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“Max the card out, whatever you want, babe. Just have fun. You’re all work and no play. Let loose!”
“I don’t want to go shopping.”
“You could get a new fall wardrobe or get a jump on Christmas shopping. That sounds like fun.”
Was he not listening to me?
Like many other times, Jake tried to entice me by deflecting. “You’re a piece of work, you know that? I don’t need your money to make me happy. I have my own. Thank you very much. See you when you get back.” I ended the call, then swallowed the rest of my wine.
The nerve of him! Doesn’t he know me at all?
Had he always been this way, and I’d failed to see it?
Truth be told, I didn’t know much about him either, only what he revealed to me. Before I moved into his beach house, we’d had a whirlwind romance. We hadn’t slowed down or taken the time to have any deep conversation. Even after all this time, we rarely had serious discussions.
It hit me all at once.
I didn’t know Jake, and he didn’t know me. When I attempted to learn more about him, he’d deflect and take me out to have fun or seduce me.
Why had I let him off the hook?
Was our relationship built solely on sex?
No, there has to be more.
I took my empty glass inside, locked the doors, and put my mess away in the kitchen. It was only a little after nine, but I was calling it a night.
What I needed was a full night’s sleep so I could wake up refreshed and clearheaded.
But as quickly as I fell asleep, my eyes flashed open when I felt the warmth of the sun on my face. I’d slept in, a simple luxury I rarely experienced since being with Jake. He was the most energetic person I knew, always ready for an adventure.
And the man liked his morning sex on the weekends, which meant I never got to sleep past seven.
I turned towards his pillow and instantly became irritated. Swiping my phone off the nightstand, I saw that he had texted hours ago.
Jake: I hope you have a great day.
Shelby: Yeah.
I stared out at the ocean through the sliding glass door. This was the life I had dreamed of… The Pacific Ocean was in mybackyard. I worked at a prestigious museum in Los Angeles. I’d done it: accomplished my dreams.
Most of the girls I’d grown up with had stayed in Burntwood. They hadn’t planned to go to college or move out of town. A couple had gone to a technical college an hour away to be medical assistants and dental hygienists. Others worked on their family farms and at local businesses, but I’d wanted more.
I’d been on a mission to show the town that Burntwood girls could be successful, and we didn’t need a cowboy to be our provider and protector. Of course, if that was what a girl wanted, then she should have her cowboy. I’d wanted all my dreams to come true… with Cade by my side.
Sometimes we didn’t get what we wanted.
I’d given up the love of my life to prove I could be more than a farmer’s daughter and a rancher’s sweetheart.
And my pride had gotten in the way. I’d lost sight of what was really important: my family and Cade.
The years had flown by while my job consumed my time and energy. Knowing Cade had joined a biker club had convinced me we’d never find our way back together.
When I finally accepted what I thought was the truth, what had I done? I’d clung to the first man that was relentless to be with me.
Jake Phillips.
I groaned in frustration, squeezing my eyes shut.You royally fucked up, Shelby.
