Page 155 of When We Were Us
My laugh comes out as a snort. “He’s not wrinkled or old, you know.”
She shrugs and pulls a face. “Whatever. He’s a dickbag, and you’re done with him. That’s all that matters.”
“Amen to that.”
She readjusts on the couch so she’s facing me. “How did the meeting with your lawyer go?”
I let out a long sigh. “Better than expected, actually. She was finally able to get the list of equipment from the appraiser. Things should go a lot more smoothly from here on out, barring any other surprises from the dickbag.”
“Well, I’ll be crossing every damned available body part for that one,” she says with a humorless chuckle and an eyeroll.
It’s actually amazing news, and that coupled with the fact that I may be selling my vehicle in the next couple of days means I’m one step closer to starting over. There really isn't anything holding me to California anymore, except the woman sitting beside me. Ginger has been such a big part of my life for nearly twenty years, and I hate leaving her.
“I wish you would have let me take care of the car,” she says, pursing her lips at me and shaking her head.
“Well, thank you, but you have enough on your plate as it is. And my flight is still four days away,” I say that like I am not literally counting down the hours until I’m back with Hank. “If it doesn’t sell before then, I’ll let you take care of it.”
“Oh, pshh.” She waves a hand dismissively through the air. “The sooner you wrap shit up here, the sooner you can get back to riding that cowboy of yours.”
I laugh and tears spring to my eyes. It’s been so hard being away from him. Especially since he has been so busy with the ranch, getting things ready for winter. We call when we can, but between me packing up my things at the condo and working the last three weeks in preparation for the new vet to take over, I’ve been swamped. We’re lucky if the other is even awake by the time our texts from one another come through every night.
He has no idea I am coming back so soon, and I can’t wait to see him. He’s leaving tomorrow to bring the cattle in for the winter and will be gone for three days. Then, it’ll just be two more sleeps until I’m back in his arms. Finn is going to pick me up at the Bozeman airport and take me to the cabin. My flight gets in late, so he should be home by the time I make it to Timber Forge.
The morning I flew back here is forever seared into my brain, and it is such a contrast to the first time I left. Even feeling devastated about leaving Hank, I’d been full of youthful, wide-eyed hope back then, excited about my new life in California. When I left this time, it felt like my heart would rip right out of my chest as I turned and walked away from the love of my life.
It had been stiff when we rode to the airport, with neither of us speaking, as if a conversation would be the end of our time together. Hank’s fingers tangled with mine and our palms were pressed together. His thumb rubbing soft circles over the back of my hand was the only comfort I felt.
When they’d announced the plane was ready for boarding and I’d yet to make it through security, I almost took his hand and ran from that airport. Leaving him again, after everything we’d been through, was the hardest thing I ever did.
Then, he’d pulled me against him, crushing me to his chest. I’d tried to hold back the tears, but it was like holding back the wind. He kissed me and held me, and his choked-up parting words to me just about crushed me. How could I reassure him?
I would come back to him. Without a doubt, I would. He was my everything, my life. There was literally no other choice.
“You’re making the right decision, Wren. I hope you know that,” Ginger says, pulling me back from my thoughts.
“I do. I’m just gonna miss you so much.” Emotion clogs my throat and I have to swallow hard.
“I know. And I’m going to miss the hell out of you, too. But from where I’m sitting, I ain’t got nothing on the hot as hell cowboy who fucks you ‘til your knees are weak and treats you like the sun rises and sets on you.”
I snort out a half laugh, half sob before tears break free and run down my cheeks. I reach across the couch and pull her in for a hug.
“Thanks, Ginger.”
“Of course, doll. Besides, maybe I’ll come visit and find a filthy-talking cowboy of my own to give me the best sex of my life.”
“You said you had the best sex of your life in Georgia,” I say with a chuckle. “Remember Wade, the boxer with hips of steel and the body of a Greek god?”
She laughs. “Oh, I couldn’t forget if I wanted to.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
wrenley
It’s justafter two a.m. California time, when my phone starts buzzing and hopping around on the nightstand next to the bed. I roll over quickly, knowing only one person would be calling at this time of morning. The moment I see his handsome face light up my screen, I’m wide awake.
I have to swipe my finger across the screen three times before I get it to work, and then press the phone to my ear in the darkness of the guest room.
“Hey,” I whisper.
