Page 9 of As They Are
“Wow,”I muttered to myself as I pulled into the gravel driveway. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but most of my day had beenunexpected. From the second I woke up, I knew I needed to get away. Then my tire blew and I was sure I’d made the wrong choice. Then a cute stranger stopped and kept me company while I put the spare on my truck.
I was sure the small-town charm was only a thing in Hallmark movies.
Maybe I was wrong.
But then Mollie’s new home was different from what I had pictured. She’d told me that it was massive, but I didn’t expect ...this.
The driveway had a newer-looking addition of a gravel parking lot. The farm was closed, but there were still a few strawberries out in the fields. The house sat farther back, standing tall with white siding and a beautiful porch.
I’d told Mollie to keep this place from the second I knew she’d inherited it, but it was even better in person. Like a dream come to life.
The air smelled sweet as I shut the door, a stark difference from the fresh wood I was used to and the slightly burnt brake smell my truck had given off when I changed the tire.
It was nice. The perfect place for me to find something to do.
As the season finished wrapping, I was only given a week off, but even that felt like too much. After the way things were left with Jude, I needed the distraction, and I figured Mollie’s old farmhouse would need some help. If she would have me, that is.
I’d been bad about keeping up with her. As time went on and I grew busier and busier, our text chain had mostly been her telling me about the show and asking for updates about Jude.
I’d been having a hard time responding.
If she were mad, I would understand. I would have been if I were in her situation. Hell, Ihadbeen when she would go quiet while she was with her asshole ex, Trevor. I was so determined to keep her in my life, and I hated the man who had tried to take her from me.
Now, I’d fallen into bad habits. It was too easy to.
I took a deep breath before walking up to the door and knocking.
The man who opened it was my height, with brown hair and a hulking frame.
Hot farmer,my brain instantly said. When Mollie first met him, that was all I knew him as. Over time, she had started calling him by his name.Cain.
I missed the version of me who screamed over text with Mollie about this man. I was determined to get that version of me back.
“Uh, hi.” His voice was uncertain. “You must be Wren.”
“You know me?”
“Mollie makes me watch your TV show.”
Had I become that famous? The thought made me nauseous. The show had been a fun way to do bigger projects, but now I realized it came with more strings than I could deal with. Strings like fame. And Jude.
“Right ...”Come on. Get it together.This had been easier when it was a stranger on the side of the road. I’d probably never see that man again, even if I wanted to. But this was Mollie’s boyfriend. She really liked him. I needed to try to be my usual self. “It’s nice to meet you, by the way. Hopefully you’re treating her right.”
“I’m trying to.”
Cain looked me over and I tensed. There was no way he could know I was off. I needed to get this in check before Mollie saw me.
“Hey, Mollie!” he called. “Come here a sec.”
Never mind.
“Is it pie-tasting time?”
Mollie smiled when she saw me and the tightness in my chest loosened. She’d cut her hair. I’d only ever seen her with it longer, but it looked incredible. “Oh myGod!You’re here.” She pulled me into a hug and I could havecried.She didn’t hate me. “I was worried about you!”
“No need to be worried,” I explained. “Just needed some time to get affairs in order.”
Technically, I needed to get affairs in order now. I’d be going back to Nashville soon to film season two ofRenovating with Love, immediately followed by a complete remodel of an old house, both of which would keep me away from my best friend for months on end. So, I was making time to catch up.
