Page 248 of Mountain Boss

Except for the cost.

Eyes locked with the golden ones watching me, I feel another traitorous tear slip down my cheek.

“No matter what,” I promise Ben in a shaky voice. “No matter what, I’ll take care of you. Okay?”

Ben blinks up at me.

And I make a mental note to google if dogs can eat ramen.

On cue, my stomach growls.

As a surprise to no one, I did not attend dinner tonight.

Simpson didn’t come back to the house after showing Dale around. There was no need. And when he appeared in the Food Hall with my replacement, I’m sure the rest of the guys pieced it together.

Thankfully Sterling left all the food in the Laundry Cabin when he moved the rest of my things into his house two months ago.

Two months.

Such a short time.

A lifetime.

Long enough to fall for someone.

Short enough to doubt their intentions.

That damn tightness twists around my throat again.

I don’t want to doubt Sterling.

I don’t want to move out.

I don’t want to search for my passion without him.

My shoulders slump.

I want to trust him.

I want to stay.

I want to have a home here.

My lungs burn, and I open my mouth, sucking in a deep breath.

“One day at a time.”

Blankly staring at my reflection, I twist my hair into braids, then wrap my clothes into my towel.

Just like old times.

“Okay, Ben, let’s go.”

I pull open the bathroom door, and Ben steps out ahead of me.

I won’t leave, but I won’t wait for Sterling in his house either.

It doesn’t feel right.

---