Page 2 of Home Is Where You Are

His fraternity brother beside him whispered something in his ear, then Kyle’s shocked expression met mine. He moved so fast the girl in his lap fell to the floor.

I didn’t withhold my chuckle as she got the karmic justice she deserved.

“You have got to be kidding me!” I screeched.

“Ainsleigh, I can explain,” Kyle shouted from across the room as he threw the beer bottle into the trash and made his way over to me.

There was nothing to explain. Who knows how long this had been going on? I wasn’t about to let him try to slither his way out of it.

“Don’t even waste your time. I was worried something happened to you, so I came over to make sure you were okay. To my surprise, whoever her name is has been keeping you company just fine. Enjoy your life, Kyle.”

I took one long look at the future I thought I’d have before I turned and walked away.

one

AINSLEIGH

A FEW WEEKS LATER

Inever thought I’d be back in my hometown, let alone for this reason.

Jobless and still wondering what I was meant to do with my life.

Yet, there I was, returning with my tail tucked neatly between my legs.

Everything had been mapped out for me four years ago, with my parents supporting my dreams of going to college only two hours from home. But when I lost her, I lost a huge piece of myself, and I hadn't been able to stand the pitying looks or the quiet whispers that had followed me as I walked down Main Street. I hadn’t been able to stand the heartbreak in the love of my life’s eyes as he tried so hard to have me lean on him so we could overcome our loss together.

I just couldn’t.

Even my family’s ranch, which had always been my solace and safe space, suddenly felt suffocating to me when all I could see was grief.

So, I ran.

My family was devastated when I suddenly left town, but I needed to leave Haven Valley to find myself. Where before, I wanted to stay close and work on the family ranch, I had found myself so badly needing to forge my own path outside of the expectations my family had for me, and that included making a future away from their six-hundred-acre ranch.

But after all this time, I had zero success finding a job, and my time had run out.

I broke myself out of my pity party for once and took in my surroundings. I wasn't sure I’d ever felt as conflicted as I did at that moment, standing in the busy airport.

People bustled around, hurrying to their destinations, greeting loved ones with their warm smiles and hugs. I smiled as a little girl rushed to greet her father, who knelt and caught her in his arms as he pretended to fall over from the sheer force of her running into him. Her childlike laughter filled the room over the sounds of suitcases being pulled across the tile floor. My heart ached at hearing her laugh. There was nothing better than the laughter of a child, but even the sweet sound couldn’t break me from the trepidation I felt at being back in my hometown.

My feet stayed rooted to the spot. I couldn’t make myself move to grab my luggage off the carousel to my right. My heart raced and skin grew clammy as I felt the anxiety sweep through my body. Nervous energy filled me, my body grew hot, and my breaths came harsher and uneven as the panic attack threatened.

If this was the reaction my body and mind had from just being at the airport, I couldn’t imagine how I would react when I finally stepped foot back on the ranch.

The sound of the carousel carrying the luggage from my flight broke me from my thoughts. I shook my head and walked over, waiting for the bright pink suitcase my mama bought me to come into view.

My bag finally came around on the conveyor belt. As I leaned forward to grab it, someone bumped me from behind, causing me to almost fall on the still-moving belt in front of me. A hand wrapped around my waist seconds before I fell face-first. My whole body tensed at the thought of some stranger having his hands on me.

Whoever it was righted my body and made sure I was steady before letting go. A hand reached around and grabbed the luggage that I’d reached for before it got too far out of sight. I brushed down my clothes with shaking hands before I gained the courage to turn around and face my savior.

“Thank you,” I mumbled as I turned around.

“No worries, darlin’. Not goin’ to complain about assistin’ a beautiful woman in need.”

The man smiled as I grabbed the pink suitcase from his grasp.

I smiled up at the stranger. He had a Southern accent, but from the looks of his suit and tie, he was more of the city type.