Page 77 of The Last One You Loved
“She seems so…old for her age,” I said quietly.
He didn’t turn to look at me. Instead, he was tense, watching Mila as if he was going to have to go running to save her if she fell. It tugged at all those pieces deep inside of me that had once loved the way he’d looked out for me, too. There was a warm bubble that surrounded you when you realized Maddox Hatley was on your side, a safety net I’d tossed aside with a carelessness I’d forever regret.
“Rianne calls her an old soul,” he said. “Mama calls her an empath. I think she’s just lived a lot harder life than most. She may not remember it consciously, but her body does. Humans are geared to fight for our basic needs, and she had to fight harder than most.”
I clenched my fist tight at the image he’d painted, hating Mama a little bit more.
“Daddy, I can’t reach this one!” She turned back to us with expectant eyes.
Maddox went over, fished out a rock, and handed it to her before rejoining me on the blanket again.
“Is there actually gold in the creek?” I asked, surprised.
Maddox rolled his eyes. “That’s all Ryder. He placed fool’s gold in there and told her the fairies left it.”
My heart snagged at the idea of the arrogant, playboy Ryder leaving fairy dust for his niece. “Wow, she really does have everyone wrapped around her finger.”
He chuckled. “From the moment she showed up.”
How much I’d already missed of her life hit me in the chest like a blow, and the ham-and-cheese sandwich turned to dust in my mouth. I shoved it back in the paper sack.
“Hey,” he said, grabbing my hand. “You okay?”
“Mama…she made me miss one more thing,” I said, frustration welling.
“You’re here now. She can’t make you miss anything again. Now, it’s up to you.”
We stared at each other, and I realized he was asking me what I was going to do. I knew what I wanted. I knew I wanted to stay, but I also didn’t want to give up my career when I was so close to finishing it. I wanted my cake and to eat it, too. I wanted the issue with Dr. Gregory to disappear, my residency to be miraculously done, and for me to be able to find a job at the hospital here in town. But it felt like too much to ask of a universe who had barely granted me one small wish at a time. And it was too big of a conversation to have in the middle of the hollow with Mila playing next to us, so I just squeezed his hand, got up, and went to the creek to look for fool’s gold with my sister.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
MADDOX
I WANNA MAKE YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES
“You can make me work for it girl if you want to
Just leave a trail for me to follow you into the bedroom.”
Performed by Dierks Bentley
Written by Bentley / Brett
The breeze pickedup after we ate lunch, whistling through the trees and hollow, and making McKenna and Mila both shiver. We’d dressed warm, but not warm enough for nighttime, so as the shadows started to get longer and the sun started to sink, I knew it was time to head back.
“Can I ride with McKenna?” Mila asked, and my stomach knotted. I was always selfish when it came to Mila. I wanted all her moments, but I was also selfish in a different way now. I wanted Mila to worm her way into McKenna’s heart and put down roots so maybe, just maybe, McKenna would have one more reason to stay.
“McK?” I asked. She knew I was asking for more than if she wanted Mila with her. I was asking was she ready for it? Could she keep them both safe?
“I’d like that. We’ll have to ride slower than you and your dad, though, because I’m not quite the horseman he is,” McKenna responded.
I helped Mila up in front of McK, and we made our way back to the barn, slow and steady, with them leading the way and me following. Mila chatted away the entire time, and I watched, fascinated, as McK’s shoulders moved with laughter. My mama was right. Mila was the best kind of sunshine. Rays of joy that spread over everyone around her.
When we finally made it back, it was to find Sadie and Terrance in the barn. I tried not to overthink it when they broke apart as I opened the doors.
“I was wondering who’d taken my horse!” she said, coming over to nuzzle Shadowfax as I lifted Mila off, and McK slid down.
“I didn’t know he was yours,” McK said. “I’m sorry.”
