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Carl grunted like he was constipated. “She told me Aspyn showed up for work today.”
“So she came out of hiding? I wonder why Perri didn’t call me.”
“I don’t think she wants to get in the middle of you and Aspyn,” he said, the unease in his voice damn obvious.
“That’s fine, Carl. She doesn’t need to. This isn’t for you or her to worry about. I’ll fix this shit.”
“I’m sorry, bro. I wish it didn’t have to be so hard.”
I barked out a laugh. “You’re the man who took 13 years to propose. I don’t know if I want your pity, you slow son of a bitch.”
Carl responded with a hearty laugh of his own. “Damn, bro. You’re right. Joe’s the only one of us who did this shit right and quick.”
“That’s because he got with someone from outside Livingston. These Livingston women are too damn stubborn. Like God’s trying to teach us a lesson.”
“I hear that.”
I turned the key, and my truck’s engine roared to life. “I’m gonna head home and take a shower. Tomorrow, I’m just gonna go straight to work on the fence.”
“That’s fine. The new ranch hand is handling the feeding and whatnot fine enough.”
“Glad to hear.”
“Talk to you tomorrow, bro. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” I hung up.
A few minutes of driving brought me to my house.
When I stepped inside, the silence chilled me. It wasn’t what I wanted at all: a big, empty house with no love and no warmth. I’d bought it for a family.
I slammed the door behind me. The chill gave way to fire in my veins. My pulse roared in my ears.
“Fuck,” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
I turned and slammed my fist into the hard wood of the front door. My knuckles throbbed, but I welcomed the pain, welcomed the distraction.
Yeah, I knew I’d screwed up after my accident, but since coming back to town, I’d thought I’d done everything right. Made all the right moves.
I punched the door again, another spike of pain shooting through my arm.
Would Aspyn get over her problem? It was hard to be sure anymore. I stood by the door, my breathing ragged, my hand throbbing from the blows.
No matter what, I wouldn’t let her take my daughter from me. I wasn’t going to be a dick about it, but there was no way I’d let my daughter grow up without spending time with her.
I’d involve lawyers if I needed. Lord knew I had enough money for a few suited sharks.
A dark snicker escaped my lips, and I headed upstairs to hit the master bathroom. I needed to wash the dust and grime of the day off me.
Lawyers couldn’t get me Aspyn back. The question remained if I should even fight for her.
I’d convinced myself I’d been a coward before, but now I didn’t know.
Pride was part of being a man too. She couldn’t treat me like a little bitch because I’d saved some money. I did what a good man was supposed to do.
I resisted the urge to punch a nearby wall. I didn’t care about the pain, but I didn’t want to put a hole through a
damn wall I’d just painted.
