Page 40 of From the Ashes
Phoenix chews on his lip, clearly wanting to say more, but he shakes his head and returns his gaze to me. “I can’t fucking believe this.Fine.You can stay until you get your shit figured out, but not a second longer.” He swings his attention, putting a finger in Knox’s face. “We’ll talk about this later.”
On the drive to Phoenix’s, neither of us says much. I’m just grateful to not have to say goodbye yet. My goal here isn’t to torture Phoenix. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s tortured himself enough for the both of us.
I spend the ride texting my dad while Chris Stapleton belts the lyrics toTennesseeWhiskeyin the background. The sultrytune has me ready to climb out of my seat directly into Phoenix’s lap.
Thankfully, the exchange with my dad isn’t overly dramatic since I’m finding it hard to concentrate. He supports me and we share a love of bronc riding, but he’s pretty hands off otherwise, busy with his own farm and his own riders. He already knew about my injury from Jonas, so that was no longer news and he was thrilled when I said it was Phoenix who offered me a place to stay and a job helping him out until I figure out my next move.
Concurrently, I’m texting my mom, as well. Although my parents are still married, my dad is probably down at the training facility and my mom has her own job at the hospital, but she, too, knows I can take care of myself and told me to have fun, call if I need anything, and enjoy the time off.
Oh, I will do my absolute best, Pam DeVille.
I’ve never really thought about coming out to my parents because it doesn’t matter. Since I don’t want it to be an issue on the circuit, I don’t date, and therefore it’s no one’s business but my own. And Phoenix’s. And now Jonas’s…the fucker.
The trip to Phoenix’s house only takes about fifteen minutes, and then we’re turning off some backroad onto a gravel driveway that seems to go on forever. It’s lined on both sides by thick trees until it spits us out at his house.
“Holy shit, how much did you make in the three years you rode?” I ask, taking in my new surroundings.
“Not enough to afford this,” he says with analmostlaugh.
I remember Knox mentioning that I could help Phoenix with chores when he goes back to work so I probe for more information. “What do you do now?”
“I’m a firefighter.”
Phoenix’s answer catches me off guard, and my response slips out before I can stop it.
“Oh. Well, fuck. That’s hot.” He cuts his eyes to me in warning, causing me to shrug. “I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll never lie to you again, by omission or otherwise, so I won’t say I’m sorry because I’m not. You being a firefighterishot.”
He blows out a breath and his head smacks the headrest behind him. “I’m not asking you to lie, but Iamasking you to keep your thoughts to yourself.”
“I’ll do my best, but I can’t make any promises,” I smirk from the passenger seat, feeling more playful than I should.
He growls my name in warning. “Walker…”
I chuckle turning to face him in my seat. “If you want me to keep my thoughts to myself, then maybe you shouldn’t say my name like that.”
“For fuck’s sake. Get out of my truck. You smell like ass.” The laugh that erupts from me pushes some of the weight I’ve been carrying off my shoulders. It’s a foreign sound even to my own ears. “When did you become such a brat?” Phoenix continues, coming around the front of his truck. “You used to be so quiet and reserved.”
This time I double over in laughter.
“Reserved? You call letting you fuck my ass on the dusty floor of a tack room the night we metreserved? I’ve never been reserved, Phoenix. Confused? Depressed? Scared? Hell yes. But reserved?” I shake my head and grab my bag. “Not a day in my life.” Granted, I haven’t felt like myself in quite a long time, but being with him now, even as strained as it is, is the first time I’ve felt the whisper of the guy I used to be. Of the kid I was, always cracking jokes and laughing, happy just to be doing what I loved and surrounded by people who loved it too.
Phoenix stays quiet as he leads me up the stairs of the wraparound porch in front of the beautiful farmhouse. White pillars support the tin roof of the porch which matches the roof higher up on the older home. It has two chimneys, one on eitherend. A weeping willow and two towering oak trees stand proudly in the front yard. Beside the house is a free-standing outbuilding and a pond big enough for a rowboat or a fishing canoe.
From the porch steps, I can’t see the pastures, the riding ring, or the barn, but I can faintly smell them. It smells like home.
The sun is finally dipping below the tree line, even though it won’t be fully set for a couple hours still. A light is on inside, giving the house a warm glow. Knowing I can lay down soon makes my fatigue, as well as the soreness in my body, more noticeable. Crickets and cicadas have resumed their songs after growing silent when we slammed the truck doors and interrupted them with our loud chatter.
“This place is incredible,” I say in awe of my home for the next short while, all traces of joking gone.
Phoenix’s voice holds a note of pride. “Thanks. I know it’s a lot for just me, but my friends come here often.”
“There’s no need to justify it, Phoenix. It’s beautiful.”
Color creeps up his neck, drawing my attention as he speaks.“I made an offer before I even went inside. I knew it was home the first time I laid eyes on it.”
Funny, that’s exactly how I felt the first time I laid eyes on you.The thought is immediate, but due to his earlier request, I keep it to myself.
Chapter 20
