Page 20 of Rough Ride with the Grumpy Cowboy
I don’t reply, my body lacking the energy to speak or move.
“Join us for breakfast,” she adds, knocking again.
I don’t really want to eat or leave my bed, but turning my hosts down for a meal invite will be rude. I’m already at odds with one of them—I don’t want the rest to hate me.
Mustering all my strength, I push myself off the bed and head to the door. Taking a deep breath and plastering on a fake smile, I open the door to reveal Ella with her hand raised to knock again.
“Good morning, best friend,” she greets, a bit too cheerfully for me.
“Morning, El,” I whisper, stifling a yawn.
She narrows her eyes at me in suspicion. “Why do you look like you slept out in the barn?”
“I wish,” I mutter under my breath.
“What?”
“Nothing, I’m okay,” I reply with a reassuring smile, because telling her the truth is not an option, but she doesn’t buy it.
“Do you hate your bed? Do you want me to make them switch it out for you?” she offers.
The bed is fine—the mattress is soft and the bed is queen-size. It couldn’t get better than this; I am the problem. I didn’t even sleep on it much—I snuck out and went to sleep in her brother’s bed—but I cannot tell her any of this, so I find a better excuse.
“I’m still jet-lagged from all the flying, plus my body clock has yet to settle down,” I explain.
Thankfully, she buys this. “Oh, I get it. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. It’ll regulate in a couple of days.”
“Good. Breakfast?” she asks, recalling why she’s here in the first place.
“Yes, please. I’d love some.”
She loops her elbow with mine and drags me out of my room and down the stairs. She stops midway down the steps and turns to me.
“I know you said that you didn’t sleep well because of your messed-up body clock and jet lag, but in case it’s something else, like you’re stressed about Zane, you can talk to me,” she offers.
How did she know? Did Zane tell her? He wouldn’t. Or he did? I don’t know.
I stay quiet too long, so she continues talking.
“I know what happened between you two is still a sore topic. It is for the whole family. That night, Zane didn’t just lose his career—we lost a part of him too that’s not physical—but it doesn’t excuse his dickhead behavior. I’m sorry about him, and I will try my best to keep him away from you,” she assures me.
She needs to keep me away from Zane, not the other way around.
“Zane is fine. I’m the problem, and I understand why he hates me. What happened was...”
“No one’s fault,” she interrupts. “It was a freak accident that tragically ruined a couple of lives, but you’re both alive, and that’s what we should be grateful for. Honestly, this family, especially Zane, needs to heal from that,” she asserts.
She seems so passionate about this, but she can’t hide the pain in her eyes. I know she partly blames herself too, which is why she’s pushing for everyone else to be okay.
“We’ll be fine, El. I promise,” I assure her.
I will find a way to fix things between Zane and me for everyone’s sake.
“Thank you,” she sniffs, pulling me in for a hug. “Things will get better.”
“I know they will.”
