Page 11 of Rough Ride with the Grumpy Cowboy
“You could come with me,” I suggest.
“I would love to—it sounds like a dream—but someone has to hold down the fort.”
She’s right. Just because I’m not on active tour doesn’t mean my career is on hold, and there’s also the stalker issue to deal with.
“I’ll miss you. Take care of yourself too.”
“I definitely will.”
We share one more goodbye before I detach myself from her and board the jet. I meet the crew: Captain Tucker, his co-pilot Carson, and the two flight attendants, Sadie and Becca. A crew of four for only one person and a three-hour flight is overkill if you ask me, but I’m in no position to complain.
The jet is a thirteen-seater, so I’m spoiled for choice, but I pick one of the middle window seats to allow me a nice view.
Three hours fly by—pun intended—and faster than I’d like, we’re touching down at the private airfield owned by the Morgans.
LA weather is humid, so I’m used to the heat, but it holds no candle to the sweltering weather that welcomes me to my home state. I regret wearing jeans and a hoodie the moment I step out of the plane.
Sadie and Becca help bring down my bags, and I’m wondering where Ella is, since she promised she would be the one to pick me up, when I see a black Chevy truck barreling toward us. We’re parked on the tarmac, but somehow it’s still billowing dust in its wake.
It’s barely parked when the front passenger door opens and Ella rushes out, making a beeline for me.
“Ava!” she screams just as she jumps into my arms.
I stagger back but manage to stabilize myself before we fall. Ella refused to let the accident get between us no matter how much I tried to pull away, so we’ve seen each other consistently over the past few years. I haven’t been back here, so it’s been her flying out to see me, which I’m extremely grateful for. I haven’t seen her in close to a year though, so this bear hug is warranted.
When we pull apart, we’re both in hysterics and wiping away each other’s tears.
“I missed you so much,” Ella cries.
“I missed you too,” I whisper, caressing her cute chubby cheeks.
Ella is a bit on the fuller side. Compared to me, she has more meat on her bones, which I love about her. Her dark brownhair, that runs in the Morgan family, falls over her shoulders in waves. The short, halter-neck dress she’s wearing hugs her D-cups perfectly and exposes her thick tan legs that I’ve always been jealous of. Even though I’m from Texas and Hispanic, I’ve always had pale skin, which is why when I blush, my whole face turns pink.
“Have you gotten thinner? I thought I was imagining things during FaceTime, but you’re nothing but skin and bones. Haven’t they been feeding you in LA?” she exclaims.
I’m about to defend myself when the driver’s side door opens and out steps the last person I expect to see. He looks just as dazzling as I remember, if not more. His hair is longer, he seems to have gotten buffer, and if possible, even taller. His steel eyes find mine but only for a fleeting second, although that’s enough to have me freaking the fuck out.
Oh no, no, no... I thought I would have more time before I have to deal with him.
I turn to my best friend, who is the only one to blame. “El, what is the meaning of this? You promised I wouldn’t see him. Why is he the first one I see?”
She grins sheepishly at me. “You know I don’t drive, and he was the only one available.”
I roll my eyes at her poor excuse. “I highly doubt that.”
I notice Zane walking toward us, so I brace myself even though I’m freaking out inside.
“Hi, Zane,” I wave at him with what I hope is a smile and not a grimace.
I wasn’t expecting him to welcome me back with open arms, but he barely acknowledges me as he brushes past me like I don’t exist. My heart cracks wide open with pain as I watch him get my bags and load them up in the truck.
“Don’t take it personally. He basically went non-verbal ever since the accident,” Ella explains.
“Oh,” I mutter, wondering what else I’m supposed to say.
I did that. I broke this magnificent man. I knew it was a bad idea coming back here.
“But don’t mind him. It was no one’s fault, so let’s move on and make sure you have an incredible three months with us,” she asserts.
