Page 55 of An Endless Memory

He lifted a bony shoulder. No one could tell by looking at him that he could haul a fifty-pound bag of feed like it was a sack of feathers. “You like the girl.”

“She’s cool.”

He gave me a look, and for a heartbeat, I missed having a normal dad. A guy who shot me these expressions when he thought I was full of shit.

I wasn’t, for the record. Lily was great. I liked dancing with her more than any partner I’d been with. I didn’t have to come up with forced conversation. She was easy to be around. But that was the thing. It wasn’t hard with her because there was nothing between us. I wouldn’t wedge myself into a life she was trying to build for herself and those kids.

“Must be something exciting keeping you in town for the weekend,” Chambers drawled.

“It’s called work.”

He snorted again and started for the front door. He parked in front of the garage, usually by my pickup, since I used the garage as more of a workshop.

Irritation crawled up my spine. Yes, it was Friday. I’d be working like normal all weekend. But I wasn’t pining away at the house like he thought I was. I’d prove it. “I’ll walk out with you.”

“Going out?”

“Yup.”

Fifteen minutes later, I wanted to go back home. I’d rather play cards in the bunkhouse with the guys than sit alone at the bar with my old math teacher whose wife left him ten years ago because he never left this bar outside of work hours. On my other side, a few stools down, was a lifelong bachelor who’d gotten kicked out more than once for “bumping into” a woman’s ass or boob. Repeatedly.

I took my hat off and scrubbed my face. A beer was slid in front of me. My old math teacher drank the same thing.

Fuck.

A wave of soft floral perfume puffed around me. “Hey, stranger.” An old high school sweetheart of Wilder’s slid onto a stool next to me.

“Hey, Jodi.” I was happy to see a friendly face but also acutely aware of the silicone band on my finger. It wasn’t like she was interested in me, and besides, I didn’t date my brothers’ exes. The rule took out a huge chunk of the dating pool in Buffalo Gully, but I already lived where my brothers didn’t want to. I worked the job they didn’t want. I didn’t need a woman they didn’t want either. Harsh, but there it was.

“Oh my god.” She tapped my ring finger, her fingertip warm. “The rumors are true.”

“Yep.”

“Congrats.” Her eyes glittered as she studied me. She wasn’t enthusiastic.

“Thanks.”

“Did she move to Buffalo Gully?” Confusion mingled with curiosity in her voice. She looked around like she was waiting for a strange woman to shoo her from her seat.

“We’re figuring out the living arrangements.” I wasn’t going to explain our situation. There was no reason I couldn’t, but I was keeping the information close to my chest. Lily was no one’s business.

“How’s Wilder?”

“Living the dream for real.” Did I sound wistful?

“Yeah?” This time, her happiness sounded genuine. “You know I briefly entertained the notion we might get back together.” She laughed. “It was clear that night I ran into both of you here that I thought, nope, he’s not getting over her.”

“Good thing he won her back.”

“Good thing he didn’t win her back to Buffalo Gully. Look at how beneficial it’s been for all of you to get out of town.”

My stomach twisted at the thought of moving Lily to the Knight ranch. Or of isolating her like Sutton had been when she and Wilder lived in town. And seeing her in the house among all my worst memories.

What the hell was I thinking? Lily wasn’t moving. We’d married so she wouldn’t have to.

Jodi grimaced. “It’s worth the drive for me from Sidney every day to help my parents instead of buying the house on the end of their block.”

“I’m pretty sure that place is haunted.”

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