Page 59 of Broken Boundaries

I finish the rest of my food as quickly as I can. As much as I normally love being around Brooks, tonight has been a lot for me, and I’d like to be by myself to process this. After he kissed me, I thought… Well, I certainly didn’t think he was going to regret it. So this almost feels like another breakup to me.

“Thank you for dinner. I should go.” I stand to go wash my plate, but he stops me by grabbing my wrist. We both look to where his fingers are wrapped as if touching me is going to make us both combust.

He pulls his hand back. “I’ve got the plate. Don’t worry about it.”

“Alright. See you tomorrow?”

He gives me a small smile. “See you tomorrow.”

Once I’m back in my cabin with the door locked, I finally let all of my pent-up emotions out. I can’t believe I’m crying over another Calloway man. What has my life become?

CHAPTER 22

Brooks

It feels like a brick is on my chest when I wake up. Last night was hard. I hate that I did what I did to Aspen. She doesn’t deserve any of this. I took advantage of a situation, and I feel terrible about it.

I’m grateful she handled it as well as she did, but I still feel like the biggest jackass. Maybe I should have told her to find a new place to live. That probably would’ve been the smartest thing. But the thought of her not being in the cabin didn’t sit right with me. Maybe it’s my loneliness talking, but I like knowing she’s there. I like being able to cook for her and take her food. I like knowing that if she needs anything, I’m only a few steps away.

Even if that means I have to see her dating someone else.

I force myself out of bed and into the shower. Afterward, I get dressed, eat breakfast, and pretend this is just a regular day. Like before I kissed her and screwed everything up. I’ll see her at the Lodge. Maybe I’ll get her lunch. Hell, maybe I’ll even ask her if she wants to go riding again tonight. If I pretend everything is normal, then maybe we can both move past this like adults.

Except I remember the way her lips felt on mine. The way she grabbed me and pulled me in closer.

No.

Stop it.

I have to get the thought out of my mind.

Grabbing my keys and my hat, I make my way to the front door and freeze when I see Zach getting out of his car in my driveway. He looks confused as he looks from my house to Aspen’s car in front of the cabin.

It must’ve slipped my mind to tell him that I offered her a place to stay. Or maybe I thought I would be safe since he hasn’t set foot over here in years.

“Mornin’, Zach,” I say, like it’s the most normal thing in the world for him to be here this early.

“Is that Aspen’s car?” he asks in lieu of a greeting.

“Yeah. Yeah, it is.”

“Why is it there?”

“She’s, uh, been living in the cabin.”

“For how long?”

Before I can answer, the door to the cabin opens, and Aspen comes out. Every time I see her, it takes my breath away a little. She’s in jeans and a Moonlight Ranch T-shirt, and her curls are down today. My favorite.

She stops when she sees us. “Oh, good morning.”

“How long have you been living here?” Zach asks her.

“Since I moved out of our apartment.”

“Are you kidding me?” He looks back at me. “Dad, I asked you so many times if you knew where she was living.”

“Hey!” Aspen yells, walking closer to him. “I asked him not to say anything. Where I live is no longer your business.”