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“You did, babe. You’re the best.” She leaned over the table and hugged Olivia, only just nearly missing getting a shirtful of fajita, sour cream, and guacamole. I pulled the platter out of the way just in time. “Always looking out for me.”
“Sisters for life. Always.”
Looking at the two of them, my chest squeezed. I’d always wanted that kind of friendship. Family. People, I’d always just wanted people who’d be there for me.
Maybe when I got to Austin. Maybe I could finally start to build a little tribe for myself. Found family, that was what they called it, right? Or was that just another dream, something other people were able to have, but not me. Maybe I just wasn’t built for it.
When Ruth pulled back, she looked at me. “Even then, that bastard still tried to turn it around on me. He said I had unrealistic expectations and that this was what all guys were really like and it was better I get used to it now.”
She huffed out a laugh. “It just never even occurred to him with his giant ego that I wouldn’t be okay with that and that I’d break up with him.”
“Yeah, no,” I murmured. “Guys like that don’t do well with rejection.”
“Oh, so you know the type?”
I nodded. “Really well, actually. They’re fine until you challenge them, then all hell breaks loose.”
She nodded, frowning. “Yeah, exactly like that.”
“Well, here’s to cutting all the douchebags out of our lives, ladies!” Olivia raised her almost-empty margarita glass. “Huzzah!”
“Down with the douchebags!” Ruth lifted her glass.
I didn’t have anything else, so I lifted my water glass and said, “Don’t let the bastards get you down!”
We all clinked our glasses together and laughed, Olivia letting out a whoop for emphasis.
I drove home since Ruth and Olivia had both ordered second margaritas. I hadn’t laughed so much in… well, years.
It felt good. Really, really good.
But as soon as I saw Jeremiah and Reece waiting for us in the driveway, both with their arms crossed over their chests and identical frowns on their identical faces, I knew something was wrong.
And I felt immediately stupid for not being on alert. Because anytime things were going too well, didn’t I know that meant everything was about to turn to shit?
My hands started to shake, old feelings rising up as I put the truck in park. Ruth obviously saw what I saw because she said, “Oh Jesus, what now?”
She jumped down from the truck and walked up to the boys. I followed, a little more hesitantly. I sensed a confrontation coming—I had a Spidey sense for these sorts of things now. I could feel it in the air.
I wanted to grab Ruth and tell her to get back in the truck. But it was too late. She just kept barreling ahead.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Jeremiah took an angry step forward and I flinched back. Reece’s eyes came to me and his brow furrowed, as if he was concerned by my reaction. He definitely noticed.
But I was too concerned by what was happening between his brother and my new friend.
“What’s wrong,” Jeremiah seethed, “is that you’re trying to sabotage us. I should have known from the beginning this situation was fucked up. There’s no reason for you to still be here. This ranch isn’t yours anymore, and if you think you can run us off and get the land back, lady, I’ve got news for you. I’ve called the sheriff, and he’s—”
“The sheriff?” I squeaked, feeling lightheaded.
Who knew how far Jeff had circulated wanted posters of his ‘missing’ wife? Or what story he’d told about my disappearance?
When I’d run away before and gotten as far as Portland, he’d gotten the cops involved—claiming I was mentally disturbed and had threatened to kill him. I didn’t know if he’d paid them off or if they’d genuinely believed his story. They certainly hadn’t helped me when I’d begged them not to let him take me back.
Ruth held up a hand, looking irritated to the point of pissed. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, buddy, would you slow down with the accusations for a second and tell me what the hell happened?”
Jeremiah sneered. “As if you don’t know. Don’t try to play the helpless, innocent female with me. I know you’re cunning.”
