Page 15 of Country Contract

“It’s my sister-in-law, sorry.” I give her a fake remorseful smile.

“No worries. Does she call you often?” Her smile is tight and forced—it makes me uncomfortable.

“Uhhh, yeah we’re pretty close,” I answer honestly. Cassidy has become a real sister to me.

Jenna’s smile falters for just a moment before she slides it back into place.

“Hello?” I answer, keeping my eyes on my date. She watches me carefully.

“Oh my God! Harrison, Blake fell from the loft in the barn! We think her arm is broken. We’re going to the ER now!” she wails. The hairs on my neck stand at attention. I have to remember I asked her to fake an emergency, but Blake is our angel. She could have said anything else.

“Which ER?!” I ask directly. The fear in my voice is real; I hate to even imagine anything happening to that girl.

“Uh, Regional?” she says, faltering.

“Okay, it’ll take me about thirty minutes. Do you need me to get anything from the house?”

“Yeah, we didn’t grab her bunny!” she states, which would be a real emergency.

“I’m on it!” I end the call. Turning to face Jenna, I see her eyes wide, and brows raised.

“Everything okay?” she asks.

“My niece fell, and they think her arm is broken. I need to grab some stuff for them at the house and head to the ER.” I pull my wallet out and fish out enough cash to cover our tab and tip. When I move to leave, Jenna does as well.

“Well, we better head out then,” she says definitively.

“Uh, yeah. Sorry for the abrupt end to our date.” I am speed walking out the door, but I hear the drops of little footfalls behind me. Jenna is keeping my pace, which in a way makes sense because she has no reason to stay at the bar by herself. Once we’re outside, I head toward my truck but think better of it.

“Where did you park?” I ask tersely.

“Over there, want me to follow you?” she asks seriously while pointing to a red Chevy sedan.

“Follow me?” Genuine confusion and an uncertain discomfort fill me.

“Yeah, you can’t possibly want to do this alone. Jenna will help.” And there it is—one of the many unusual things to happen this evening.

“Listen, I have to go. Please get home safe.” I usher her to her car, and she stares at me with an unamused look before sliding into her driver’s seat.

I all but run over to my truck, hop in, start her up, and peel out of the lot without buckling in. I don’t want to give her the opportunity to follow me, which after tonight, Iwouldn’t be surprised by. I drive irresponsibly the whole way home. Over the speed limit and making extra turns. Not once do I see the sedan, but I can’t shake the discomfort from earlier.

It would take about thirty minutes on an average day to get home from that bar. With the extra turns and a detour at a gas station to fuel up, I make it there in about forty-five.

I pull in front of the main house, park my truck, and head up the steps. Before Cassidy, I would just walk into the house without a second thought. Not long after she and Hunter reunited, I learned the hard way that knocking is a must now. Catching your brother on the stairs with his girlfriend is just as mortifying as it sounds. It’s not finding-your-parents mortification, but it’s no good.

I knock a few times, and Cassidy opens the door quickly, B on her hip. Blake smiles big with recognition and splays her arms out for me.

“Ha-Ha!” She beams.

“Sweet B!” I scoop her up and step through the threshold. The house smells like coffee, likely a decaf brew. Hunter sits on the couch with a steaming mug in hand, feet kicked up on the coffee table, looking relaxed. Cassidy closes the door behind me and glides into her spot next to him, grabbing her own mug before settling in.

“Do you want a cup?” she asks, sitting up as if she may stand.

I hold one hand out and shake my head. “Honestly, I’d prefer a beer. I won’t stay long, I know y’all have market tomorrow.”

“It’s just Jake and me tomorrow,” my brother says. “Get yourself a bottle.”

“Spill,” Cassidy says over her mug.

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