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I glanced between them, my thoughts racing. While I had a soft spot for Christian and could sympathize with his predicament, this request was beyond unexpected. "I get it, Christian, the ranch means a lot to you, but a fake engagement? It's a lot to ask, and it's so... unorthodox."
Brett added, "And Casey, think about the adventure. We'll be living at the ranch for the summer, and it'll be a change of scenery for you. Plus, it's not every day you get to be a rancher's fake fiancée."
“Plus, we’ve been married before.” Christian rolled his eyes playfully. I thought for a moment, then remembered. As kids we were playing together with some local kids. They dared Christian and I to get married.
“You were my first kiss under that curvy blue slide when we said ‘I do’.”
Christian smiled, looking happy that I remembered.
I took a deep breath, contemplating the proposition. A whirlwind summer adventure, helping a friend, and perhaps, somewhere in the midst of this charade, discovering a bit more about myself. I wasn't sure if this was a brilliant idea or a recipe for disaster, but I couldn't deny the allure of the unexpected.
"Alright, Christian," I finally said with a sigh. "I'll be your fake fiancée for the summer. But, let's get one thing straight: this stays purely professional, and we'll need to have some ground rules."
Christian's face lit up with a radiant smile, and Brett let out a whoop of joy. They exchanged an ecstatic high-five as if they'd just won the lottery.
"Casey, you're a lifesaver!" Christian exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. "We'll discuss the rules later. For now, let's just celebrate!"
Brett echoed his excitement, and before I could react, they both lunged forward, scooping me up into a bear hug. Laughter bubbled out of me, and I squirmed, feeling like I was caught in a whirlwind of enthusiasm.
"Okay, okay, guys, put me down!" I managed between giggles. They obliged, gently setting me back on my feet.
Christian's gratitude was evident in his eyes, and Brett clapped me on the back. "You won't regret this, Casey."
I chuckled, a mix of trepidation and excitement swirling within me. "I'm holding you to that, Brett."
“Well, we’re going to the rental to get settled in. We’ll be back in the morning, say around 7:00 a.m.?” Brett asked.
“Hey. I’ve been waking up at 7:00 a.m. all of this year. I’m graduated from college, now. Let’s sleep in.”
“Okay,” Christian shrugged. “See you at 8:00 a.m.!”
I rolled my eyes as Brett and Christian hugged, then we walked toward Brett’s old Nissan.
I walked into my small bedroom at the rental, eager to settle in for the summer at the ranch with Brett. Unpacking was a welcome distraction from the strange engagement plan that Christian had thrown at us earlier. As I unzipped my suitcase, the comforting scent of my familiar laundry detergent greeted me.
Carefully, I began to unpack my clothes into the simple wooden dresser, folding them neatly. But my heart sank as I reached the bottom of the suitcase and felt my fingers brush against something entirely unexpected.
I pulled out a crumpled shirt, and my breath caught in my throat. It was Tyler's shirt, a piece of my past I hadn't seen in a long time. I didn't remember putting it in my suitcase. It was soft against my fingertips, and the memories came flooding back.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I recalled that painful day just weeks before our graduation. Tyler had sat me down, unable to meet my gaze, and told me he wanted to move to another country, all by himself. The words had hit me like a sudden storm, shattering the future I thought we were building together.
I held the shirt tightly, my fingers trembling. That moment had been agonizing. The man I believed was the love of my life had seemingly discarded me without a second thought. I had shared everything with him, and yet he had cast me aside. I told him I would wait. But he said he wanted to, "discover himself."
But what had hurt even more was discovering, a few days later, that he had a new girlfriend. Their happiness was all over social media, sharing adventures in the very country he claimed he wanted to explore alone. It was as if the love we had shared had meant nothing to him, easily replaced by someone else.
I clutched the shirt to my chest, tears streaming down my face. The pain from that chapter in my life was far from healed. I had hoped that spending the summer at the ranch would help me move on and leave my past behind, but the unexpected discovery of this memento from a failed relationship had brought it all rushing back.
Determined to use this summer as an opportunity to rediscover myself and have more fun than Tyler could ever imagine, I stomped around the small rental house, my thoughts swirling with newfound resolve. I was going to put my past behind me and embrace the adventures that awaited.
As I shuffled through the drawers and cabinets, my eyes landed on a lighter, a simple but powerful tool. I'd noticed a small firepit in the backyard when we pulled in earlier, and an idea began to take shape in my mind. Grabbing the lighter, I knew what I had to do to symbolize this new chapter in my life.
I headed outside, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and resolution. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the wilderness that stretched out before me. In that serene moment, I threw Tyler's shirt into the firepit, its soft fabric landing with a quiet sigh.
I held the lighter to the shirt and watched as the flames began to consume it. The cloth crackled and caught, spreading across the shirt like a fierce wildfire. As I stepped back, the vibrant flames danced before my eyes, releasing a plume of gray smoke that curled and twisted into the evening sky, vanishing like the remnants of my feelings for Tyler.
Lost in the flickering flames, I felt a weight lifting from my shoulders. It was as if I had symbolically burned away the pain and heartache, leaving room for something new, something better.
I looked at the sky as some birds flew by. It made me think of my favorite insect: the tiger swallowtail. They were so underrated. Everyone was always looking for the monarch and talking about how beautiful they are. Tiger swallowtails are different. Perfect in their own way.
