Page 120 of Country Contract

“Cassidy will distract them with Blake, my folks are feral for that kid.” He kisses me again, and I don’t know if I’ll ever enjoy kisses as much as I have in these past two months. It’s not just his beautiful lips, it’s how they fit like puzzle pieces to mine. The feelings that overwhelm me being in his arms alone are almost impossible to walk away from.

I knew what I was getting into, but it doesn’t matter. A piece of me is being left behind on the Hill Farm—the quiet oasis in the middle of nowhere with everything I never knew I needed.

“Make sure you cue up our playlist for the ride to the airport. I added a couple of songs without your approval. Let me know what you think.” He kisses my forehead andopens my door for me. I nod and climb in, blinking away hot tears.

I try to find the right words to say but thank you and goodbye aren’t right. He can see I’m struggling. So, in the most mature moment I’ve had with Harrison, he shuts my door, smiles warmly at me, walks back over to lean on his truck, and tips his hat to salute me.

The next thing I know, I’m driving down their long driveway and out the gate I came through two months ago. The minute I pass through it, a pit settles deep in my gut. Once I leave Pebble Creek, tears fall down my cheeks, and I feel more drained than ever.

I drive in silence, my mind going at a snail’s pace.

What am I going back to?

How am I going to make it work with Heath?

How can people who were so different from me love and welcome me so easily?

I can’t take it anymore, so I turn on my music to drown it out.

When I pick up my phone, I see a message from Harrison.

Harrison: IMAGE ATTACHED

It’s of Cleo and me sitting across from him on the couch, my feet likely on his lap, and my gaze fixed on the TV. I’m wearing his PCHS hoodie, and my hair is wrapped in a towel after a shower. At any other time, I would think this was a bad picture of me, but somehow from Harrison, it feels like art.

Harrison: You always have a place here. Should you need us.

Well, fuck. He quoted my favorite movie. Here come the waterworks. I open our playlist and quickly scroll to find the new songs he’s added.

“I Choose You” by The SteelDrivers. I pull over to let myself listen and swipe the tears away from my face.

The next song starts, and I try my hardest to pull myself together so I can finish this drive to the airport.

“Superposition” by Young the Giant.

Nope, not happening. I’m bawling.

I open my phone and look at the picture he sent me and wish I could be back on that couch with him. Wish I could slide my feet onto his lap and make fun of his foot fetish.

I look at the picture I took of him on Star during our last ride together.

He is . . . perfect. Maybe not by everyone’s standards, and typically speaking, before I came here, not mine. I don’t know when it happened, and how I could deny it this long, but listening to this song, leaving that property, and looking at him on Star’s back, I know more than ever; he is what I have been waiting for all along.

So many thoughts race through my mind. It’s a jumbled mess, but I need to make a few phone calls to get my ducks in a row. I open my contacts and dial the one person I know I need to talk to before anyone else.

Heath.

Chapter 46

Harrison

“Damn, you look like shit,” Hunter says.

I’m sitting in Blake’s rocker, holding her while she sleeps. Nothing helps heal a broken heart like holding your niece in your arms. The epitome of innocence and love right here in my arms.

“Feel like it.” I don’t even look up. I’ve already been crying all morning. My face is swollen, I can finally breathe out of my nose, and my lip randomly continues to quiver. This is the most pathetic I think I’ve been.

“Why didn’t you ask her to stay?” Hunter asks. That’s when I look up at him and notice he isn’t alone. Cassidy is tucked under his arm, looking sympathetic and a little torn up herself.

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