Page 9 of Pure Bred

“Is this about your career?”

“Partly,” I say. After a moment of hesitation, I go on. “Seeing Logan yesterday stirred up all these feelings I thought I’d buried years ago. Now I’m more confused than ever.”

My dad nods, his expression thoughtful. “I won’t pretend to have all the answers, Sierra. But I do know one thing. You can never go wrong by listening to your heart.”

His words hang in the air between us. I fidget with the edge of the comforter, avoiding his gaze.

“So you still have feelings for Logan?” he asks gently.

I open my mouth, then close it again. How do I even begin to explain the storm of emotions swirling inside me?

“I don’t know,” I finally say. “Last night, when we were together, I definitely felt something. But it’s all so confusing and complicated. We’re not the same people we were at seventeen.”

A knowing smile tugs at my dad’s lips. “Of course you’re not the same people you were at seventeen. But that doesn’t mean the love you once had for each other is gone.”

I blink, surprised by his words. “Dad, when I was seventeen, you thought Logan and I were too serious. You were always telling me to slow down, remember?”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “I know. I remember. But it wasn’t because I didn’t like Logan or didn’t believe in your feelings. I just didn’t want to see you close off other options before living life. You were so young, with so much ahead of you.”

His words sink in, and I feel a lump forming in my throat. “And now?”

“Now?” He reaches out, squeezing my hand. “Now you’ve lived. You’ve chased your dreams, experienced the world. If your feelings for Logan are still there, well…that’s something worth exploring, don’t you think?”

I nod, feeling some of the weight lift off my chest. “Thanks for the advice, Dad. When did you get so wise?”

He laughs, standing up from the bed. “I’ve always been wise. You just finally got old enough to notice.”

I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling.

“Why don’t we all do something as a family today?” he suggests. “Maybe go on a hike or something? Get your mind off things for a bit?”

The thought of spending the day with my family, away from the tangled mess of emotions I have about Logan, feels like exactly what I need. “That sounds perfect.”

The hike we go on is breathtaking. Autumn colors paint the landscape in vibrant reds, oranges, and golds. The crisp air fills my lungs, renewing me with each step. For a few wonderful hours, life feels simple and good.

But that night, I find myself wide awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. The peace I felt earlier has evaporated, replaced by another cascade of thoughts about Logan.

I can’t stop thinking about how ridiculously hot he looked working on that tractor, all tan skin and defined muscles. And how every time he smiles at me, it makes my heart race. With Logan, I laugh so much more. I feelgood.

But I came here to find myself, not to fall back into an old relationship. Is reconnecting with Logan really what I need right now?

It feels risky. Messy.

Then again, Logan knew me before all the fame and fortune. He saw me as just Sierra, the girl with big dreams. Maybe this is exactly what I need—to spend time with the person who knew me best before I lost myself in the whirlwind of stardom.

I roll over, reaching for my phone on the nightstand. Before I can second-guess myself, my fingers fly across the screen, writing a text.

Twenty minutes later, I’m tiptoeing down the stairs of my parents’ house, wincing at every creak of the old floorboards. My heart pounds as I ease the front door open, praying it doesn’t wake anyone. The cool night air hits my face as I slip outside, closing the door with extra care behind me.

Logan’s truck is idling at the curb, his strong silhouette behind the wheel. I hurry over, feeling like a teenager sneaking out. As I climb into the passenger seat, the scent of leather and Logan’s cologne envelops me. He looks devastatingly handsome in the dim light.

“Hey, troublemaker,” Logan says, his voice low and warm.

I can’t stop myself from grinning. “Hey.”

He puts the truck in gear and we cruise through the quiet streets of Eagle Falls, the radio playing softly in the background. It feels a little surreal, like we’ve stepped back in time. Especially when an old favorite of ours comes on the radio.

I glance at Logan, wondering if he’s thinking of the same things as I am—all those slow dances, and heated kisses, and everything else. The look on his face tells me he does, and my chest squeezes tight.

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