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Another nod.
I go to speak but change my mind, rolling and pressing my lips tight.
My dad walks out, shaking his head softly and I watch as he leans over the battered wooden railing that boxes round the small house.
“Tripp is on his way,” my dad mutters.
“I’ve got to go,” I finally manage, rushing towards my truck. Turning the ignition on, I boot out of the lot and ignore the screeching of my tires. I don’t even care that I have left my brother and dad eating my dust. I needed out.
Abandoning the truck outside my house, I climb the fence and walk the fence line down to the only place I feel any comfort, to the only person I can bear to be near at the moment. I don’t even know if she is in, but that still doesn’t stop me from heading there.
I push through the paddock fence and I hear her giggles coming from the stables. My skin pricks as I lean against the frame of the sliding paddock door and I wait for her to come into view.
I am not waiting long before I see the pure beauty that is Aspen. She’s throwing hay at her brother, and I am in awe watching how carefree she is. Austin catches me staring at her before she does and I swallow down the thickness in my throat.
“Riggs,” his voice echoes through the empty stalls and I wait for her eyes to find mine, my heart skipping a beat.
“Hey man,” I clear my throat and step over the threshold.
“You okay? How did it go with Tom?” he asks and I can’t even get the words out. I just freeze on the spot.
“Can you give me and your sister a minute…” I try so hard to not let my voice crack and give myself away.
“Yeah sure, no problem,” Austin looks over at Aspen and she shrugs her shoulders up but she is still wearing her pretty little smile and my heart soars in my chest.
Austin walks past me, gripping my shoulder as he does and I just give him a gentle nod. I let my eyes follow him over my shoulder and once I know he is gone, I turn to face my girl.
“You okay Riggs?” she asks as she stands up, her hands on her hips as her pretty little face tilts to the side and her beautiful eyes widen slightly.
“No Dinks… I’m not…” I just about manage and the crack in my voice is so clear now that I can’t even hide it if I wanted to.
She begins to walk towards me, but I’m also walking towards her and I throw myself into her open arms as she embraces me. And only when I am in her arms, do I feel like I can breathe.
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
ASPEN
Resting against the hay bales, Riggs’ head is on my lap. He hasn’t told me what is wrong, I just knew he needed me. I run my fingers through his curly hair, fixated on the tight curls that wrap around my fingers so perfectly. The evening is drawing in, the coolness filling the stalls but neither of us move.
“Wanna talk about it?” I ask, dipping my head to look at him.
I hear him sigh as he shuffles slightly so he is now looking up at me, his head still on my lower stomach.
“Your stomach is making some weird noises,” he smirks and I swat him round the back of the head which causes a low grumble to vibrate through him.
“I was on about why you’re clinging to me like I am your lifeline.”
“Because Aspen, you are my lifeline.”
I smile wholly down at him and I feel a tear roll down my cheek but swipe it away quickly.
“That still doesn’t answer my question,” a small laugh escapes me.
“I found out that Tom passed away earlier today…” he pauses and I feel his body shudder, his breath shaky.
“I’m so sorry Riggs,” I whisper, my fingers back to locking in his hair.
“It’s life, it happens… I just wasn’t expecting it so suddenly. I saw him yesterday, I was going to buy his ranch and now he’s just…” he pauses and my heart aches.
