Page 13 of One Hot Summer

Leave it to Liam to call me out on my bullshit, but with enough gentleness that I can't take offense.

“It's Kelsie,” I admit. “I can't stop thinking about her.”

The admission hangs in the air between us. Liam remains silent, giving me space to find the words.

“I know I shouldn’t,” I continue. “There's so much history there, so many complications. But after all this time…” I trail off, struggling to articulate the whirlwind of emotions.

Memories flood my mind – Kelsie's laugh echoing across the high school parking lot, the softness of her hand in mine at the county fair, the hurt in her eyes the day she left for college.

“We were just kids back then,” I say, more to myself than to Liam. “But now? The way she is with Collin, how she's facing everything life's thrown at her with such strength... It's like I'm seeing her for the first time all over again.”

I run a hand through my hair, frustration seeping into my voice. “And then I remember all the reasons why this is a bad idea. She's been through so much, Liam. The last thing she needs is me complicating her life further.”

Liam shifts beside me, his presence a steady anchor. “Have you considered that maybe you're exactly what she does need?”

“What if I'm not enough? What if I mess things up?” The vulnerability in my words surprises even me. “It's not just about me anymore. I've got my kid to think about. And Kelsie... she deserves someone whole, someone who isn't still piecing themselves back together. But when I'm with her,” I say, my voice gaining strength, “everything feels right. Like maybe, we could heal each other.”

Liam's hand comes to rest on my shoulder, a grounding presence. “Sometimes the things that scare us the most are the ones most worth pursuing.”

“It's not just that. Kelsie's brother, Jake... he doesn’t know that Kelsie and I ever… I’ve never told him and I can’t lose one of my best friends. Not now.”

The words taste bitter on my tongue, and I feel my fingers curl into fists at my sides. “I want to be there for her, Liam. Toshow her that life can be beautiful again, even after everything. But I've got responsibilities here, to my son, to the ranch. How can I ask her to give up what she wants for this?”

Liam’s boots scuffing against the dry earth. “Why don't you try taking things slow? Focus on the present, on getting to know Kelsie again without all the pressure of what might come next.”

I turn to look at him, my brow furrowed. “But her brother?—”

“Forget about her brother for now,” Liam interrupts, his dark eyes kind but resolute. “He's not the one you're interested in, is he?”

A chuckle escapes my lips despite myself. “You're right. I've been so caught up in what could go wrong, I haven't given myself a chance to see what could go right.” The tension in my shoulders eases. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.”

As the sun settles over the ranch, I stand there, my friend by my side, feeling for the first time in a long while that maybe, I can allow myself to hope for something more.

Chapter Nine

Kelsie

Istand in Carson's kitchen, my fingers tapping on the worn wooden countertop. My eyes dart to the clock on the wall for the hundredth time. Any minute now, the insurance company should call. My stomach churns. The ring of the phone makes me jump, my heart leaping into my throat.

“This is Lacy from Evergreen Insurance.”

The woman's voice is professional. My fingers tighten around the phone as I force a cheerful tone. “Yes, this is Kelsie. Thank you for calling back.”

As Lacy explains the situation, my eyes dart around the kitchen, desperately seeking something to focus on. The copper pots hanging above the stove. A half-empty mug of coffee sits on the counter, long gone cold. Anything to distract from the growing knot of dread in my chest.

“I’m afraid there are some complications with your claim,” Lacy says, her words cutting through my desperate attempts at distraction.

My grip on the phone tightens further. “Complications?” I repeat, hating how small my voice sounds. “What kind of complications?”

As Lacy delves into the details – the need for further investigation – I stare at the wooden cutting board on the counter. The knife marks etched into its surface seem to mock me, each one a reminder of how deeply life can cut.

“How long will this delay things?” I ask, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.

When the call finally ends, I lower the phone, feeling as if I've aged years in those few minutes.

My mind races, thoughts tumbling over each other in a dizzying whirl. How long can I impose on Carson's hospitality? What if I can't find a job in this small town?

The precariousness of my situation hits me, leaving me feeling raw and exposed.You'll figure this out.But even as I try to rally my spirits, I can't shake the nagging fear that this time, I might not be able to bounce back so easily.Not now. You can't fall apart now.A single tear escapes, trailing down my cheek like a silent betrayal of my resolve. My hands tremble as I grip the windowsill, knuckles turning white with the effort to steady myself.

---