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The moment I saw him pulling out his phone, I knew what he was doing. Nausea rolled through my stomach, and I almost went after him.
I waited for Ty to turn around, to give me one last look, but he didn’t. He pushed the door open and walked out.
My hand instinctively went to my mouth in an attempt not to call out his name.
What if that had been Ty’s attempt at telling me he wanted something more, and I had let my pride and anger push him away?
Oh God, what did I do?
“Kaylee, you shouldn’t be standing on the dance floor all alone. Where did Ty go?”
The sound of Channing’s voice only added to the guilt I was already feeling. I forced a smile before turning and facing him. “He got a phone call and needed to leave.”
“Dance with me again?”
“I’m sorry, Channing. I need to check on the food and then hunt down Dirk, my date.”
It looked like he winced, maybe at the reminder that I had actually come with another man and that he had come with a date of his own. The girl who’d been flirting with Dirk. What were the odds of that?
“Enjoy yourself, though!” I said, keeping my voice light and airy. The moment I spotted Dirk, I made a beeline for him.
He was at the table with Brock and Lincoln, holding Morgan. Even she was taken with him. Just like she had been with Ty. She was a smart girl and loved her uncles so. When I’d looked over earlier and saw Ty holding Morgan, I’d nearly fallen into a fit of tears.
I had no idea what in the world was going on with me; my emotions were all over the place. Case in point: the closer I got to the table, the angrier I got.
No. I knew exactly why my emotions were zipping along on the roller-coaster ride of emotion.
Ty. Shaw.
“Dirk, I need to talk to you.”
Brock’s phone beeped, and he looked down at it. Then his face turned white as a ghost. “Holy shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Lincoln and Dirk asked.
I, on the other hand, felt like there was a lump in my throat.
Brock looked over at Dirk. “Did you know about the job offer from CBS?”
Dirk nodded. “I was the one who presented it to him earlier this evening. Why?”
Brock looked back down at his phone, then scrubbed his hand over his face. “Ty just texted me he’s leaving for New York City in the morning to meet with CBS about a possible commentary job on the Unleash the Beast Tour.”
“What? Ty’s leaving Hamilton? The ranch?” Lincoln’s gaze snapped over to me.
“I can’t believe it,” Brock said, utter disbelief in his voice.
Dirk set his beer down. “Looks like he’s ready for a change.”
I shot a look in his direction, but he chose to ignore it.
“My dad’s going to be fucking heartbroken. I mean, he’ll be happy for Ty. Both Mom and Dad will, of course.”
“Maybe this will be a good thing for him?” Lincoln offered.
Right at that moment, Tanner walked up. “Dude, did you get a text from Ty?”
Brock nodded his head. “Yeah, looks like he’s going to entertain it this time.”
“This time?” Lincoln asked, a confused expression on her face.
“Yeah, CBS approached him before about it, but Ty turned them down,” Brock answered.
A million things raced through my mind. Would this mean Tanner would have to stay and help on the ranch? Surely not. They could hire someone like they had before, when Ty was on the PBR tour. How long would Ty be gone? Days? Weeks?
More importantly, how many women would be throwing themselves at him?
My hand went to my stomach, and I fought to hold down the urge to puke at that last thought.
Then I felt all eyes on me. I swallowed hard and met Dirk’s gaze.
“Excuse me.” I was barely able to get the words out without my voice cracking. I quickly turned and walked as fast as I could in my Louis Vuitton pumps.
The moment I walked out onto the patio, I dragged in a deep breath. Seconds later, I felt someone standing behind me.
“Want to talk about it?” Dirk asked.
I shook my head.
“Okay. Want me to hold you while you cry?”
I turned and walked into his outstretched arms. “It’s all my fault, Dirk. He’s leaving because of me.”
“Shh, that’s not true, Kaylee.”
It was true. The look on his face when I’d mentioned Channing . . . I’d never be able to forget it.
I groaned into Dirk’s tux as he gently swayed in a rocking motion side to side. His attempt to make things better.
“Brock and Tanner are going to hate me. Oh my God, Stella and Ty Senior will never forgive me!”
Dirk pulled back and looked down at me. “Kaylee, listen to me. Ty does what Ty wants to do. He always has, he always will. And as far as his family goes, they have always supported their sons in whatever they’ve wanted to do. Maybe this is a good thing for Ty.”
