Page 38 of Wildest Forever

“Cool,” he mimics my words, and I can feel the cold tone of his voice blanket me in a shiver.

He steps passed me again and this time I let him; I close my eyes and hold my breath until I hear the sound of the bedroom door close behind me, I jump slightly even though I knew it was coming. I give myself a minute or two before I head for my own room, slamming the door.

I needed to wash this mood off me, needed to sink into the deep copper tub and let the hot water wash all my stress away.

We're not going to co-exist without problems, but I was hoping our relationship would have been a bit warmer than it was. Then again what did I expect when I have treated him the way I have.

I have been immature.

He is living in my home, with my pops, withourrules and I am expecting him to be okay with it.

I have turned his life upside down.

He has had to leave his home, his family, his rules... to live with me.

My mind is in overdrive and by the time I sink myself in the bath I have given myself a tension headache.

Letting my shoulders dip beneath the hot water, my fingers press against my temples as I try and rub the ache away but it doesn't shift, just lowers to my neck, my shoulders... the tension growing the more I think about my situation.

I have been such a child about this whole thing because I didn't like the reason.

The reason is out of my control.

My pops is dying.

He has found someone to care for me, and maybe even love me.

Not that I think he wants love from the way he just shut me down, but, there is a chance.

But I needed to focus on the ranch and us not losing it.

That was our main job.

Keep the money coming in.

Keep the ranch in safe hands.

Pacey Rivera had an army he could use if needed.

I had me and Dusty.

We were small fry compared to Rivera Ranch, but still, this was our home, our livelihood and there was no way I was going down without a fight.

They may have offered stupid money for this bit of land, but there was no way in hell I was handing it over. They got my pops at a vulnerable time when his hospital bills were at an all time high, but I will not let him or them take away his legacy.

I would stand beside Pacey Rivera, my husband, and fight this war.

This may have not been the way I had envisioned my life going, but this is the hand we have been dealt.

I could either continue acting the way I am or stand shoulder to shoulder with him and keep the promise we both made to my pops and I know in that moment that I would always choose the latter.

Dressed in light cotton pyjama pants and a cropped tee, my hair is dry and tied into a messy bun on the top of my head. I open my bedroom door and glance down the hallway but it's deafly silent.

It's past midnight, I had debated going into Pacey's room to make sure he was okay but I didn't, I stayed right where I was until now.

I should just go to bed and sleep the day off, but before I can tell my mind what to do, we're walking down the narrow hallway and towards where his room is.

Stilling outside, I see the door is a jar. Pushing slightly and praying it doesn't creak, I find an empty room.

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