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“That’s it for today. I’ll see you guys Saturday morning, and don’t be late. You know how much it pisses me off.”
“You’re not supposed to swear in front of us,” James Walker said, a smile on his face.
“That’s not a cussword. Now get the hell out of here. Tell Mr. Haven I’ll get the bulls put back up in their pens.”
“Bye, Mr. Shaw!” Missy and Gina called out.
I waved but didn’t look at them. “Later.”
It was the same reply I gave all the kids.
Once I had the two bulls our ranch had donated to the school put up and away, I made my way back to the school parking lot. I took my time, since I knew the kids took a while to file out of school and get to their cars.
My phone vibrated with a message. I pulled it out to look at it. My stomach dropped a bit.
Kaylee.
I hadn’t talked to her since the morning of the snowstorm. She’d gone to the doctor, and it turned out she’d only had a bruised tailbone. I’d found out from my mother, who had been over to her place a few times since that morning. I hated that I was avoiding her, and everyone knew I was. Kaylee included. I normally saw her around town, but I had purposely avoided the places I knew I might run into her. I had let myself get dangerously close to giving in to my need for her that morning, and I couldn’t do that again. Not when I knew I wouldn’t be able to give her more, and Kaylee deserved more.
I drew in a deep breath and opened the text message.
Kaylee: A package came to my place addressed to you, it’s too big for me to bring it over to you.
With a frown, I stared at her message. A package? I hadn’t ordered anything.
Me: Who is it from?
Kaylee: I’m not the freaking post office. Come get it and you’ll be sure to find out.
Okay, so she was indeed pissed at me for avoiding her. Best to keep it short and sweet.
Me: I’ll be by in a bit to pick it up.
She didn’t reply, which was fine by me. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with bickering back and forth on text messages. The memories of that morning before my dad and Tanner showed up still rocked me to my core.
Once I got into my truck and started it, I called Brock.
“Hey, big brother, how was the class today?”
I groaned. “It would be fine if they stuck to the lesson for the day.”
He laughed.
I added, “Did you happen to order something big that might have gone to Kaylee’s house?”
“No. Let me ask Lincoln if she did. Are you heading back to the ranch now?”
“Well, I had another errand to run but thought if the package was yours, it might be better for you to go and get it.”
“She’s still pissed at you?” Brock asked.
“Of course she is—it’s Kaylee we’re talking about.”
He sighed. “Ty, the two of you need to talk about what almost happened.”
It was my turn to sigh as I scrubbed my hand down my face, then stroked the stubble on my chin. I hadn’t felt like shaving this morning, so I had a heavy five-o’clock shadow going on.
I’d told Brock about what had almost happened between me and Kaylee, and about how, by the grace of God, our father and Tanner had shown up and stopped anything from progressing between us.
“Nothing happened, so why talk about it?”
“You do know that sometimes you’re a real asshole?”
“Yes, I do, and that’s why it’s better to keep my relationship with Kaylee as nothing more than friends.”
“And that’s what you truly want?”
No.
“Yes.”
“You always were a terrible liar, Ty.”
“Can you just ask your wife about the package?”
I heard the screen door open and shut. “Hey, baby, did you order anything big that might have gone to Kaylee’s house?”
Blayze was in the background, laughing. He and Lincoln must have been outside enjoying the nicer weather.
“Is Morgan sleeping?”
“Yeah, she’s been taking longer naps lately. It’s been kind of nice, I’m not gonna lie.”
I chuckled.
“Lincoln said she hasn’t ordered anything.”
“Shit,” I mumbled. “Did you want to head on over and pick it up?”
“Who’s it from?”
“I don’t know—she wouldn’t tell me. Said something about her not being the post office.”
He laughed. The fact that he found any of this amusing pissed me off.
“I’m glad you think this is funny, Brock.”
“Sorry, dude, but it is. If only you would just—”
“I’ve got to go. Talk to you later.”
I hung up before he could say anything more about talking shit out, then tossed my phone down. “Shit.”
I put the truck in drive and headed back to the ranch. When I got to the driveway that led down to Kaylee’s house, I almost didn’t make the turn, my nerves getting the best of me.
