Page 4 of Together Is Where We Belong

It was no wonder the universe had my tire go flat at the very moment I neared closer to his family’s ranch.

I leaned over and pulled my phone out of my bag. A black screen stared back at me as I pushed the side button.

Just great.

I rummaged around the car to try to find the charger that always seemed to mysteriously go missing only to come up empty.

I never allowed my phone to die, but today just went from worse to even worse.

I rested my head against the headrest and tried to come up with a plan to get this tire changed. It was hot as Hades outside, and I didn’t look forward to having to be out in the sweltering Texas heat to change the tire.

You can do this, Carolina, I said to myself as I leaned forward and prayed that this tire didn’t give me much of a fit.

Just as I was about to get out of the vehicle, the glint of light reflecting in my rearview mirror caught my attention. My eyes moved to the reflection, and I noticed a truck pulling up behind me in my rearview mirror.

Thank goodness. One good thing about small towns was that everyone looked out for each other.

I waited in my SUV as the person got out of the truck. I watched the man walk up and had to blink twice before it finally dawned on me who approached.

There was no way the universe hated me this much.

Walking toward me was none other than Leo Courtright.

I panicked as I looked around the SUV. Thankfully, Luke wasn’t with me.

I tried to throw one of the many blankets on my floorboard over the booster seat but failed in my attempt.

Just as I turned around, Leo was at my window.

With shaky hands, I pushed the button to roll the window down. This wasn’t how I pictured seeing him again would go. But I needed his help if I didn’t want to be out here for hours trying to change this tire. I’d never had to change one before, but I knew how.

“Hey there,” he said as he leaned down and rested his hands on my door. He hadn’t realized it was me just yet.

“Hey, Leo,” I managed to choke out, watching his face as recognition finally set in on who he’d stopped to help. His brows furrowed, the smile he had now gone only to be replaced with a scowl.

“Carolina,” he gritted out. His hands tightened around the door as he stared at me. So much hatred marred his expression. One thing that hadn’t changed was the baby blue color of his eyes. Eyes I used to get lost in.

“I…” I started to speak but was at a loss for words. I couldn’t believe Leo stood before me. After not seeing him for eight years, I noticed not much about him had changed. He still wore flannel shirts even though it was sweltering outside with jeans and cowboy boots. I knew he wore them for protection, but I couldn’t imagine having to wear them in these hot Texas temperatures.

“I see you have a flat. You need help changin’ it?” He spoke in that Southern drawl I never forgot.

“You don’t have to do that. I can manage,” I replied, my voice shaking with nerves. I turned away from him to make sure the necklace I wore was hidden. I didn’t need him seeing the evidence that I hadn’t forgotten about him just yet.

“My mama would never let me live it down if she found out I didn’t help. You got a spare in the back?” he asked as if he was talking to a stranger and not the girl who'd broke his heart.

I noticed how he took in the sight of me, his eyes zeroing in on the rings on my left hand. Rings I only wore to ward off men, much good that ever did.

Thank goodness all that was in the back were some groceries because I didn’t want to have to lug out numerous boxes to get to the spare and jack.

“If you insist. I’ll just help you get the groceries out of the way,” I said as I went to open the door.

Leo walked toward the back of the SUV as I got out and followed him. I opened the hatch, pulled out a few bags of groceries, and walked to the back door to set them inside.

After I finished moving the bags, I went to the back of the SUV to find Leo had already pulled out the jack and spare and rolled the tire to the side of the road.

He dropped the tire, and it flopped back and forth a few times before it settled on the ground.

My heart pounded in my chest as I watched him effortlessly jack the vehicle into the air. I needed to say something, but I stood there stock-still as I watched him.