“You know things on the ranch are not great, right?” Lilly asks, and I nod. “Well, we might not be able to hire someone else to help you anytime soon. I need to see how summer goes.”
“That’s alright.”
They look surprised at my statement.
“It’s a lot of work for one person,” she says.
I shrug. “Arnie did it, didn’t he? And before he did, your father did, right?”
“No offense, but they grew up doing this, and we don’t want you to bite off more than you can chew,” Lilly says, matter-of-factly in a serene tone. My mom has that same tone and, no matter how old I am, hearing someone deliver a sentence in that low, calm tone makes my skin crawl.
“Have I slacked?” I ask, even though I know the answer.
“No, but we can’t afford to lose you,” she says, softening her features.
“You won’t. This job and this place mean more to me than you can imagine.”
“If you overdo it and decide to quit, the ranch won’t be able to recover. I want that to be clear.”
“I won’t quit,” I reply.
She nods, blinking slowly before smiling at Arnie. “Could you give us a second?” she asks him.
“I was leaving either way. Treat my girls right, will ya, son?” Arnie taps my shoulder before walking past me and leaving us alone.
What now?
“I’m going to say something, and I need you to not lie to me, okay?”
“I’ve never lied.”
She crosses her legs. “Good. Have you gotten close to Riley?”
Fuck. I might start lying now.
She must see color draining from my face, because she shakes her hands in the air and says, “Not what I mean. I know you wouldn’t go there since she’s so young.”
Oh, this is worse than I thought.
“I don’t know how to reply to that.” It’s the only thing I can think of.
“No need, really. I guess that already answers things. Riley deserves someone in her life like you. She’s gone through a lot, and I think she’s always missed that father figure—you could be that for her.”
I open my mouth, but no sound escapes me, unable to verbally deny her assumptions.
If I did, it would mean I regret Riley, and I don’t. It would mean I’m sorry I’m spending time with her and sleeping with her, and there’s nothing paternal about our relationship or whatever we are. And although I’m worried about the repercussions, I’m notsorry, but I also don’t know how Riley wants to handle this, and it’s not my place.
“I asked you to keep an eye on her, and I’m so glad you did. I had to let Arnie retire because I can’t ask that of him, not when his health is so uncertain at the moment, and Riley needs stability. The girl has never had it before, and I think she’s missing it, craving it.”
“She’s not a girl,” I reply. She’s young, that’s for sure, but she’s all woman. She has a childlike spirit, one I’ve come to adore. The polar opposite of her sister, actually. Lilly is all color-coded schedules while Riley is the whole rainbow.
She’s the sun and the birds and good weather after a storm.
She’s all that and so much more, and it has nothing to do with stability.
“She’s a woman and, respectfully, I don't think she’s missing stability. I think she has thrived in spontaneity and the next fun thing. She needs to know she’s valuable where she’s planted.” I use Riley’s words to her own benefit.
Lilly sucks in a breath, tilting her head to the side. “I didn’t know you had gotten to know her that deeply.”
