Page 34 of Believe in Caloosa Springs

“How’s the ribs?” he asked.

“Feels like they are trying to pry their way out of my body,” I replied honestly.

“That was quite a hit.”

“Yeah, he nailed me good.”

Tyler shook his head. “No, I mean that nasty one-two punch you landed in the beginning. All he could come back with was a sucker-ass rib hit. You hit him so hard he couldn’t even raise his hands up high enough to aim at your face…” Tyler trailed off as he began to laugh. It was deep and throaty. “What a little bitch.”

I began to laugh with him until my ribs radiated fire, reminding me again of his… how’d he say?Sucker-ass rib hit.

Cameron must have gotten tied up, because it was Cassie herself that delivered my breakfast to the table.

“Did you want anything, Ty?”

“No, thank you dear, I’m about to head out. But Oliver and I will see ya later for supper.”

“Oh, no. I won’t be in for the dinner shift tonight, Ty…” The older woman paused, brushing a few loose curls of gray hair from her forehead. “I’ve got a date.”

Tyler let out a low whistle. “Well, do tell!”

“His name is Morgan Hacklebuck. He just bought the old Anderson farm in Calico, and he asked me to have dinner with him when he came to the diner last week to introduce himself since taking over the dairy. He’s very charming.”

Cassie was absolutely beaming, and I was happy for her. Jealous, but happy all the same.

Tyler got up from his seat in the booth and put his arm on Cassie’s shoulder. “You just tell him that he better treat you right, or there’s gonna be a lot of pot-smokin’ cowboys that show up on his lawn.”

Cassie chuckled and playfully swatted him away. “You hush, Tyler Baker. Mr. Hacklebuck is a perfect gentleman. You just leave him alone.” She shook her head as she walked away.

Tyler looked over at me. “See ya in the mornin’?”

I was somewhat surprised by his question. “Really? I still have a job?”

“Oh course. Why wouldn't you?”

I shrugged. “I don’t-”

My sentence was interrupted by a loud crash just outside the diner. Everything in the diner went suddenly silent as everyone looked around for the cause.

I bolted up out of the booth and followed Tyler, who went running towards the entrance. As soon as I had cleared the doors, I saw him through the windshield. He was cursing and shaking his head as he opened the car door.

“Christian!” I shouted as my brain finally sorted out what I was seeing. I took off in a dead run across the street, Tyler right on my heels. Tian looked over the hood of the now-crumpled car. As we made eye contact, his pale face melted into tears.

“Are you okay?”

Without waiting for him to answer, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and he buried his face in my chest and began to sob.

Chapter Eleven

Christian

The last 90 seconds were already a complete blur, and I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that one second I had been driving to booked and the next I was crying into Porter’s chest.

Life is fucking weird.

“Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

I didn’t know how to answer his question. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was okay or not.Is this what shock feels like?

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