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“If only someonewould let meretire.”
Her eyes blaze, and all I can think about is what a brilliant blue they are. Clearer and brighter than the backdrop of the sky.
Until she starts talking again. “Listen, Kyle. I truly could not give a shit whether you retire or not. I just happen to work for someone who does. You say you’re done. Fine. I’m stuck here until my boss’s boss’s boss figures that out. So stop acting like I’m here as part of some personal vendetta to ruin your life.”
Then, she spins and starts walking away.
“Where are you going?” I call after her.
She doesn’t even glance over her shoulder. “You were right. You don’t need my help.”
I watch her climb back over the fence. Watch her until her hair is just a red dot among green, brown, and blue, exhale, then kick the tire.
This road leads right back to the barn. She’ll be fine.
And I should be relieved. I didn’t want her to come in the first place. But instead of any satisfaction, I feel like I should have kept my mouth shut and just boosted her back up onto the damn tractor.
CHAPTERELEVEN
KYLE
Hudson calls me while I’m cleaning the tractor’s mower attachment. It’s an unpleasant task, and I’m already in a shitty mood, so I abandon it quickly and answer.
“Hey, man.” I hide my annoyance and imbue my voice with as much cheerfulness as I can muster because the last thing I need right now is more well-meaning concern from him.
“Hey. You free tonight?”
“How does Morgan feel about you asking me out on a date?”
He chuckles. “She’s totally on board. Jealous actually.”
“That doesn’t bode well for your proposal.”
“Well, you’re a rich and famous singer–slash–sex symbol. It’s kinda hard to compete, Spencer.”
Hudson is joking as he says it, but I catch the kernel of truth to it. Know I’m lucky to have loyal friends who have never spoken a word to the press, even when papers have dug around. From the outside, my life looks pretty damn great. The inside is another story.
And it’s also why I’ve never complained about my career to any of my friends. They think it’s all fancy parties and women and five-star hotels. Letting them believe that is easier than admitting the past decade has been filled with a lot of loneliness and exhaustion.
Hudson keeps talking, oblivious to my thoughts. “Morgan will be there. Danny’s planning a get-together at Wagon Wheel tonight.”
I laugh, running a hand through my hair. “Of course he is.”
“Natasha will be there too.”
“Who’s Natasha?”
“She’s the new teacher I mentioned. Morgan really likes her, and she just moved here. Doesn’t know anyone.”
“This had better not be a blind date.”
“It’s not. Just a casual get-together. And if you two happen to hit it off…”
I sigh. “I told you I’m not looking to date anyone.”
“Yeah, I heard you. Because they go crazy overKyle Spencer, right? Natasha is from Connecticut. I don’t think they listen to a ton of country music there. She probably doesn’t even know who you are.”
I snort, flicking a piece of grass seed off my knee.
