“Oh my god, that’sexactlywhatIdid,” I wail. We all combust, our laughter echoing through my room.
River clears her throat and says, “Firstly, I’m sure other blokes have looked at you, you’re hot as hell. Secondly, I did notclimbinto bed, Teddycarriedme. Lastly, who cares if you’re fallin’ for him? Dallas is fuckinghot, Annabeth.”
“Great advice, Riv, keep it up,” Hannah scoffs.
“Oh, fuck off. Just cos you’re running off to marry ‘Mister Perfect Colgate Smile’ over here,” River jests.
“For the love of god,stopcalling him that!” Hannah is hysterically laughing at this point. Her southern drawl is so much more prominent when she’s had a couple of drinks and her inner devil comes out to play. Hannah Jensen may have everybody fooled by her charm, but I would be terrified to cross that woman. She’s as cunning as she is beautiful, and she damn well knows it.
“Did he tell you much about her?” Ella asks, quietly. I don’t need to confirm; I know who she means.
“Bits and pieces. I tried not to press too much, but he told me how they met and how much like her Billie is. She seemed like a beautiful person, I can’t imagine what it must have been like for them going through that, especially with a daughter as young as Billie was. What he and Colt must have endured, whatBilliemust have endured. I know she didn’t understand at that age, but fuck.” My heart thumpsa steady rhythm in my chest. Bile rises in my throat, and I suddenly feel claustrophobic and trapped in my own skin. Ella senses this and adjusts her seating position to wrap her arm around my shoulders.
River starts comforting me with her words. “He’s a good man. She’s a good kid. Frank adores her, and I’m pretty sure it’s entirely mutual. I don’t know if Dallas even knows this, but Colt was struggling hard when Sam first passed. He spoke to Jonas about it alot.Hannah and Mrs. Hartford kept the three of them fed for months until the boys figured their shit out. A lot of this happened before I got here, but this town collectively raised that little angel just as much as those boys did. Ain’t nobody this side of Flame Tree Flats that was gonna let any of them suffer.” River falls silent for a moment before continuing. “They’ll be lucky to have you, Annabeth.”
The four of us sit together, hands linked in silence for what feels like an eternity. Thinking about what they all went through breaks my heart into a thousand shards. The gravitational pull that draws me to Dallas tugs at my insides, my stomach twisting as I rise from my bed.
“I have to go,” I announce, turning on my heels towards the door.
One of them calls out, “Where are you going?”
“To fucking wrangle myself a cowboy,” I shout back to them without so much as a second glance.
My knuckles bang against the hardwood door until I hear the thud of footsteps approaching. The old hinges creak obnoxiously loud as thedoor swings open, and I prepare myself to launch into everything I need to say to Dallas, but I’m instantly pulled up short. Before I can stop myself, the words start flowing as I come face to face with Colt.
“God dammit.”
“Nice to see you too, A.B.,” he chuckles. His smile reminds me so much of his brother it’s insane.
“Sorry, I was expecti—”
“He’s out in the stables, you wanna come in?” His eyes narrow, and I sense him wondering what’s going on.
In true Annabeth form, my damn motor-mouth keeps running, and I immediately word vomit my insane confession without taking a single breath.
“I know about Samantha. I know about the meals and everyone taking care of you after she died. I know what you did to protect Billie – what youstilldo. I know that you need someone to take care ofyousometimes.Bothof you. I know that I’m still kinda new around here and everyone is so connected and familial, and I want to be part of that. Oh, and I slept with your brother and he’s all I can fucking think about.” Colt stares at me completely in awe, and I hear a throat clear from behind him.
“Well, Firefly, that is certainly good to know.”
Oh, fuck.
I’ve been sitting on Dallas’s bed, chewing the inside of mycheek for half an hour. Honestly, if I keep going, I’m going to chew a bloody hole through my face. I haven’t told Dallas about Dad… or anyone for that matter.
“Can you knock it off and talk to me?” he asks. I just shake my head.
He clears the room in three long strides, joining me on the bed. His hand reaches for my arm to comfort me, and I flinch slightly, scared to reveal this side of me. Scared to relive this memory.
“Hey, what’s that about?”
“What?” I ask.
“You flinched.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me, Annabeth. You flinched when I tried to touch you.”
I turn my head away from him, my lip quivering slightly. He reaches for me again. This time I’m as still as a statue.Toostill. I can’t move. I can barely wrap my mind around everything I’m about to tell him, because I haven’t told anybody this in a very long time.
