Page 88 of Live, Ranch, Love

“Yeah,” he laughs. “And you’re you. That should be enough.”

Something wedges in my throat. It should be enough, he’s right. But why doesn’t it feel like enough to me?

Every single thing Wyatt has said or done has been a promise to me. That we were inevitable. Like night and day, our lives would always lead into the other.

Why can’t I just believe that without question?

Immediately softening, Duke lets out a sigh. “As far as I can see, Wyatt hasn’t so much as looked at another woman since you guys started working on the retreat. And he smiles, like a lot now, when you’re around. It’s actually kind of creepy.”

I struggle to bite back my responding grin.

“Look,” he shuffles forwards again, back to leaning on the table, “I’ve never really liked Holly, even when they dated, I struggled to warm to her. She’s always wanted what she can’t have. She’s probably panicking after seeing you and Wyatt kiss that night, because she’s realised she’s finally lost him. That he’s in love with someone else.”

The word hits me like a tonne of bricks.

Love.

Something squeezes my heart, tightening with every second.

“But… but that kiss was fake. He wasn’t in love with me.”

The look Duke gives me, his head tilted to the side, makes me feel like I’ve been the stupidest girl in the world. That he can’t believe I’ve been so clueless…

Have I been that clueless?

I know I’ve been trying to ignore my own feelings, scared that they’ve been too strong for such little time spent together. That I couldn’t possibly be ready to love again, but… Auntie Grace did always say that sometimes the best things come to us when we aren’t even looking for them. I was never looking for Wyatt, in fact, I was ready to write off guys for a good few months when I came to Sunset Ranch.

But there he was.

The plot twist to my movie.

He’s been there for me, given me whatever side I needed, both soft and strong. And now his arms have felt like home to me more than any house ever has.

Every song I hear reminds me of him. Every hazy morning reminds me of his sleepy eyes and messy curls when he wakes up next to me, groaning. Every sunset reminds me that it was another beautiful day, because I got to see him smile.

Oh my God, I… love him.

I love Wyatt Hensley.

And I think he might love me too.

The butterflies were right!

I shake my head, smile beaming, making my cheeks ache. I need to tell him. I’ll drop Jake at the airport, so that my mind can be completely free and all that can be put behind me. And then I’ll come back to our home and tell him.

“Thank you, Duke, really.” I quickly drink down some of the orange cocktail, letting it soothe the new batch of nerves filling me up. The ones that make me feel giddy. Because I’m going to confess my love to Wyatt Hensley. “You’re a wise friend. How is it that you don’t have anyone?”

“Ah…” He presses his lips together, barely forming a smile. “There’s a few rules in the way of what I want.”

Rules? I go to probe but he clears his throat and quickly adds on, “Anyway, I’ve said enough. Go sort your boy out.” He jerks his head and waves me off as I jump out the booth, squeezing his shoulder with gratitude as I pass.

Once I settle into the driver’s seat of my truck, I feel my phone vibrate. Maybe it’s Wyatt finally giving in after getting nothing from Duke. I should probably text him, actually.

But a groan rumbles out of me when I pull out my phone and the screen lights up with the message:

Jake: Flight’s been delayed, doesn’t say how long for. Maybe we can go get dinner and get that closure after all?

thirty-seven

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