Page 110 of Wylder Ranch
“You’re just like Saylor,” he spits at me, like it’s just the two of us and he doesn’t have Alex breathing fire next tohim. “So fucking delusional. Don’t see any ring on your finger either. You think he hasn’t got a kid in every place he ‘vacations’?” The air quotes are so aggressive, I have no response.
I want to tell him he’s the delusional one, but I also don’t want Mike to provoke Alex anymore. I’m holding his hand tight enough as it is. But it’s no good.
Saylor’s mouth drops into a perfect O and Clemmie looks like all she needs is popcorn, while Hendricks and Miles flank Alex as he takes another step forward until they’re practically nose to nose.
“Speak to the mother of my child like that again, and I’ll knock your fucking teeth out.”
He’s so eerily calm, it makes his threat all the more real, and when Mike finally notices the three of them, it only takes a second for him to lose his bravado. He storms off with a “get fucked.”
It takes a minute, but Miles breaks the silence. “Who shit in his Coco Pops this morning?”
Saylor picks up her drink and sips. “No one. He’s. Just. An. Asshole.”
“Hmm, well, speaking of assholes, the chukka’s over. I’m going down to the stables to find out who my wannabe assassin is.”
I slump back in my chair, suddenly exhausted, and it’s only made worse when I turn to Alex. Confusion is all over his face. I can see he’s trying to make sense of the last five minutes. It’s obvious we know Mike, but why he’s so angry is anyone’s guess.
Still mine to be honest.
“Alex—”
“Haven, are you okay? Whowas that guy?”
I don’t have the energy to go into it, so I just reply, “Some guy I used to work with. He’s pissed at me. Alex, I’m feeling beat, can we go home? I want to see the baby.”
The way he lifts my palm to his lips and says, “Of course we can,” without any question, only makes me feel worse.
By the time we’ve said goodbye to the others, our car is waiting outside to take us back to the ranch. The winter sun has set, and the house lights glow from the bottom of the driveway, lighting our way to the top. It used to be my favorite sight whenever I returned home, but I’m too tired to appreciate it now.
By the time we walk through the doors and Everly’s already been bathed and put to bed, I almost want to cry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m here, in my house, in the town I love, with my perfect daughter and my hot English boyfriend, and I know I’m luckier than I could have ever imagined, yet I can’t shake the feeling that something’s about to crumble.
And when Alex and I finally crash, it’s the first night since we got together that we don’t make love.
“I love you,” he whispers, drifting off to sleep.
I’m tucked up in his side, in my childhood bedroom, and it feels all wrong. Like I’m going backward.
“Alex, I don’t think you should move here.”
His breath pauses, and while I wait for his reply, so does mine.
“Because of that guy?”
I sit up and switch on the light. Alex’s whole face screws up from the brightness. “What? No. What guy?”
“The one at the bar. Who was he?”
“Oh.” My shoulders slump. “He’s no one. . . a guy I usedto work with.” I sigh. I don’t know why I’m so reluctant to tell him. Probably because I’m so embarrassed, especially when he didn’t dateanyone.“We went on a couple of dates after you left. It was before I realized I was pregnant, and he’s been pissed ever since.”
“Oh.” He shrugs and drops his head back onto his pillow. “Saylor’s right. He is an arsehole.”
“I’m sorry. I did it because I missed you.”
He pulls me back into his side, kisses me again, and reaches for the light switch. “Babe, let’s sleep. If you want to talk, we can do it in the morning.”
And that’s it. The entire conversation.
An hour ago, I was struggling to keep my eyes open, so why am I lying here with a brain that won’t turn off and a feeling of dread creeping through me?
