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She was trying to strike up a conversation that I had no interest in. I wasn’t even trying to feign my happiness or attraction anymore.
“Thanks Autumn. You know my brother is single. You want his number?”
Hunter had a thing for redheads, and Autumn could easily match his energy level. He even mentioned faking and injury so he could talk to her some more. Her hands stilled over the ice packs she was restocking.
“Here. Give me that pen. I’ll write it down. That way if you want to use it you can, if not, he’ll never even know.”
The corners of her mouth lifted, despite the fact that I could see her fighting it.
“Which one? You have how many again, three right?”
“Four and a sister. Hunter. He’s the one the refuses to speak a single word when he’s here and then doesn’t shut up once we get out of earshot of you.”
A blush fell over her cheeks as I handed her back the paper.
“Your poor sister having to grow up with five brothers. I have two older brothers and I honestly don’t date because of their, how do I say this politely? Their caveman behavior.”
“Well, Hunter may be quiet but he knows how to hold his own. Don’t think two brothers would deter him.”
“Good to know.”
Autumn followed me to the door, opening it so that I could exit with a bit more ease.
“Thanks for this Bryce.” She held up the paper like it was a million dollar check. “I’ll have to work up the nerve to use it but who knows maybe I won’t chicken out.”
Her confession struck me as odd. She had shamelessly flirted with me for over a week now yet, calling or texting my brother put her on edge. Smiling, I left without questioning it. I also didn’t plan to tell Hunter that I gave her his number. There was no use getting his hopes up if she never made a move.
Hunter had his life planned out. He had been redoing his house the last few years, and the place was almost done. His property was out a bit past my own but was at least three times the size. All of us had our pick of houses when we moved out of the main house. The houses on the property were all built by my grandfather and my father when he was alive. Back when my grandfather was younger he had it all planned out. The whole family being close by and working together.
He began building houses around the property that from time to time would house farm hands. If anyone was down on their luck he happily let them stay so long as they helped fix things up in their free time. By the time my father was born he had built three houses. When dad was old enough to help, my grandfather had him out there too. They would talk about the enormous family my father dreamed of having. He was providing us each a place to live if we wanted. Or at least that’s the story I was told.
Sometimes I wondered if the stories my siblings told were true or just things they told me to make me happy. From what I knew of my parents they were amazing. So deep in love that nothing could have ever broken them apart. They wanted to make sure their children would always have a place to call their own, even if they didn’t want to stay on the farm. That wasn’t exactly my grandfathers sentiments. It was also why when Devin left my grandfather was so angry with him. He insisted Devin had abandoned us. Now, after having chased my own dreams for a while I knew that wasn’t the case. Devin needed to live a life that wasn’t forced on him.
I was staying at the facility that provided my physical therapy so no one needed to be burdened with driving me back and forth every day. It was lonely but at least I didn’t have anyone in my space asking me where Hannah was.
My fingers gravitated to my phone for what had to be the hundredth time of the day. She hadn’t sent a single text or made any attempt to call in the last two weeks. Everyone had an excuse why she hadn’t been around. Usually it was some catastrophic event at the farm that she had to handle. The thing was that it still didn’t ease my mind. I knew things came up and if she was putting in the extra effort around the place to help and fix things my family wouldn’t turn her down.
Evan: you got plans this afternoon?
Blinking stupidly at my phone I typed back to my brother.
Bryce: yes, planned to take part in a triathlon and then I was going to go ride a bull why?
Evan: smartass. I’m coming by and we’re going out. Probably won’t be until late like four or five that okay with you?
Bryce: I’ll have to check my ridiculously busy schedule.
Sending an eye roll emoji along with my text I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t want to go out. I hated that I didn’t want to spend time with my brother. Evan and I had been close growing up. When we worked on the farm, I often went out to the barns to help him out. Although, that may have been selfish on my part. I knew he could always use a hand with the animals and it automatically got me out of having to help anyone else around the farm.
However, today, I didn’t want to go out with him. I wanted to wallow in self pity that I had lost the single best thing in my life. Hannah. Or at least I assumed I had lost her. That observation was supported by the fact that she never visited, she wouldn’t text me back, and the only contact I had with her was my family telling me she said she’d be by soon. Soon never came.I wasn’t even excited when my best friend had made a surprise visit.
Rowan had stopped by a few times but even that was an annoyance to me. He may have been my best friend but all he wanted to talk about was the new girl he was seeing. While I was happy for him it wasn’t where my head wanted to go. Thinking of him with someone just reminded me how he was around the first time I met Hannah.
“Maybe when you get out of here we can all go out for drinks or something.”
I nodded in agreement but knew it wouldn’t happen. Once I started riding Rowan and I didn’t hang out as often. We talked on the phone often and when I was home, we would grab a drink but that was it. There was no more going out for him to get shitfaced and me to pick up the pieces. I couldn’t do it anymore since under my contract I had to maintain a certain image.
Rowan left after about an hour and left me to wallow in my own thought. Thoughts of Hannah that had been consuming not just my waking thought but the ones when I was able to close my eyes as well.
