Page 107 of Sweet Like Whiskey

Honestly, I hadn’t thought about it at all.

“I don’t know, Ginnie,” I say, moving my arm aside as Snickerdoodle bumps into me. I give her some attention with my good hand. “I mean, it’s not like he’s even asked me to stay. For good, I mean.”

“Uh-huh,” she mutters, walking over to look at the chickens. Most of them are pecking at the ground, head floofs bobbing as they pick up seed that fell out of their feeders. “Well, when hedoesask,officially, I mean—and he will—I’ll try not to gloat.”

“Well, aren’t you generous,” I mumble.

She shoots me a toothy grin. “C’mon, baby boy. Let’s go grab some lunch. On me.”

“Oh, uh… I was just going to eat here.”

Her eyebrow shoots up again. “You haven’t left the ranch in a week. Some fresh air would do you good.”

I refrain from sayingyes, Mom, instead waving my hand around pointedly. “Sure. Because this air right here issovery stifling.”

She examines me closely. “You don’t wanna go. Why? You in a lotta pain?”

“No,” I say quickly, even thoughyes, I’m in a fair bit. “It’s just…”

When she crosses her arms, waiting, I huff.

“I’m the town’s new Marjory Bell, Ginnie. I fell in a hole, and the damn Darling Donkey had to rescue me. Excuse me for wanting to hide away for a while instead of facing what I’m sure would be a million pitying sympathies from the well-intentioned folk of Darling freaking Montana.”

Her lips twitch.

“What?” I groan.

“You said ‘folk.’”

“And?”

Virginia walks over to me, placing her hands lightly on my shoulders, careful of the left side. “AndI never thought I’d see the day when my best friend became a part of this life.Mylife. And I’m selfish, so I like it a whole lot. You’re one of us now, baby.”

I snort. “Where’s my t-shirt?”

“I’ll buy you one from the gift shop,” she says wryly before letting me go. “Now be honest. How bad’s the pain?”

“Everyone and their mothering,” I mutter. “My shoulder joint is fine. It’s my goddamn back that’s fucked all to hell. It’s nearly as bad as it was in the beginning.”

She winces.

“I’ll befine,” I say. “I’ve done this song and dance before. I can do it again.”

“I’m sorry that you have to,” she says seriously. “And it’s okay not to befine, Ash. No one would think less of you for admitting that you’re hurting.”

I scowl,hatingthat very thing, and Virginia chuckles.

“Christ,” she says. “You look just like him.”

I don’t even have to askwho. But I do ease up on the scowl.

“If you wanna stay and hide for now, I’m not gonna stop you,” Virginia says. “Just… Once you’re ready, I’ll be here, okay?”

“I know that, Ginnie. You’ve never not been in my face, and I love that about you.”

She snorts. “Love you, too, baby boy. Now get some rest. Go relax or something.”

“Relax,” I say with a huff. “Everybody wants merelaxed.”

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