Page 64 of Thaw My Heart

“Hi, there. I’m Candace.” A woman with fiery red hair approaches me. She’s about my height, with an adorable face covered in tiny freckles. “I don’t think we’ve met before.”

“Sadie,” I smile.

“Right, yes, I’ve heard of you,” she smiles, swaying side to side. “Blake has many nice things to say about you.” Pink blooms in her cheeks.

Her words sit like a rock in my gut. “So, what do you do on the ranch?” I avert the conversation.

“I’m a cowgirl, just like you. I work with Hudson a lot, and sometimes Ryker.”

“I don’t think I’ve met Hudson.”

She points to a blonde cowboy sitting across the room. I recognize him from the day the cows decided to go swimming in the river. He was riding with Kit. “Oh, yeah. I’ve seen him before.”

“Have you met the other cowgirls?” Candace gestures to a table full of three other girls gathered around with bright smiles. Sierra, Kinley, and the blonde girl who was eyeing off Kit this morning, named Leah.

“Briefly.”

“You should join us,” Candace smiles. “There’s always so much testosterone on this ranch, but our table is cool.”

Candace seems like a nice girl, and a part of me really wants to. To make new friends… but Leah’s eyes are still on Kit. And it looks as if the other girls are gossiping about him, pointing and smiling in his direction.

Which is not what I need today.

“That’s sweet, Candace. I truly appreciate the offer, but I already promised to sit with Blake.” I gesture to him, finding him sitting at the corner table.

With Kit.

Well, fuck me.

“Oh, okay,” she responds, but she seems disappointed. “Well, come join us if you change your mind.”

With a deep exhale, I make my way to the table, setting down three beer cans. One for Blake, one for me, and a peace offering for Kit. Blake thanks me, but Kit just stares at the can like I poisoned it.

Which, sadly, I did not.

“It’s just beer, Cowboy. I promise,” I assure him, but he’s still frozen. “You still like Budweiser, don’t you?” From our one night at the bar, I still remember his order. Did he suddenly decide he hates that, too?

“I do,” he murmurs, and his eyes finally meet mine.

A smile tugs in the corner of my mouth, trying to make peace between us. Seems like a great holiday to try. To try and accept his apology for being a complete ass to me in front of his family. Besides, he finally admitted he doesn’t want me to leave. Words I needed to hear him say, but I’m not sure if he meant it.

He swiftly stands and walks away, leaving the beer can behind.

Seriously? My nostrils flare as I crack open my can, taking a generous sip.

“I think he’s just stressed about being the Ranch Manager,” Blake defends, noticing my anger.

Yeah, that and he can’t stand the sight of me.

You exist, Sadie. And that’s enough.

His cold words echo in my mind.

“It doesn’t matter,” I slam the can on the wooden table. “We’ll have much more fun without him.” It does matter to me, but I’ll keep pretending like it doesn’t. It hurts too much to think about, and I don’t want to spend one more Thanksgiving crying.

Blake’s gaze drifts along my face before holding up his beer can in cheers. “Happy Thanksgiving.”

I bring my can to his with a bright smile on my face, repeating the same back to him as Ryker, Hudson, and Wes, who is another Foreman on the ranch, sit with us. Wes is the oldest out of them all, probably mid-forties, with strands of grey peppered into his facial hair. He has the kind of charm you’d expect in an older cowboy.