Page 66 of All For You
“So, what would be my role then?” I asked, crossing my arms tersely against my chest. My words were biting. “Seems to me you’d hire people to do the thingsDaddoes. Don’t you trust me enough to do the job I’ve been given?”
“Aspen,” Andrew said through a sigh. “That’s not what I meant. The new hires would be to help you so you could focus on the overall picture. That’s all.”
My eyes narrowed into slits, and Andrew had the decency to look as if he’d been scolded.
“Look, it’s been a record-high profit year for us, but also record-high expenses with the purchase of the Ramsey farm. You did a good job finding wiggle room in the budget and inventory to pay for the fences to mark out that property. And Dad mentioned your idea to lease the land to the local cattle farmers. It’s a great plan. I just want this job to be as stress-free for you as possible.”
There was something he wasn’t telling me, but my anger from feeling like no one thought I could do the job made me fist the keys in my hands. The metal would leave indentations in the callused skin once I unclenched.
But he was right that I didn’t want all the stresses my dad handled. Now that I had a taste of freedom, I wanted it in spades, but this job just didn’t allow for that.
“I wish you talked with me about it, Andrew. I feel you’re going behind my back.”
My brother didn’t apologize. Instead, he went back to work, ignoring me.
“For what it’s worth, which isn’t much,Ithink youshouldmove back here,” I said as I moved toward the exit. “We all miss you.” The door hinges squeaked as I shut the door.
With Andrew’s news heavy on my mind, I made my way around the property. Thankfully, Carrie hadn’t destroyed any more fence lines. She and Owen must have formed some silent truce during their moment together.
The morning sky quickly turned to afternoon, and the sun warmed up the brisk day. I returned the UTV to the barn and followed the pebbled path back to my house. I took a quick shower and changed into a pair of maroon athletic pants and a matching sports bra and crop top. I knew Owen had a thing for my boots, but I laced up a pair of sneakers. If I was going to visit him during the pop-up camp he put together with his old coach, then I wanted to at least look the part.
After I pulled my hair up into a ponytail at the top of my head, I unlocked my phone and was surprised to find a few messages from Jenna and two from numbers I didn’t have saved.
Jenna: Hey, thanks for the coffee.
Jenna: What time did you leave?
Jenna: Don’t go on the internet.
Jenna: Aspen, are you okay?
Jenna: Answer me.
Jenna: OMG you’re freaking out, aren’t you? It’s not true. You know it isn’t.
Jenna: I just realized you’re probably working. Call me!!!!
I was concerned after the multiple exclamation points. Jenna was a little over the top when she messaged but was usually reserved with her punctuations.
Skimming through her messages again, I immediately assumed there was something on the internet pinning me against Vanessa. I remembered the gossip sites doing the same to Colton and Autumn, with whatever women he’d been seen with in the past. The longer I thought about it, the more I realized all my sisters had gone through the same situation. All three married high-profile men with exes they left scorned. It was easy news to pin the new flame against the old one.
I texted Jenna back.
Me: No worries. I’ll check it out, but I remember the game these people play. And you’re welcome for the coffee.
I hesitated before reading the messages I received from numbers I didn’t recognize. Like a kid on the first day at a new school, my nerves were getting the best of me. With shaking hands, I pulled up the first message.
826-555-4324: Hey, it’s Tryston. I got your number from the neighborhood chat. Anyway, I was wondering if you’d want to go out sometime.
The old me would have squealed like a schoolgirl if he sent that message a month or two ago. But now? Now, I was… disappointed? He asked for a date in a text. Why couldn’t he call me? And to make matters worse, I didn’t think I even wanted adate. Not yet, at least. And for sure not until Owen went back to California.
Plus, I had just come to terms with the fact that I was in love with him, even knowing he was leaving soon. I set myself up for heartbreak.
I left the message as Read but unanswered as I moved to the other unknown number’s text.
761-555-8963:
There were no words but a picture of a magazine cover. In big, bold letters read the wordsIt’s back on!with a formal picture of Owen and Vanessa dressed to the nines. From the background, it looked like they were attending a sports award ceremony.
