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“Hey, are you almost done? We’re leaving for the hospital in about thirty minutes.”
I sigh inwardly and bite down on my bottom lip. “Oh, erm, I thought I’d stay here. I can see Lib and Annie when they get home.”
He’s silent for a few seconds, but I can hear him walking, so I know the call hasn’t dropped. “Where are you?”
“In the stables, why?”
“Hang on.” The line goes silent again before the call ends. I frown and walk out of the tack room, only to see Jack walking toward me.
“What’s going on, Aria?” he asks, coming to stand in front of me, his hand reaching for mine.
“What do you mean?” My eyes drop to the floor, and I feel his fingers under my chin, gently forcing my head up to meet his gaze. “Talk to me. You were so excited to see Annie, and I know Libby wants to see you.”
“I do want to see Annie. Libby too. I just wanted to give you some space with Zara…” I trail off and look anywhere but at him. “You looked like you had a lot to talk about. I don’t want to get in the way.”
“Hey.” He squeezes my hand. “You would never be in the way.” He steps closer and presses his lips against mine. “I know what you’re thinking. She’s not coming to the hospital.”
“She’s not?”
“God, no. Lib hates her.”
I can’t help but laugh as I drop my head onto his chest. “Is she with Jacob?”
“No. My parents have him. She’s trying to find a place to stay.”
I lift my head and look at him in surprise. “She flew all the way out here with nowhere to stay?”
“Seems that way. I really think she thought she’d just turn up here and we’d pick up where we left off.”
“Let’s go and see Lib,” I say, wanting to change the subject. Seems like my hunch that she wants another shot with him was right. “I just need a quick shower. I stink.”
“You look beautiful.”
“I look a mess!”
“Maybe I could wash your back?” he whispers, and I shiver as his hot breath hits the skin beneath my ear.
“I think we’ll miss visiting hours all together if you do that.” He chuckles and takes my hand, leading me out of the stables and across to the house.
My hand is still encased in his as we walk through the front door and into the entryway. I can hear Zara on the phone in the kitchen, and I drop Jack’s hand and head upstairs. After a quick shower, I pull on some clean shorts and a tank and make my way back downstairs. I can hear voices coming from the kitchen, and as I walk in, Zara, who has her phone pressed to her ear, scowls when she sees me.
“What’sshedoing here?” Zara asks, her hand covering the mouthpiece on the phone.
“Aria lives here, not that it’s anything to do with you,” Jack replies, crossing the room and wrapping his arm around me. I smile as Jacob makes his way to me and holds his arms up. I pick him up and put him on my hip. I don’t miss the look of disgust that Zara flashes me when she sees me with Jacob.
“Can you suggest anywhere that might have any rooms?” she asks into the phone, finally dragging her eyes off me. She sighs loudly before pulling the phone from her ear and ending the call.
“Everywhere is booked. There’s some town fair on at the end of the week and there are no rooms anywhere.”
“I’ll have to speak to Aunt Claire when we’re back from the hospital,” Jack says with a sigh. “They might have a cabin free. I doubt it though. It’s their busiest time of the year.”
“We need to go,” Emma says from across the room, and Jack nods.
“You should explore the ranch while we’re gone, Zara. It’s really beautiful here,” I tell her, determined to be as civil as I can.
She looks at me like I’m crazy. “God, it’s too hot for that. I’ll just wait here.”
“Okay,” I mutter, walking past her and out of the kitchen with Jacob still on my hip. I can feel her eyes burning into my back, and I know I should feel sorry for her. I have a better relationship with her son than she does, and that’s got to hurt, but I can’t get past the fact that she’s a bitch.
