Page 28 of Wildest Forever

He chuckles a little louder.

“I'm moving over there today, I have no idea what it is going to be like... feel a little weird about it.”

“I would be worried if you didn't feel weird about it,” Tripp says as he places a cup under the coffee spout, the hot brown liquid trickling out.

“What if this is all it'll be? Living together but not being together...how long should I ride it out for before I call it quits?”

“I suppose once the old man pops it, then you're a free man right?” Riggs says and that gets a clip around the back of his head from Ma.

“What?” he groans, rubbing his head but laughing.

“Don't say stuff like that, you took vows, you made an oath... you know how it works,” she furrows her brows at him and his smile drops.

“Yeah, but their marriage isn't actually a marriage,” Riggs tries to back pedal but fails.

“Pacey, did you sign in front of witnesses?”

“Yes ma'am,” a smile pulls at the corner of my mouth.

“Then he’s married,” she shakes her head as she busies herself.

“And that's why I'm the favorite,” I wink at Riggs, patting him on the chest as I move past him.

“Fuck you,” he says but I see his shoulders lift and fall as he laughs softly.

As much as I wanted to stand around and talk shit with them, I had my life to box up.

I wasn't sure how this was going to work. Gerry was still very much alive and kicking, but we agreed that I would move in the day after the wedding, and well, here we are.

I would live there and be respectful, but when the time comes, I’ll start working on the house. It was in desperate need of some tender loving care, and I don't want it to fall apart around us.

It wasn't a small job, I would be busy working on it for a good few months, but between family, work and everything in between I have no idea how I would fit it all in.

I didn't really want to take leave from my job, but again if I needed to I would.

I loved Tripp with every fibre of myself, but when he handed the reins over to me, I internally cursed at him. I loved being Livestock Agent, but after getting shot and everything that went down with Kelcie and The Attaways, well, he thought it was best we all got a fresh start. I agreed and took the badge because he wanted me to, but honestly—and I have never spoke this out loud—it's been a burden since.

I can't seem to get my foot in the door and I honestly sometimes think that someone else would be better suited for the job.

Pushing the door on my childhood room, my heart stutters in my chest. I've spent every night in here and yet, right now, it feels so raw.

Checkered blue comforter and matching pillow, thick carpets that have tread evident from where I walk the same line over and over. Teak wooden drawers with matching doors that lead into a closet where my clothes hang.

A window seat overlooking the front of the house, a cream pillow resting on top.

Sad that I used to sit there and watch Aspen run down the fence line, the small lights illuminating as she passed them, guiding her home.

Shaking the past out of me, I move to the closet and start dumping out my clothes onto my bed and that's where I stay formost of the day, boxing up stuff and loading up the back of my truck.

My mom comes in occasionally to help, Dixie too.

Tripp is out on the ranch so it's just the three of us and Lainey.

I didn't know how I felt about this next chapter in my life, but excitement bubbled deep inside of me.

I felt I had a purpose now.

I wasn't just the baby Rivera brother who was trying desperately to follow in his older brothers footsteps.

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