Page 66 of Ignite

“Zoe is friends with Rylee,” Rose said, explaining everything. “So when are you showing off your surprise and winning your girl?”

“As soon as I finish my commitment to you. Seven dates in seven days and then it’s gonna be Operation Rylee.”

“Ouch. Just what every woman wants to hear—that she is an obligation.” Rose rested her hand on my arm. “We better still be friends at the end of this, otherwise my feelings are definitely going to be more hurt than my ego.”

“Oh, yeah, we’ll be friends.” I opened my passenger door, ready to end another night without Rylee. “I just don’t know how to convince Rylee that it is possible to bejust friendswith a sexy as fuck woman who should be perfect for me but isn’t.”

“Because I’m not Rylee Mettner?” Rose blew me a kiss just before I closed the door. “She’s a lucky girl.”

I could only wish.

Chapter 18

What If?

“Lastnight’srainmayhave been enough to dampen the ground, but it would take weeks of continuous showers to help out the farmers. As they face another year of drought, it’s time to revisit how you can help. Save water from showers and laundry for your garden. Wipe over your windscreens instead of washing your whole car. Every precious drop of water matters …”

Rylee

“Here’s to freedom,” Ethan called out to a packed bar, and I looked away, not wanting to meet his eyes in case he saw too much in mine.

Eric and Felicity had convinced me to come out for a Sunday afternoon listening to local band, New Breed, play at the pub. As businesses closed for the day and sporting games finished, the town gradually turned up to enjoy one of the last weekends before bushfire season hit. Yes, the rain had been welcome, but we all knew that the new grass would grow, dry out in the blistering heat, and become a fire hazard waiting to ignite.

I’d spent the morning out at my property, checking fences, the dam, and my horses. It had been too hot to saddle them up, but it had been cathartic just grooming them and having Cider nuzzle my shoulder until she’d exhausted my supply of apples. My dapple-grey mare had been well named after apple cider. She would literally do anything for apples, including letting me check her hooves.

I glanced at my phone and flicked through the recent messages with my neighbor who looked after them during the week and when I couldn’t get out there.

Rylee to Rachel:Just dropped off another salt block to the property. There’s a second one for you.

Rachel to Rylee:thx

Rachel to Rylee:Had a good ride yesterday. Hope you don’t mind.

I smiled. Rachel had my permission to ride my horses whenever but I liked how the teenage girl still gave me a running narrative on what she had done with them. It was almost like we shared custody and I knew the money I paid her for looking after them was going towards her next horse.

Rylee to Rachel:How was Wildfire?

Rachel to Rylee:True to name. Skittish but I rode it out of him.

Rylee to Rachel:I’ll try to make it out next weekend. Perhaps we can both take them out?

Rachel to Rylee:??

I put away my phone and mentally planned my week around a long ride.

“Are you okay?” Zoe asked. “You’re not going to bail on us, are you?”

“Of course not.” I tried not to look for Ethan in the crowd. It didn’t matter if he came here, or not. It didn’t matter if he came here with someone, or not. After being styled by my friends, I even felt ready to party.

I’d borrowed a loose pair of striped, crepe pants from Bec and teamed the blacks and greys with a bright gold crop top underneath a black string crochet jacket. With glossy waves falling around my shoulders, I’d mixed up my style and felt sexy in my skin.

“You look hot af.” Zoe assured me. “If he turns up, he’s gonna be all over you like hot butter on toast.”

Except, Ethan had turned up. Ethan hadn’t been alone. Ethan bloody Cooper and Rose turned up for their sixth date.

I couldn’t stop the green-eyed monster wishing someone would spill a tray of drinks over her, just to mess up her perfect hair and makeup. I’d spent hours trying to look less like Rylee the car restorer or little sister and into someone who could go out and have a good time. Whereas Rose had walked in on Ethan’s arm looking like her normal million-dollar self.

As my friends tried to distract me and block my view of the happy couple, Ethan looked around until his eyes met mine. I forced a smile and tried to remember that he was sending me cute texts each day about tea, not her.

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