Page 13 of Their Rustic Retreat

“He’d be more convinced if you still had your ties.”

“Well, he ain’t getting those ties back. Get the fuck out of my car. The answer remains no.”

Jessie Joe grumbles. “Fine. Just know that we do know how to truly hurt you, Tristian. We know everything.”

The scumbag slides out of my car and closes the door behind him. It leaves me alone, and I grimace.

I suddenly see why Hawk is so concerned.

But I’m not cutting Serena out of my life. Seeing her smile, hearing her laugh, feeling her tremble in my arms, it fills me with something I didn’t have before.

Hopes. Dreams.

For a future that when I was a teenager, seemed quite bleak.

I’ll just have to protect her from whatever may come our way.

SIX

serena

Our second date is a bit more traditional, at least by Tristian’s standards. A nice restaurant, a sit-down Mexican place, the only one in Evergreen Valley. It being the only option, which at least didn’t lead to complacency, because I loved this place dearly. I’d come here for several birthdays, and the food is just fantastic.

We’re deep into our meal, Tristian with a fajita plate and mine loaded with nachos. We’d mostly been talking about meaningless things like TV shows, sports, books, and the like. Our conversation wouldn’t remain forever light, however.

“So, what’s next for you?” I ask, swirling a chip in some salsa.

“Hmm?” he says, perking up.

“Like, do you intend to just bust your ass at Mr. Bell’s farm for the rest of your life?”

He shrugs. “I didn’t really think about it much. But I’m not really complaining about where I am right now.”

“You can’t do that forever. Like, could you really be doing that in twenty years? Bodies start to break down.”

He leans back in his seat, resting his head in his hands. “Yeah, you’re right. Not like I can try to earn myself into inheriting Mr. Bell’s farm or anything. He already has a son who’s called dibs on it.”

“Dibs is a weird way to call passing something on to your kid.”

“Just saying I ain’t gonna be owning that farm. So, yeah, I do have to figure something else out.”

“Did you want to go to school for something?”

More shrugging. “I don’t know. What I do know is I think I’m liking this way of life up here in Evergreen Valley. It's slower paced. And more genuine.”

“I love it here too. So much so that I struggle with leaving.”

“What does your brother do? Or his friends? They all seem to be doing well for themselves up here.”

Serena smiles. “Oh, there’s lots of ways. One’s a carpenter. Another is a lumberjack. One’s, like, a real estate agent I think? Developer? I’m not sure? He just plans projects and makes it work or something. I think he’s into other things, really.”

“Other things?”

“You know. Other things. Things that you don’t say aloud.”

He stares at me, blinking. “I think your brother mentioned that.”

“Yeah. Oh, and my brother? He does a bit of everything. Closest thing Evergreen Valley has to a true outdoorsman.”

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