Page 67 of Ace of Spades
His eyes search mine, his hand lifting to brush his thumb over my cheek, wiping at a tear that I hadn’t realized had slipped free.
“You’re not your dad. You don’t have any control over his actions, and none of us blame you. And I don’t think you’re a spoiled brat—at least, not anymore.”
“Careful, Langford—don’t go falling for me, now,” I joke, forcing a smile on my face.
“I wouldn’t dare,” he replies, quirking a grin.
My heart thrums in my chest as it hits me that I don’t know if I can make that same promise.
The storm hits just as we get back home, the rain loud against the tin roof of the trailer as I pull the leftovers that Rhonda made me out of the microwave. I take a few bites as I pace around the trailer, contemplating texting Weston.
Between the storm and everything from earlier, my anxiety was at an all-time high. I couldn’t just text him out of the blue, though. I needed an excuse, a reason to go over there. Maybehe was already asleep? It had been almost an hour since we had gotten back, close to midnight now, and we were supposed to leave for the rodeo in South Dakota tomorrow morning.
“Do I text him?” I ask Gypsy, sitting by her on the couch as she gives me a head tilt.
I hadn’t showered yet, still in my damp bikini. Maybe I could say my hot water wasn’t working?
Thunder booms, shaking the entire camper as I squeal, tucking my legs into myself.
“That’s it, I’m doing it,” I tell Gypsy, walking to the kitchenette counter and picking up my phone to find that I already had a text waiting for me.
WESTON:How are you holding up out there?
My heart races as I try to think of a reply, typing up a few and deleting them before finally settling on one.
ME:Not too bad. Gypsy’s not loving the storm, though.
WESTON:Is that right?
ME:Yeah, she won’t stop pawing at the door. I think she wants to come see Maverick.
I look over at my dog who’s sitting on the couch next to me, not a care in the world as she chows down on her bone.
“You’d better play along, you owe me from earlier,” I tell her.
My phone dings, my heart racing as I read Weston’s reply.
WESTON:Well why don’t you two come over here?
I squeal like a schoolgirl with a crush, forcing myself to take a breath before replying so I don’t sound too eager.
HAILEY:I guess I could bless you with my company. Give us a minute and we’ll be over.
I throw my phone on the couch, walking over the tiny bathroom to check my appearance in the mirror. My face had gained some sun since I’d moved to the ranch, a sun-kissed glow now spreading over my cheeks and nose. My hair was disheveled from the river water, my dark waves frizzy and flying in every direction as I did my best to smooth them out.
My hair nearly reached my navel now, longer than I’d ever had it. My regular appointment would have been coming up any day now, but I hadn’t wanted to spend any of the little money I had left on a haircut, so I’d have to figure out a way to cut it myself. I made a mental note to ask one of the girls if they had haircutting scissors I could use.
I let out a sigh, giving up on fixing my appearance and deciding to walk over to Weston’s before he fell asleep waiting on me.
I pick up Gypsy in my arms, tucking her into me as I open the camper door to find Weston standing already at the foot of the steps, an umbrella in hand as rain pounds down around us.
“Weston, what are you doing here?”
“Figured I could give you guys an escort over. I wouldn’t want Gypsy to get wet, the little princess that she is.”
“Right,” I grin. “Gypsy.”
He leads us inside the cabin, Gypsy squirming out of my arms to greet Maverick, the two of them running off into the bedroom.
