Page 26 of Unbroken

“Shit, I’m letting Patrick use it. He has another stomachache, and it’s a good distraction.”

“Aw, the little flying monkey is sick again?” Fiona asked as she headed for my bedroom. “He can use mine instead. Let’s go make the trade.”

“I hope you have good games on yours. He’s picky,” I said, following behind her.

“You’re forgetting that I worked for a media company. I have games he ain’t even heard of yet,” she answered with a wink, pushing the door open. “Hey, monkey! Wanna trade your dad’s old, boring phone for my extra cool big screen one?”

Patrick sat up in bed with wide eyes when he saw Fiona. “You’re here! Hi!”

“I am. Your dad and I have some homework to do tonight on his phone, that’s why I’m letting you use mine instead. Deal?”

He nodded and reached out for the prize, Fiona’s pristine, oversized phone with an uncracked screen.

“Not for too long, though,” I cautioned as we headed out of the room. “I’ll be back to read you a story in a bit, okay?”

Patrick was too busy scrolling through the phone to answer.

“Technology, huh?” Fiona asked, taking my phone from Patrick. “Blessing and a curse. Now let me download the trail app. You can do the free version until you fall in love with it, which I guarantee you will. Zoe showed me how it works, and it’s awesome.”

We were back in the tiny kitchen, and I started loading the dishwasher while Fiona fiddled with my phone.

“Wait a sec … what’sthis?” she asked, squinting at the screen.

“What’s what?” I asked, worried that she might have accidentally stumbled on the one shirtless photo I’d ever taken of myself.

She looked up at me with her mouth hanging open. “A job application? For a gig in Half Moon?”

My stomach twisted when I realized what she was looking at: the nearly completed application for a ranch hand and trail lead for a job in a town more than five hours away.

I made a move to grab it, but Fiona jumped out of my reach, still staring at the screen.

“Wait, you’re leaving Lost Valley Ranch?”

I needed to do damage control before things got out of hand.

“I’m just applying. Exploring options. Please don’t say anything to your brother yet, okay?” I said. “There’s a good chance I won’t even get it.”

“Okay, but … why? Are you not happy at the ranch?”

The little furrow between her eyebrows deepened, and I knew I had some explaining to do.

“Fiona, no. I love Lost Valley. And Josh has been an amazing boss. Shannon too. It’s not that I want to leave the ranch, it’s this damn town I need to get out of, you know?”

She narrowed her eyes and shook her head.

“It’s a fishbowl!” I exclaimed as I paced around the small room. “I feel like I’ll always live in the shadow of what happened with Charlotte. People still talk about it and it’s been years! And then there’s my dad and his main character syndrome, constantly inserting himself in my life, making sure I’m presenting what he considers to be the right image. I just want to break free of this place, you know? It wouldn’t be fair to pull Patrick out of school, so I’m trying to get everything lined up before he begins kindergarten.” I finally stopped pacing and stared at Fiona. “You’re not going to tell Josh, are you? Because I promise I won’t leave the ranch without finding a replacement.”

“Well, that’s not going to be easy,” Fiona said softly.

“That’s not true, I know a ton of guys who would be a fit; he’ll have his pick of them,” I said.

She shook her head. “That isn’t what I meant.Youare going to be hard to replace. You’ve been a crucial part of the trail program from the start. I’m sure Josh will really miss everything you bring to the ranch. Plus, I happen to know that he considers you a friend.”

Dammit. We stared at one another in silence until it started to feel awkward.

“That’s real nice of you to say. I … uh … Let me close out of that stupid thing?—”

“No, hold on,” Fiona said, waving me off and staring at my phone. “I want to help you. Or should I say, Ineedto help you, because your answers suck.”

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