Page 94 of Anton

A laugh escapes me, and it feels good. Easier than anything has felt all week.

“It’s not that I don’t want to see her. I love Greer. It’s just, she has this way of getting things out of me. Things I’m not ready to talk about yet.”

“What kind of things?”

“It’s nothing.” I wave a hand. “Just guy stuff. It’s complicated and stupid and was over before it started, and I really don’t want to get into it.” I shake my head. “Sorry. That’s probably more than you wanted to know.”

“No, it’s fine.” He settles deeper into the booth. “For what it’s worth, whoever he is, he sounds like an idiot.”

I huff out a laugh. “He definitely has his moments.”

“You can do better.”

“Well, now you sound like Rue.”

“She’s a smart kid. Maybe you should listen to her.”

“What about you? Do you have someone special?” I pick up my iced tea and take a sip.

“Nah. No one here has caught my eye.” He stares at me a little too long.

I pin my hair behind my ear and switch the subject to something safer, asking about the farm and how he likes working there…

Until Charlie leans back and says, “Can I ask you something? And you can tell me to mind my business.”

“Sure.”

“Why aren’t you involved in the family business?”

“I am.” I jerk my head back.

“Not that business.”

“Oh.” I scratch at my temple, realization dawning. “Right.”

Sometimes I forget the ranch hands know how my family really makes money. They also know what can happen if they run their mouths, which means the people Daddy hires are either loyal, smart, or scared enough to keep quiet. Usually all three.

“I don’t know.” I glance down at the table. “They’ve never really asked me to be a part of it. That’s how it’s always been. To be honest…”

The words float in my head, but I’m nervous to say them out loud.

“What is it?” Charlie leans in, his attention fixed on me.

“It’s just…” I look down at the table. “I never felt like I was one of them.”

My heart beats heavier with the confession, and he nods like he understands.

“It’s like that with my family too. My dad’s a lawyer. One of my brothers followed in his footsteps, and the other is a stockbroker.” He laughs, picking up his water. “Then there’s me. I never really fit in with them, you know?”

“Wow. I didn’t know all that about you.”

He nods. “It’s funny how we can work with people every day and still not really know them.”

“You’re so right.”

In my case, my own family doesn’t even know what I’m hiding. The secret house rental. Anton.

Fuck, there I go thinking about him again.