Page 69 of Together Is Where We Belong

Opening the messages, I found my brothers and Gentry razzing me for missing morning chores.

Holden

Hey, sleepyhead. Wake up and get your butt to work.

Brooks

Just where were you this morning? Hmmm…

Gentry

You okay?

Holden

You owe me for mucking your stalls this morning and brushing down Bullseye.

He’d never let me live it down for having to do my share. Maybe once he found out the cause, he’d think differently.

Brooks

It’s not like you not to be at work by now. You’re startin’ to worry us.

Gentry

Just let us know you’re okay or you know we’ll head over there.

Bubbles appeared in the group chat between us all.

I typed out a response, so they’d stop the frantic messages.

I’m okay. I can’t come in today. We all need to talk as soon as possible.

My phone instantly rang just as I walked out the front door and double checked that it was locked.

My eyes scanned up and down the street making sure nothing was off as I walked back to Carolina’s house.

I answered the phone just as it was about to go to voicemail, Brooks’ name on the screen.

“Hello,” I said as I walked up the front porch steps to Carolina’s house.

“What’s goin’ on? Gentry’s gettin’ the ranch hands to do the tour we were about to set off on, and we’re all headin’ that way soon,” Brooks asked. I couldn’t get into this over the phone. I had to tell them in person. I knew the second I said I had to talk they would all be frantic because they knew I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.

“I can’t get into it right now. I’m about to walk back into Carolina’s house. Stay at the ranch. We can talk later,” I whispered as I walked back into her house, hating that I left the door unlocked even for the ten minutes it took me to get back here.

“It’s already done, bro. We’ll be there shortly,” he said and hung up before I could object again.

I looked through the house, softly opening the doors to each room, checking for any unwanted guests when I heard an alarm going off in Carolina’s room.

I checked in on Luke to find him still sleeping soundly in his bed. Closing the door softly, I walked back down the hall and made a pot of coffee. If she'd slept anything like I did, she’d need the caffeine boost.

Carolina’s footsteps sounded down the hall, and I turned and leaned against the counter to wait for her to come into the room.

“You’re still here,” she said with a yawn as she put her hand to her chest.

She looked beautiful even with her hair still messy from sleep and still in the nightshirt and shorts she’d had on the night before.

“Yeah, I’m still here,” I told her.