“I don’t mind bragging.”
I’m still smiling that I did it, and it wasn’t too scary. Definitely harder than I thought it would be, but I stayed on. The best part wasn’t getting the T-shirt, though. It was when Colt swooped me into his arms and planted the biggest kiss on me in front of the entire bar.
After grabbing our coats, we head outside to Colt’s truck. On this late summer night, the chill in the air reminds me how little time I have left here if my plan doesn’t come together.
The streets of Chance are quiet at this hour; the businesses closed up hours ago. The lights flicker on a few store signs as we drive through town. When the sign for the city park comes closer, I nudge Colt.
“Can we stop at the park and skip rocks?”
Colt glances my way before slowing and making the turn.
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not yet.”
Without another word, Colt parks and takes my hand as we walk through the darkened path until we stand on the riverbank.The moon isn’t as bright as the last time we were here, but it’s enough. Colt hunts for rocks, and instead of skipping them himself, he places them in my coat pockets.
“You’re not skipping any?”
He shakes his head. “You’re the one with all the thoughts tonight. I’ll fill your pockets with stones, and you can skip as long as you want. I’ll wait.”
I’ll wait.
Next to I love you earlier, it’s probably the best phrase to pass through his lips tonight.
Chapter 17
Colt
Watching Ethan skip rocks in the river is almost as calming as when I do it.
It’s been an amazing evening, and I still feel a little off knowing I’ve confessed my love to him, but I’ve never been more sure. As soon as the words crossed my lips, it felt like the easiest thing to speak out loud.
I’ve never been in love before. That feeling everyone talks about in books and movies has eluded me my entire life. Until Ethan.
Ethan, the man from the city who’d never ridden a horse or camped in a tent. The man who lived a life online more than in person. We couldn’t be more opposite if we tried. But by some miracle, we connect in ways I can’t explain. It’s not just the sex. There’s so much more to Ethan than that.
His rock skipping needs work. The stone plops in the water with a splash, and he stands motionless on the edge of the river. I want so badly to pull him into my arms and tell him we’ll make it work no matter what, but I don’t live in a fantasy world. I know we have some obstacles ahead, and I’m hopeful we’ll get past them.
I deserve it. I’m more convinced of that now that Ethan has been in my space for several months. He deserves it, too.
“Would you…If I can’t find work nearby…would you wait for me?” Ethan turns toward me in the darkness and stuffs his hand in his pockets that are now empty of skipping rocks. “I know it’s a big ask, and I understand if it’s too much.”
“I would.” My reply is instant and truthful. I don’t need to think about it. He’s what I want.
“When you said you had looked for jobs away from the ranch, I admit it shocked me to hear that. I can’t see you working anywhere else or being anywhere else. Chance is where you should be. The ranch is your world.”
Stepping closer to him, the moonlight casts a glow on his face, revealing a sad expression that wasn’t there before. I don’t like how it’s so drastically different from his earlier joy after finally riding the mechanical bull.
“What changed?” I ask and cup his cheek with my palm. His lashes flutter as he closes his eyes with a shaky breath. “A half hour ago, you were positive things would work out, and now you’re asking me if I’ll wait for you. Talk to me, Ethan.”
His chest heaves, and he presses his cheek into my hand. His lips tremble before he swallows and speaks with his eyes still closed.
“I thought I had it figured out. Really. Until I started thinking of you giving your life up for me, and…” Ethan slowly exhales. “You really mean it. That overwhelms me because nobody has ever put me first like that before. I just…I’m freaking out a little because what if I make a mistake? What if this is just another infatuation and I blow up my career? I might not be happy with my career, but it’s what I have. The enormity of what I’m about to do just hit me, and I’m freaking out.”
He finally opens hiseyes, and my god, I can’t help myself. I kiss him there in the moonlight on the riverbank and hope he understands I’m with him no matter what.
“Ethan,” I murmur against his lips. “I mean everything I say. I love you, and I’ll wait for you if needed. We’ll sort this out.”
