Page 34 of Wrecked for Love
Logan’s tone shifted, taking on that serious but lighthearted note only he could pull off. “You know, living alone can mess with your head. You stay by yourself long enough, and it’s easy to go off the rails. Sometimes, you’ve got to face your past. Hiding behind a tragedy? That’s not what a man does, El.”
“I’m not fucking hiding! I’m living!” I snarled.
“No, you’re not,” Log shot back, blunt as ever. “You’re enduring. And yeah, you’re hiding and throwing out excuses because moving on is too hard. Being happy is too damn hard. That’s not the Lucas family I remember.”
“Jesus, Log. You sure know how to land a punch.”
“I’m your friend, El. No cows, no horses, no ranch is gonna save you from yourself. That’s why I’m laying it out like this. I’m all you’ve got left.”
I let out a breath, his words sinking in. I wasn’t about to explain everything, but there was one thing I couldn’t keep from him. “Claire. She stayed with me. One night, during that storm. You know, the one you thought would send me straight to Oz.”
Silence hung for a second before Logan burst out, “And she came back? Why the hell would a woman come back here?”
I pulled my wallet from my back pocket and flipped open the coin compartment I hadn’t touched since the day she left. A small necklace tumbled into my hand.
He continued, “It’s not for the scenery, that’s for damn sure. Or the local jam. A woman only comes back for one reason, El. You know that, right?”
Damn Logan friggin’ Pierce! Did I really have to entertain that idea? Though clearly, everyone else already had. “It’s not like that.”
“Not yet,” Logan said, enjoying this way too much.
I rubbed my thumb over theBatgirl Foreverpendant. Maybe I could polish it up before giving it back to her. Maybe that’d be my excuse to see her again—minus Logan, the matchmaker.
“What are you getting at, Log?”
“I’m telling you, no woman stays in Buffaloberry Hill for no reason. There’s something bigger going on, and guess what? You’re right in the middle of it.”
I could practically see the grin on his face through the phone. The worst part? He was probably right.
By the time the call ended, I was still set on skipping the double date, but…what had Logan said about me being happy? Too hard? Hank sure as hell hadn’t mentioned that earlier. I’d caught my reflection in the window—I was like a fool who found a winning lottery ticket in their sock drawer—and now I could feel it in my chest. Chemicals bubbling over in a test tube, colors shifting, heat rising, a thin wisp of smoke curling at the edges.
I sighed, leaning back, my eyes drifting over the living room. The silence was stifling. How had I ignored it for so long? I’d buried myself in ranch work, dodging the truth and pretending this stillness was what I wanted. But sitting here, the memories crept in. The chaos, the noise, the constant buzz of a family that had once filled this place.
Mom, Dad, Tessa, Noah. The arguments, the laughter, the sibling one-upmanship. It had been loud, messy, and imperfect. But it had been alive. And, God, I missed it. When Claire was here, I didn’t realize how much life she’d brought, even for just a moment.
Maybe being happy wasn’t so hard when you had someone.
I stared down at the necklace that was still resting in my palm.
For the first time, I let myself admit something I’d been avoiding for years. I wanted more. I wanted this place filled with life again. Laughter. Voices. The kind of noise that made a house feel like home.
I slipped the necklace back into my wallet. It was a small decision, but one that felt bigger than it should. I’d give it back to her when the moment was right.
After dinner, sitting alone at the table, I decided to call it a night. Koda padded behind me, probably hoping for another chance to sneak into my bed. I figured I’d let him tonight.
I stopped outside Tessa’s room. My hand hovered near the door, but I still couldn’t bring myself to open it. The ache was still there, lodged deep. But as I carried on, a thought crossed my mind. What would Tessa have said if I told her I was thinking about asking Claire out on a date? She’d have given me hell for it, that’s for sure. Probably wouldn’t let me hear the end of it.
Claire. Miss Chili Pepper. Whoever she was, I found myself wanting to answer whatever questions she might throw my way. I wanted to go there with her. It didn’t seem so impossible. Unlike the others, she wouldn’t pity me—hell no. If anything, she’d bring me to my knees. What would that feel like? Spending time with someone who didn’t know my past, who was with me for the moment, for us. That would be the real definition of a clean slate.
15
CLAIRE
It was a Sunday, and I’d slept in a little.
In Buffaloberry Hill, it didn’t really matter what time you woke up—nature would always be there, patiently waiting. After staring out the window over my coffee for a good half hour, determined not to glance at my manuscript that hadn’t made it past chapter one, I decided a hike was a better option.
Raven Bluff seemed like the perfect spot today. Late morning, the fall air was crisp but not too chilly, the trees turning golden, and the birds chirping like they were sharing secrets with the breeze. For a moment, I let myself enjoy the serenity, my boots crunching over the trail. But just as I was sinking into the peace of it all, a prickling sensation crept in—the one you get when someone’s watching you.
