“I think that’s just a term adults like to use when they’re scared of things. Complicated.” He stands and pats my shoulder. “But you’re right. I should sleep. Thank you for tonight, Colt. I appreciate your words.”
In silence, I walk him to his cabin and make sure he slips inside. After waiting several minutes to make sure he stays there, I walk back across the creek bridge toward the guesthouse. The windows are dark, and while Ethan’s Jeep sits parked out front, he’s clearly not awake.
Kaspar’s words sit with me. Am I just making this thing with Ethan complicated when it’s really simple? It feels like forever since I kissed him. Kissing Ethan felt easy once I gathered the courage to do it. It’s the rest that leaves me confused.
Uncle Albert shakes a napkin out,spreading it over his lap as I place his plate of Chinese food in front of him before sitting across the table with my plate.
“God, I’ve missed a good chicken ball,” Uncle Albert says as he swipes a piece of battered chicken through the red sauce. “Not that I’m complaining about my food, but I don’t get out much now. This is a real treat.”
He digs into his food with a very healthy appetite, and I laugh. “The food is better than my company. Noted.”
“I always love seeing you, Colt. How’s work and Chance? I never thought I’d miss the place as much as I do, you know.”
My uncle eats with enthusiasm, and even though he said he misses Chance, he shows no outward signs of that. Not like I would.
“Are you not happy here? I thought you liked it.”
“Oh, I do. It’s where I need to be, but sometimes I just miss the familiarity of home.” He chews and swallows, still with a smile on his face as he talks about missing home. “If it’s not too much trouble, maybe you can take me for a drive there when the season slows down. I miss coffee at the Laughing Fork.”
“I could do that. When it’s colder, I’ll see what I can do.”
We eat in silence for a moment, both of us clearly hungry, until my uncle breaks the silence.
“Tell me what has you in a knot.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “What? I’m not in a knot.”
“Colt,” he mumbles around a mouthful of rice. “I’ve known you your entire life. I know you. You’re sitting here looking like a constipated ape.”
My mouth falls open.
“Now you look like an outraged trout. Clearly, I’ve hit a button.”
“Of course you did! Didn’t expect to be insulted twice by my uncle when I’m paying for his favorite lunch,” I grumble.
He dabs at his mouth and sits back. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you, but if you need to talk about something, then talk, okay? Nothing you say will go past the two of us.”
I take my time chewing while I allow my irritation at hisbluntness to subside and try to figure out what I even want to say or ask.
“I met someone,” I begin. Uncle Albert leans forward, and I meet his gaze. “It’s new. Like super new, but he…he’s only here for the summer.”
My uncle nods slowly. “And where does he go after the summer?”
“Wherever his next contract takes him. Could be in Fort Collins or across the country.” Oh god, I hope it’s not that far.
“The uncertainty is your concern, then?”
“It is…because I like him and I know, after spending time with him for several months, there’s a very good chance I might more than like him. I don’t know how to deal with this. I can’t stay away because I enjoy his company and have to work with him.”
The truth is, I’m slightly obsessed with Ethan. He’s all I think about, and it might interfere with work soon if I don’t get it under control.
“He works on the ranch? Doing what?”
“He’s a social media guy. Jesse hired him to promote the ranch and reach more people, and then assigned him to me as his go-to contact for all things Snow Creek Ranch.”
“Oh, that’s a smart move from Jesse. Other than the Knox family, you know the ranch best. I don’t know about social media, but I know it’s the place to be. Marjorie always shows me photos of her grandkids on Instagram. Do you have that?”
Laughing, I pull out my phone. “I do! But only a few days ago. A kid from the youth camp showed me.” I click on the little app icon, and my profile photo is still blank. I’ll need to figure that out still. The ranch is only one of two accounts I follow. The other is a fly-tying page I proudly found all by myself and followed.
