Page 11 of Their Rustic Retreat

Hawk thinks for a moment, and right alongside him, I realize my mistake. “What boyfriends?”

“Well, if I had them, I’m sure you’d be freaking out about all of them the same. I thought you were better than this, Hawk.”

“You’re thinking worse of me because I love my sister and want to protect her?”

I open the cabinets to try to find something dinner-worthy. “No, not that, That you’re going to treat me like a little girl who can’t take care of herself, instead of a grown woman who can manage her own affairs.”

“You’re nineteen. You barely qualify as an adult. I think trying to show some concern and providing guidance is only natural.” He looms over me as I try to find food, his arms crossed sternly.

“If he’s shady, I’ll figure it out on my own. These are my mistakes to make, Hawk.”

He lets out a long sigh. “I’m just worried the one mistake you make will be a truly horrific one is all.”

I glare at him. “You really do think he’s a murderer, don't you?”

He throws his arms up. “I’m just saying it’s a possibility!”

He’s not wrong, sadly. The hours I spent with Tristian were truly wonderful. But monsters can be people with very effective masks.

My heart, though?

It believes in Tristian.

It doesn’t mean I can just ignore my brain completely, however.

FIVE

tristian

I didn’t expect there to be so much of a change between working as a bouncer and working the fields.

When you’re bouncing, you’re just trying to make sure things don’t go wrong. Making sure no one starts fights, no one is harassing the other patrons too much, or doing anything too inappropriate where everyone can see.

Versus out here in the fields?

I’m sweating my ass off all day. I’m building up quite a tan. I’m pushing machines around, carrying hay, making sure everything stays moving, cows and harvesters alike.

When the day starts and when the day ends look so completely different. Progress has been made.

And I think I’m liking it here a whole lot. Way more than I thought I would when I first started.

The truck is fully filled with the hay Mr. Bell wants to send out tomorrow morning, and with that, my day is done.

My muscles are sore, I’m hot and sweaty, and yet I feel fantastic.

Especially with how I’m set to go and meet with Serena later.

I’m about to head out to my car when I see there’s already a truck there, blocking my way out.

“Oh, you. Hey, you’re Serena’s brother?” I say. “Hawk, was it?”

He nods. “And you’re Tristian.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Something up? Was your cow, like, defective or something?”

“Nothing to do with that. I’m here to talk to you about my sister.”

“Did something happen?”

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