Page 55 of Salvation

“Idon’t have time for you to be a pain in my ass today, man.” Haden’s head pops over the counter with a shit-eating grin right in the middle of it.

“I missed you too.” He winks.

Harper called me to let me know the soda machine broke at the bar, so now I’m crouched down behind the counter trying to fix the issueagain.It’s really just time to replace the damn thing. Otherwise, I would have spent the morning with Blake. Having breakfast. Reliving the events of last night. Hell, probably the entire day if she’d let me. The memory of her walking out in my shirt, hair tousled, and a flush on her perfect cheeks makes me wish I would have fucked her once more before leaving. Even if it made me late. My brother’s head pops up next to Haden’s. I groan. “What do you twowant?”

They look at each other. “He’s so mean to us.” Haden says.

“So, mean.” Wyatt says, nodding in agreement.

“Sometimes I wonder if we should sign him up for anger management.”

“You know I think that’d be a really good –"

“I’m right here.” I cut them off.

These two aren’t going to leave me alone, so I stand, place my wrench on the counter, and then brace my palms on the wood.I raise my eyebrows, growing impatient.

"I need an extra pair of hands for the festival.” Wyatt says, taking the hint.

Haden shrugs, “I’m just bored.”

I cock my head at Haden. “Go work with Wyatt, then.”

“What?” Both practically shout the word.

I shrug. “Why not?” I turn to Wyatt. “You always need the extra hands.” And then Haden. “And you-” I point a finger into his chest. “Need to get off your ass and do something. Rather than terrorizing everyone who comes through this bar.”

Haden looks at Wyatt. “How much you gonna pay me?”

“Show up first, and then we’ll talk.”

“Deal.”

“Start tomorrow?”

“As long as I get to wear a hat.” He flicks the rim of my brother's cowboy hat, and Wyatt swats his hand away.

Bunch of children.

“Great. You figured it out. Now leave.”

Haden thankfully listens, shit talking a bit more before he does leave, but Wyatt’s the one who leans on the bar and makes himself comfortable. “A little birdie told me you stayed the night at Blake’s.”

Elain.Of course. She goes down to see the horses often, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. And seeing me leave their house at the ass crack of dawn is enough to give it all away. “It’s new,” I say gruffly. He smiles. Genuinely smiles. A rare one, especially coming from him.

“It’s about damn time. You know, Dad would be planning the wedding right about now.” He adds. He’s not wrong. My dad adored Blake, and he was hands down worse than our mother when it came to the two of us. The side of my lip pulls up at the thought of how he’d react if he was still here. As if he can see those thoughts, he leans forward and slaps me on the shoulder. About as sentimental as he’ll ever get with me. “Now just make sure she sticks this time around, yeah?”

I shake him off. “Don’t you have a ranch to run?”

“But bugging my little brother is justso muchbetter.”

Chapter 58

Blake

After answering a fire of questions from Elain this morning, I had an unyielding urge to see my mom. She was ecstatic to see me show up. She made us some coffee and stuffed me full of so much food I’m surprised I haven’t puked. Granted, I’ve missed her cooking, so that part's on me just as much as it’s on her.I haven’t been avoiding her per se, but I know I’ve been distant. Trying to figure out where we stand, and what lies between us. Where I fit in this new world. But I’ve never questioned my mother’s love for me, and I owe her a visit at least once or twice a week. Even if it’s so she can show me my baby album for the millionth time. Or so that she can gossip about this week’s town drama.

I was just leaving when I decided to share some of the new developments in my life with her. “I’m…seeing Wesley. Officially.”

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