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I nod, halfway wondering that myself but believe it is. “It’s enough right now.” My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I see it’s a text from Zoey telling me to meet her at the B&B in an hour. “I gotta go. I love you, Ma.” I give her a kiss on the cheek, grab the extra food, and leave. On the drive home, all I can do is smile, because I know my parents care enough about me to support what makes me happy.
I stack the containers in the fridge, jump in the shower, and wash away the grease and dirt from my day. As I’m leaving, Diesel saunters in looking exhausted as hell. He stupidly volunteered to help brand cattle today, which is hard as fuck, but he loves it.
“Oh look, it’s my best friend I never see anymore,” he says smugly, walking past me. “Bros before hoes!” He goes to the kitchen and grabs a beer, then plops down on the couch in his dirty, cow shit smelling clothes.
“Dude! You stink like ass, and you’re sitting on our furniture.” I walk over and kick his muddy boots off the coffee table.
He bursts out into a hefty laugh. “I do, don’t I? I should probably shower and call your sister since you won’t hang out with me anymore.”
Pretty sure he says things like that just to see the steam blow from my ears. “I’ll kick your ass!”
He puckers his lip and shrugs as if that consequence isn’t a good enough reason to stay away. “I’d deserve it because I don’t know boundaries, if you know what I mean.” He waggles his eyebrows at me, smirking like a dipshit.
“That’s fine. Just let my dad find out. That second son card will be revoked so quick,” I warn, but he’s waving me off and chuckling.
“Seriously, though, I don’t blame you for ditching me. If Zoey was here for me, I’d call in sick every day from blue balls.” Diesel shakes his head. “Don’t know how you’re surviving.”
“It’s only been a week,” I retort, though I’m wondering the same thing. “But I gotta run. She’s waiting for me. And stay away from my sister.” I jab my finger hard into his chest. “I’m serious.”
“We’ll see,” he taunts. “Don’t you want me as a brother-in-law?” He proceeds to kick off his dirty boots, dried mud falling on the floor.
“Hell no,” I say with a smirk. “That’ll be the day hell freezes over.”
He shrugs. “Imma make you an uncle one day!”
“Fuck off!” I yell before I leave.
Diesel knows exactly what to say to get under my skin. I’ve always been so damn protective of Rowan and hate that I can’t keep her away from all the assholes when she’s at college. Protecting her isn’t something I can do forever, and even though it might be useless, I can at least try to scare Diesel and any other local guys away. Rowan’s a grown ass woman and will do what she wants either way.
I listen to the pop station on the way over to the B&B, which reminds me of when Zoey and I danced in Vegas at the clubs, and when we slow danced at the Honky Tonk. I smile when I see her walking outside as I pull up and park.
“It’s almost as if you have a husband tracker on me or something,” I say once I pull her into my arms, then slant my mouth over hers. She moans, and I don’t know how much longer I can hold back. Just being around her lights a fire inside me, and it’s about to burn me alive.
“I missed you,” she admits, grinning. Hearing her say that is music to my ears.
I tilt her chin up and smile. “I missed you too, wifey.” It’s so easy being with her. I wish I could freeze time, and things could always feel this way.
“I really want to show you something!” Excitement fills her voice as she grabs my hand and leads the way.
As I glance over at her, a smile splits my face at how natural this feels as we walk past the horse barn toward the back of the property where Mila’s gardens are happily growing. She points to the little sign at the end of the row. I bend down and read it. Arizona Row. Zoey points out the three rows of vegetables that she planted and how the seedlings are already growing.
“Look at all of them.” She spins around proudly. “They germinated quickly. Mila says I have a green thumb.”
I move closer to her, and she wraps her arms around my neck. “That’s great, sweetheart. I can’t wait to eat them, whatever they are.”
She kisses me on my nose before breaking away, pointing out all the different vegetables she planted and how you can tell what it is by the shape of the leaves. Seeing her so happy like this makes me confident that she’s not going anywhere. I don’t even want to bring it up, but I know the clock is ticking, and soon, a decision will need to be made. I just hope it’s the right one for both of us.
