Page 81 of The Billionaire Land Baron

Chapter 21

Shelby had planned to go straight to Lucky from Chicago, but decided to reroute an extra day to visit Nashville. It was a little harder doing touristy things with City, since places like the Ryman Auditorium didn’t allow dogs. But City was a great walking companion and she loved the clean streets of Nashville. People often stopped her to ask about City. Dogs made friends, she realized.

City was a perfect gentleman—or gentledog, as she started to think of him, sitting back on his haunches when people asked if they could pet him. He smiled his tongue-wagging smile and nuzzled strangers’ hands. He also, on occasion, growled softly, always at the kinds of men whose glances made Shelby nervous. She had her pistol in the truck, but City made her feel more secure.

At night, City curled up next to her in the bed of the Airstream, his nose against her feet. After two nights of this, Shelby didn’t know how she had ever slept alone. Somehow this dog had revealed her deep loneliness to her by filling a part of the void. But just a part.

Jake’s texts continued as Shelby neared Texas and she responded more and faster. She had rearranged her travel plans to go along the coastline, and stopped to see the beach in Biloxi. She let City off the leash and he tore through the beach in tight circles, kicking up the sand as he spun and leaped. It made Shelby a little nervous to have him off the leash—she couldn’t imagine losing him now. But the only time he strayed from her was when she put her toes in the ocean. He didn’t seem to like the water, or maybe just the waves, and darted away, whining nervously, only to run back to her, then dart away again. He finally sat waiting, continuing to whine, until Shelby’s feet felt itchy.

“Don’t like the water, boy? Probably better. If you try to swim at home, you’ll be gator bait.”

But then Shelby realized that it wouldn’t be for long. The forty-five days were almost up. She would return home only to have to pack everything she owned. The thought filled her with anxiety. Jake seemed to be thinking of this too. His texts had turned from light to serious, even as they slowed down, like sending more weighty texts meant he had to say less.

Jake:Tell me about your ideal place. I mean, other than your current place, obviously. If you had to choose a home and location.

Jake:MASH. Did you ever play that? Mansion, apartment, something, house. What was the S?

Jake:Ship?

Jake:Shack! That’s what it was. My sister used to make me play, in case you were wondering.

Jake:Anyway, MASH, Shelby. Mansion, apartment, shack, house? Or something in between. Cottage? Castle? Condo? Trailer? Tent? House boat?

Shelby:You ask a lot of questions.

Shelby:I don’t want a mansion—too much to clean. I wouldn’t want to have to buy that much furniture either.

Shelby:Basically, I live in a shack now, if I’m being honest. Our house has needed a lot of work that Daddy and I just didn’t do.

Shelby:A cottage sounds nice. But I’d prefer it be right where my current shack is. And I’m getting used to the Airstream, so I’d like to keep it nearby. Or upgrade to a trailer with more leg room.

This last textmade her blush. Would he understand what she meant? Was it too subtle? Too obvious?

When he didn’t comment on it, she felt both foolish and relieved.

Jake:Put obligations aside. If you could live anywhere in the world, would it be Lucky?

Jake:I love being close to my nieces and sister, but am realizing that I don’t love Chicago. Not really.

Jake:I also don’t love my job. Did I tell you that? I probably didn’t tell you about my job. I was too busy hiding it from you.

Jake:I’m still sorry. Once I realized it was you, I didn’t know how to say it. It was selfish. We were building something, it felt like, and telling you would mean taking a step back. Or stopping altogether. I thought you’d hate me.

Shelby:I wouldn’t have. I don’t. You just should have been honest when you first knew.

Shelby:But I think I understand.

When the truck’swheels touched down on the Texas side of the Sabine River Bridge, Shelby made her way to the Texas Welcome Center with its big, metal star in the parking lot. She took a selfie sitting under it next to City. You couldn’t see all the points of the star from the angle she had to hold the phone, but she sent it to Jake anyway.

Shelby:City and I are almost home.

Jake didn’t respond,which made her heart feel bruised. It was the first time she had sent him a picture. It felt very vulnerable. Not having him answer made her feel worse. Maybe he didn’t get it. Maybe he didn’t want it. What were the rules to what they were doing, anyway? She waited a long time, phone in hand, then finally gave up. City wanted to walk.

After going to the bathroom, Shelby walked City along the wooden boardwalks over the swamps behind the welcome center. She ignored the sign that said no dogs, and no one said anything. When she reached the end of one of the boardwalks, she called her daddy.

“Shelby!”

“Hey, Daddy.”

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