Page 45 of Wrangling Nash

“Jovie, I'm sharing this not to open new wounds but to explain. Nash has always been a lot like me. Thoughtful, good with his hands, he wears his heart on his sleeve. But wearing his heart on his sleeve and trying to protect his heart, he’s not as tough as he seems. He’s fallen for you, and when you leave to go back to the city…” He sighed again, as if it was difficult for him to even say the words. As if I was my mother, hurting him when she'd left for college. “I just want you two to be careful.”

I nodded my head, taking in the words he said, but my heart felt like it was having trouble keeping up. The past few weeks of goodness Nash and I had shared, the vulnerability of our shared feelings, and the understanding of what was ahead, had been dashed now.

I had fallen for Nash, and Nash had fallen for me, and though I didn’t want things to end, sadly, I felt like we had no choice.

Chapter 38: Nash

It was Friday night, the day after Thanksgiving.

Jovie had texted to let me know that my dad and her meetings with the buyers in San Angelo had run long, and due to severe thunderstorms rolling through the city, it had been advised that they grab a hotel until the next morning.

I’d missed her tonight in my bed, but I figured I’d throw myself into catching up on a few things around the ranch in the meantime without the distraction of Jovie in place.

Her words continued to ring through my head all night. 'I love you, Nash.' Though I didn’t know what that meant for our future, I couldn’t wait to see how the next seven months panned out.

I fired off a text to her before drifting off to sleep:

Nash: Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. The bed feels cold without you here.

Jovie texted back almost immediately, the dots jumping around, disappearing, then starting up again too.

Jovie: Me too.

****Next Morning****

It was Saturday morning, and I had a long day ahead of me on the Cameron ranch, fixing one of our combines that had broken down. Jovie and I had plans for dinner later tonight, so I slipped my phone into my back pocket and didn’t pay it any mind until around 4 in the evening when I realized the time. Opening my phone, I noticed I had a few missed calls and text messages from Clay. I opened the latest.

Clay: I knew this was going to happen.

I sighed. What the hell was Clay complaining about now?

Nash: What are you going on about now, Clay?

Clay: Jovie.

My heart sunk. What was Clay upset about with Jovie now?

Nash: What happened?

Suddenly my phone lit up with an incoming call from Clay.

"What happened to Jovie?" I asked, panicked.

"Nothing, she's fine, physically. But mentally and emotionally she's not. You messed up the one good thing that happened to our family since Mom. Just like I'd anticipated."

"What are you talking about? How did I mess things up with Jovie?" I demanded.

"She’s packing up, said she’s headed back to Houston and will sign the ranch over to dad."

What the hell? I sprinted towards the gator, tossing my water into the back, and turning it on as I drove down the dusty roads of Cameron Ranch.

"Whatever you do, don’t let her leave Lonestar Junction. Stall her. I’m on my way."

Chapter 39: Nash

What did you do, Dad?” I growled, storming into our home.

My dad was sitting in his recliner, drinking a cold iced tea while flipping through various channels covering the news. I knew I needed to see him first before going to Jovie’s to talk. I didn't know what had caused a shift in her from the last time we’d spoken but the only logical explanation I could think of was the one day we’d spent apart since we'd said 'I love you': she’d been with my dad.

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