Page 34 of Ace of Spades
“Don’t be dramatic, Hailey,” my dad pushes. “Where will you go, then? And how will you rodeo without the horses? Not sure if you realize this, but I’m the one who bought them for you, remember?”
I purse my lips.
“I’ll live in my trailer. I bought it myself, so you can take it away from me. And I’ll buy the horses back from you,” I tell him.
“You’ll buy them from me? Sweetheart, do you have any idea how much they cost?” he scoffs, making my cheeks heat.
“I do,” I tell him. “I’ve been able to save up money from brand deals, sponsorships, and winnings over the last couple of years, and I have a decent amount sitting in the bank. I’ll have the money wired to your account by the end of the day.”
It wasn’t a lie that I had been making great money, especially now that I was competing in the pro circuit, where the winnings were generous. What I refused to admit to him is that it would take every last penny I had to buy back all three of thehorses. I would have to find a way to make up for it, maybe taking up some barrel racing lessons again during the week.
“Fine. Go ahead and throw your little temper tantrum. Come back when you’ve calmed down and are ready to be logical.”
I walk past him, Gypsy running past me as my boots stomp the ground. I reach the guest house, throwing the door open to my bedroom and heading straight for the closet. I pull out my suitcase, packing as many clothes as I can before frantically dumping the rest of my closet into my laundry basket, using anything I can find lying around to pack up all of my stuff. I leave all of my buckles, decorations, and anything else that would take up too much space, focusing only on the necessities.
I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t even have the semblance of a plan. But I knew that I couldn’t stay here anymore, at least not right now.
It took me a few trips, but I got everything loaded up into my travel trailer, my dad long gone by the time I came back out to the stables to grab the horses. I made sure to transfer the money to my dad before loading them up, making sure to tie up all loose ends. I wanted to make sure that there was nothing left that he could hold over my head.
Once I had the trailer hooked up and everything ready to go, I picked Gypsy up and placed her in her little passenger princess seat in the front seat of my truck, heading inside the main house to do one last thing.
The kitchen is empty as I slip inside, neither my mom nor Grace in sight. I pull the keys out of my pocket—the one to the house that my dad had bought me, and the one to the guest house.Taking a deep breath, I place both on the counter, before walking back to my truck and pulling off of the estate.
Chapter 13
HAILEY
I slam my head down on the surface of the diner’s table, my forehead throbbing from the impact.
“Ow,” I mutter to myself, sitting up and rubbing it.
I’d been sitting here all morning, desperately trying to figure out a place to go from here. Thankfully, there were some trees around back that I was able to park the trailer underneath, offering shade for Casino, Vegas, and Blackjack. My last hope had been Ava, but the bunkhouse apartments that she lived at didn’t have any openings for either a trailer hookup or stalls for the horses.
“You still doing okay, Hailey?” Dalia, my waitress, asks.
“Just fine, thank you,” I tell her, plastering a smile onto my face.
“You sure you don’t want some coffee?”
“I’m sure, thank you.”
I want to cry as the smell of coffee hits my nostrils when she walks past. I didn’t have the heart to tell Dalia that I couldn’t even afford a cup right now, let alone leave her a tip even if she offered me one on the house.
Who would have thought—Hailey Sorrels, too broke to buy a cup of coffee. My life was laughable at the moment, and I only had myself to blame.
As if the universe decided it would be a fun little joke to make my day even more miserable, I hear the bell above the door ring, looking up to find none other than Weston’s date from the Spring Dance.
With beautiful golden hair and bronze skin, she was just as stunning as I remembered. I looked down at myself, in my oversized hoodie and worn-down jeans, my dark hair hanging over my shoulder in a loose braid and not an ounce of makeup on my face. I looked like I just got dragged out of bed, while she looked so well put together not a flaw in sight.
I slam my forehead back down on the table, trying to figure out if I should laugh or cry.
“Rough day?”
I look up to find the blonde now standing at my table, a radiant smile showing off her perfectly white teeth.
“You have no idea,” I mutter, offering her a pathetic smile that doesn’t reach my ears.
“I’m Dakota,” she says, reaching a hand out.
