Page 15 of Wrangle Me

She blinks, surprised. “Oh. Hey. Yeah, I’ve, uh…”

Her voice trails off as her eyes start to shimmer. They’re glassy and uncertain. The sight makes my heart stutter in my chest.

“Come here.” My voice lowers. “What’s wrong? I said that I was sorry, and I meant it. I was out of line with my comments. I should’ve put that information in the steel trap.”

Every muscle in my body tenses at the sight of the pinched lines around her mouth. The way she’s holding herself—tight, closed off. Like if she lets go, she’ll fall apart.

“I know, Callum, it isn’t about the comments.” She draws in a shaky breath. “It’s just that I need some space. This isn’t working for me,” she says quietly. “I don’t ever want you to feel like you’re stuck with me out of any sort of obligation. And there are a lot of moving parts in my life right now. I’ve got to figure a few things out, and I think it’s better if we take some space for a while.”

My heart fractures clean down the middle as the bottom drops out.Not this again. How could I have been so damn wrong about something that felt so right?

I search her eyes for more truth. Her words are careful and measured, but her body betrays her. Her arms are crossed like a shield. Her jaw clenches like she’s holding back everything she’s not saying.

“I don’t think you're telling me the truth. If you are, fine. I’ll walk away. But this is bullshit and I think we both know it. Don’t you think I deserve an honest answer? Everything is fine, we have one off night, and now this. That isn’t you.”

I hit a nerve because the floodgates burst clean open. Though she doesn’t lose her posture, she can’t stop the tears from falling down her cheeks. “I’m pregnant, Callum.” Her voice wobbles. And then she meets my eyes. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to force you into anything. But this isn’t what I had planned. And it’s obviously… hard. And life-changing. I need time to make a plan. Figure things out for myself.”

My jaw drops open and I can hardly breathe. I step closer, my instinct kicking in, and reach toward her stomach. I already acheto protect something I barely understand. She pulls back before my hand can settle.

“No,” I say, firm and sure. “You’re wrong. You don’t need to force me into anything. This is a shock. But it’s also… It’s amazing. I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around it, but sweetheart, I love you. I want to do this with you. We can get married right away, and I swear, Maisie, I’ll take care of you. Of both of you?—”

I stop when her eyes go wide, like I’ve just suggested chaining her to a burning house.

“What?” She breathes and shakes her head through her tears. “Callum, don’t be crazy. We’re not doing some kind of shotgun wedding just because I got pregnant. I’m not giving up this freedom I’ve only just found.”

I shake my head, frustrated and desperate to make her understand. “I don’t want you to give up anything. But I’m not the kind of man who’s going to let you go through this alone. Sorry, but I’m here. For good.”

Her expression hardens. “You can’t use this baby to control me.”

“Control?” The word snaps out of me before I can stop it. “I’m not your family, Maisie. I don’t want to control you. Give me some goddamn credit.”

She flinches. Her arms cross tighter. Her whole body folds in on itself like a door slamming shut. “This is too much right now, and I’m telling you I need time. And space. Please respect that and don’t make it harder than it already is.” Her voice is clipped.

There’s a finality to it that shatters something in me. For a second, everything tilts. My feet feel unsteady. The stable, the light, even the cat beside me… it all swims in a haze of disbelief.

In my life, I’ve loved too hard and too fast. Usually, I’ve loved people who didn’t stay. Starting with my own mother. It’sa pattern I swore I’d outgrow. And yet here I am again with my heart wide open for someone who doesn’t want to hold it.

But even through the sting, I can see it—this isn’t rejection. Not really. Maisie doesn’t look cold. She looks scared to death. She’s not overwhelmed byme.She’s overwhelmed byeverything.I take a long, slow breath, forcing the burn in my chest to settle.

I nod, even though it guts me. “Okay,” I say. “I get it. We’re gonna need to talk this through, but… I can give you some space.”

Her mouth tightens. Her shoulders drop just a fraction. “Thank you.”

Just two clipped and distant words are all it takes to break my heart.

CHAPTER 14

CALLUM

Later that night,I find myself on the back porch at Pa’s house. I push up from my chair and head toward the cooler set up in the corner of the porch. The wood creaks under my boots, and the sound is familiar and grounding. I pop the lid, grab a beer for myself and a water for Pa. When I hold it out, he takes it with a nod.

It’s been a long time since it was just me and the old man. But tonight, there are no brothers and no accompanying chaos. It’s just two chairs, a cooler of drinks, and the sound of cicadas humming through the Texas night.

It feels good and steady on this porch. It’s like breathing deeply after holding your lungs too tight. I promised Maisie space, and I meant it. But giving it to her might kill me.

I’ve had the day to talk myself through the reality of fathering a child with a woman I love who wants nothing to do with me. There are some pitfalls I’ve got to avoid. But I’ve settled on the thought that space doesn’t mean silence. And it sure as hell doesn’t mean surrender.

Just because I’m not standing next to her doesn’t mean I’m not still fighting for her. It doesn’t mean I’m not already making a plan. So I’m here with Pa, biding my time until I get my girlback. The silence between me and Pa stretches out. But it isn’t heavy or awkward… It’s easy and familiar.

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