Page 25 of The Outlaw's Code

“Are you really going to be okay?”

“Uh, yeah.” She wiped a tear away from her eye. “Like I said, Calder. We were doomed. I knew this was coming, I just didn’t know when. I just…”

“You just what?”

“I just hope it works out for you. That’s all.” She smiled. “I want the world for you, Calder.”

“I want the world for you, too, Vanessa.”

“That seemed intense.”

Virgil was suddenly sitting across from me in the diner booth. Vanessa had left a few moments ago, hugging me goodbye before walking out of my life forever. I’d been finishing off the rest of my breakfast, staring down at my plate so much so that I hadn’t noticed Virgil until he spoke.

“You have got to stop doing that,” I murmured. “And what? Were you watching me again?”

“I see all.” He playfully shrugged. “So, was that your ex-girlfriend?”

“Yep. Sure was.”

“Did you break up with her because of Shane?”

“Not just because of Shane, no,” I replied. “There were a lot of things that weren’t working between us. They never were.”

“Hmm…”

“What?”

“I can see why you and Shane get along so well. You seem like a very pragmatic person.” Virgil grinned. “Shane’s our smart one. Well, except when it comes to you, maybe.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s difficult for someone like him, so wound up, always.” He shook his head. “He’s a perfectionist but you can’t be a perfectionist when it comes to matters of the heart.”

“Matters of the heart?”

“Matters like you, yes.” Virgil nodded. “Which reminds me, do you need a ride back to the ranch? Pretty sure your ex-girlfriend was your ride here.”

“Shit. You’re right.” My eyes went wide at the realization. “Was she really just going to leave me here?!”

“To be fair, you did just break up with her.” Virgil laughed. “That’s the least she could’ve done, in the grand scheme of things. One time, Jolene got so upset with me, she burned down my shed.”

Virgil nodded across the room at a woman standing behind the counter. “Couldn’t ask for a better woman. Honestly, she could burn down the whole ranch if she wanted to.”

I had a million follow up questions but decided against them. Instead, I stood up from the booth, already heading out to the parking lot. Virgil was right behind me, and soon, we were driving back to Stratton Ranch. I tried to run through the conversation with Shane in my head, rehearsing what I was going to say, things he might say in return. I needed him to know that I’d spoken to Vanessa, that I remembered everything now, that I knew that he was the one for me.

A chill went through me, then, just as Virgil turned down the road.

Shit.

What if Shane doesn’t feel the same way?

What if I’d blown up my world, all for nothing?

11

SHANE

I’d watchedVanessa’s SUV leave that morning, with Calder in tow.

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