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Turning, he started back for the house. I stood there, staring at him. My eyes stung as I forced to keep my tears back.
“Okay, so I might be wrong here, but shouldn’t couples who just got engaged be all over each other, kissing and hugging?” I smiled at the sound of my cousin Liberty’s voice.
“Liberty,” I said as she walked toward me. She looked like she had just gone horseback riding.
“Oh, my gosh. You are a vision of Aunt Waylynn!”
Laughing, she pulled me into her arms. “You do know I’m adopted, right?”
I hit her lightly on the shoulder. “You still look like her. A mini version.”
Her eyes sparkled. “I saw Uncle Rip a few minutes ago.”
“Really?” I asked, looking around. “What was he doing?”
“He was in with the horses when I got back from my ride. Looked like he was saddling up Daddy’s bay to go riding.”
My heart leapt a little in my chest. Oh, how I loved going on rides with Rip around the ranch. The way we would race across the pastures. Settling under that old oak tree of ours while the horses grazed, talking about all the plans we had for after we graduated college.
“Hey, are you okay? You got a really sad look on your face just now.”
“I’m fine. Sorry. I guess the little argument with Easton got to me.”
“He’s cute,” Liberty said, looking off in the direction Easton had stormed off.
“Yes, he is.”
“There are way better-looking guys here, though.”
Lifting my brow, I leaned in and said, “Do tell, Liberty.”
Her cheeks turned pink. “I’m not talking about guys my age. I’m talking about guys like Uncle Rip. I always thought y’all would end up together.”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “Well, apparently everyone but Rip thought that.”
“Ouch. Watch out, Chloe. There was a little bit of bitterness in those words.”
“You’re fifteen, Liberty. How would you know what bitterness is?”
She threw her head back and laughed. “You have been gone awhile. I need to go so I’m not late for the dinner we’re throwing in your honor.”
“Okay, see you soon.”
Liberty lifted her hand and waved as she walked off. “In case you care, he rode off toward the south pasture.”
“I don’t!”
“Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”
I groaned and headed back toward the party. I took one quick look over my shoulder and toward the south pasture. Surely Rip wouldn’t miss my dinner. He just wouldn’t.
Rip
CROSSING MY LEGS in the shade of the old tree and leaning back against the trunk, I tipped the whiskey flask back and drank as I stared at the swing. I had changed out the wood a few weeks ago to a newer piece.
Ranger, my brother’s horse, was walking around grazing as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
“You ever been in love, Ranger?”
The bay lifted his head and silently answered.
“Yeah, it does suck. What do you think I should do? Tell her not to marry him? Maybe finally confess I love her, that I’ve always loved her, but fucked up and was too chicken shit to make it right?”
Ranger stared at me.
I let out a grunt and took another drink. “She’s marrying him.”
Ranger nickered.
“My feelings, as well. I can’t tell her how I feel, though. She’s obviously in love with him. I mean, she’s walking away from Oak Springs to be with him. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.”
Ranger walked up and grazed right next to where I was sitting.
“This was our spot. We would come here and talk for hours. She told me when we were around five she wanted to get married here…to me.”
Nausea hit me as I imagined Chloe standing under this tree exchanging her vows with Easton.
Fucking prick didn’t deserve her.
Taking another drink of whiskey, I leaned my head back. My eyes closed, and I tried like hell to think about anything other than Chloe and that ring on her finger.
The sounds of a running horse woke me. I jumped up and whistled for Ranger. He was looking toward the north. I turned and saw someone riding up on a horse.
“Jonathon?”
He damn near ran me over before he pulled back on the reins.
“What in the fuck are you doing, Rip?”
I looked up at him in shock. “What do you mean?”
“You’re out here getting drunk while everyone is back there celebrating Chloe’s graduation.”
“And engagement, don’t forget that part.”
He rolled his eyes and slid off the horse.
“How much did you have to drink?”
“Not enough.”
“Listen, I may be your older brother, but I’m your friend, too. Talk to me. What is going on?”
I laughed. “What’s going on? Hell, I don’t know, big brother. I’ve fucked up my entire life.”
“You have not fucked up your entire life.”
“You do know that I haven’t finished school. I have two classes left. Dad still hardly talks to me.”
“Then fucking finish the online classes, Rip.”
