“You should take it into consideration too and go to sleep at adecent time instead of doing whatever you were doing until almost midnight last night.”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I wiggle my eyebrows as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “Fiiiiine. I’ll sleep too.”
I jump into my Jeep, sliding my hand out and shouting, “See you soon, Dominic!”
9I CAN’T SLEEP EITHER
Dom
For someonewho complained about not being able to sleep because of a certain girl, I sure as hell look like a fool right now, eyes wide open at three in the morning. I’m restless, and there’s nothing I can do, as quiet as it may be. There’s no light shining through her window, so she must be asleep. At least one of us is sleeping.
I might as well get a head start on my day. Coffee, jeans, belt, hat, and ready to go. The wrap around porch on this cabin is my favorite. Three rocking chairs sit next to each other, overlooking the valley. In another life, the one I had before I moved here, I never took the time to sit and take anything in. I never took the time to just breathe; it’s something I’ve been practicing more and more. The serenity and inner peace I’ve felt since moving back here is not something I’ll take for granted. Arnold said he won’t be coming today—nor will Gertrude, for that matter. My first day at attempting to handle this ranch on my own. I’m almost done with the fence, so instead of sitting here aimlessly, I'll go work on it.
I don’t make it to my truck before I hear a door shut. I lookback to find Riley tip-toeing out of her house. It’s not even four yet. Does that girl ever sleep?
“I thought you were going to try to sleep today,” I mutter.
She jolts, her cheeks darkening before her eyebrows scrunch. “I know for a fact I didn’t wake you up today. I got dressed in the dark and everything, so what the fuck are you doing awake?”
I chuckle.
“Did you just laugh?”
Yes. “No.”
“You did.”
“No.”
She narrows her eyes. “Well, why are you awake?”
“I couldn’t sleep.” More like I couldn’t stop thinking about the light this one girl shines everywhere she goes. There’s something about her, and I can’t put my finger on it—not that I have the right to either.
“Something on your mind, cowboy?” She gets closer, and today, she’s actually wearing a jacket for once. Thank fuck. I was stressing over seeing the clothes she’s been wearing for her early morning runs. My grandma would be worried about sickness and send her inside to cover her head.
“No.”
Your wellbeing, for one. The fact that you don’t sleep, for another. Lilly falling apart, Arnold needing a break, the weight of doing what I’m supposed to do as a third.
“It’s too early to go for a run, no?”
“What else am I gonna do? I promised my grumpy neighbor I wouldn’t wake him up, and I’m a little restless.”
Lilly asked me to keep an eye on her, so it wouldn’t be too bad if I asked her to come with me, right? “What if I can offer an alternative?” She’s running plenty and sleeping very little. I don’t want her to crash. One Banks sister near burnout is enough for this ranch.
“Are you proposing we hang out?”
“I’m proposing you give your body a break and come withme.” I will kick myself for this later. I like my peace and quiet, and Riley is neither.
“What do you have in mind?”
I offer her a crooked smile and my hand as I help her climb into the truck. Riley sits back in the front seat, her feet out the window as she taps them to the song playing on the radio.
“Do you like it here?”
“Yes.”
“What do you like about it?” she asks, not missing a beat.
