, and are you excited to see Travis?”
“Work’s been the same as usual, busy, but I’d rather that than slow. I’m more so looking forward to going to our first rodeo and getting to check out dozens and dozens of hot cowboys!” The grin on her lips turned luminous.
My grip on the steering wheel tightened, guilt bubbling up in my chest as I turned my gaze toward the road. “About that…” My words fell away as I braved a look at Whit.
Her brown eyes shone with confusion.
Blowing out a breath, I said, “I can’t go. I can’t ask that of Hux.”
“Oh—” Her face fell the slightest bit. “Yeah, no that makes sense. I probably wouldn’t want to go either if I were him.” A smile lit up her features—one of Whit’s super powers, her perpetual cheerfulness. “How about y’all come out with us after?”
“‘I’ll ask. That would be fun!” I added. But to be honest, the thought of a quiet night with Hux sounded nice. Maybe dinner and a movie? I don’t know, something low-key and relaxing. But I’d ask anyway just in case.
By the time wegot back to my dad’s ranch it was early afternoon.
“Did you want to hang out for a bit, maybe tan by the pool before you go to the rodeo, or do you need to get ready?” I asked. “Also, how are you even getting there?” She didn’t have a car, so—
Whit tossed her backpack onto my bed and laid beside it. “Travis is gonna pick me up in like forty five minutes.”
I plopped down next to her. “How about tomorrow we do breakfast or lunch or something just us two? I need me some Whit time.”
She laughed and rolled over to face me on the bed. “Aw, you missing me? Hux isn't as good a roomie, is he?”
I laughed and shoved at her teasingly. “He’s only stayed the night. I’d hardly call him a roomie.”
“But do you want him to be?” She quirked her eyebrows, that familiar mischievous smile lighting up her face.
“Whit! It’s been like less than a week! I can’t just have him move in.”
She shrugged. “You and I moved in together after a day.”
“It’s not the same. You and I were never sleeping together. I’m afraid to make things awkward. I think this is a good thing.”
“So you think you’ll stay?” she asked, no hint of sadness in her voice.
Whit saw the positive in every situation. A forever optimist. But not the annoying kind who, like, reassured you that everything happened for a reason when you were down on your luck. She was just too upbeat and carefree and spontaneous to really be down for long. I could always depend on her to see things on the bright side. So it was no surprise that the prospect of me moving here wouldn’t be a problem. She’d just see it as an excuse to visit all the time. Or uproot her life on a whim and start a salon here or something. Who knew with Whit.
I blew out a breath and turned onto my back, settling my eyes on the ceiling and not her expectant gaze. “I honestly can’t even think about it right now. It gives me anxiety.”
“Why?” Whit scoffed.
“Because, what if I decide to move here and make the wrong decision? What if my dad ends up selling the ranch at some point and I’m out of a job? What if Hux and I don’t work out? What if—”
“What if you end up making amazing connections and finding your dream job? What if you fall in love with that gorgeous cowboy? What if you end up getting to run your dad’s ranch? What if, what if, what if, Quinn. You don’t know unless you try.”
