Page 53 of Thaw My Heart

My leg shakes as I glance at her cabin once more. At war with myself. Debating on calling Sadie to ease my worries. Is that rational? Nothing about how I’m feeling is coherent. Bandit puts his head between my shaking legs, attempting to soothe my anxiety before it tears me apart. I scratch him behind the ears and pull out a cigarette, lighting it up when her truck finally appears over the ridge. Except another truck pulls up behind her. One that I recognize.

What the hell is Blake doing here?

She steps out of her old truck. Fox jumps out after her, running towards her front porch while Sadie approaches Blake’s truck, smiling about something. Too big of a smile. And that’s when I realize he was the one who took Sadie on a date. The burning sensation in my chest is back with force.

“Good morning,” Blake waves to me as Sadie heads to her house. Giving me a smile that pisses me off before driving away.

I wave back as he goes, but it’s half-assed.

“She returns,” I holler from my porch. A cigarette hangs in the corner of my mouth, wafting smoke in my face.

She gazes up at me and flinches. “You smoke?”

Her question catches me off guard. “Sometimes.” Only when I’m stressed or pissed off, like I am right now. “Why?”

What did it matter to her?

She stares at me for a moment as something sad passes behind her eyes. But then she sighs, rolling her shoulders as she recomposes herself back to hatred. “Well, I thought you’d be happy I was gone. Did you get that quiet time you needed, Cowboy?”

I blow out a thick cloud of smoke. “Were you on a date with Blake?” I blurt before I can stop myself.

She shrugs, ignoring me, ascending her porch steps.

“I’ll take that as yes,” I mutter, taking a long drag.

She closes her door after Fox follows her in, and it stirs something hot inside me. After putting out my cigarette in the ashtray, I saunter over to her door, knocking three times with force. I’m sick of being ignored.

“What, Cowboy?” she roughly cracks open the door.

“Did you get the chest X-ray?”

She glances down, biting her lip. “I forgot.”

“You… what?”

She shrugs.

My head starts to throb, jaw clenching tight. The words on her form-fitting T-shirt say, Chase Whiskey, Not Cowboys. Funny because it seems she’s doing the exact opposite. “Yet you had time to go on a date. All goddamn night.”

She purses her lips. “Sounds like you’re jealous.”

I grind my molars. “Grab your coat. We’re going now.”

Her mouth drops. “What?”

“You heard me.”

She laughs, but it’s uneasy. “Look, Cowboy. I’m fine.” She opens the door wider, gesturing to herself. Tight black jeans. Long, thick caramel hair braided in two.

It almost hurts to look at her.

“It’s really not necessary,” she adds.

Tension radiates in my body. I take a few steps back, needing to make some distance. “Fine. Then you’re fired.” If there’s one good thing about being promoted to Ranch Manager, this is it.

“Excuse me?” The happiness in her face deflates. Worry lines crease her forehead.

“You’re fired,” I repeat, and it feels cold, even for me.