Page 48 of Giddy-Up
Proving Riley’s point, Rachel didn’t rush her to answer, or even acknowledge her words.Instead, she started eating.Satisfying noises filling her tiny trailer seconds later.
“Wow,” Rachel exclaimed through a mouthful of beef and potato.“These are freaking incredible.”
That felt good.She’d only ever really cooked for her parents before.So really, she had no idea if her food was palatable.Because parents lie.
Wade liked your fajitas.
He did.But they’d also spent three hours working up an appetite beforehand.So again, he could have just been happy to have sustenance.
“Thank you,” she replied.“Here, try the carpaccio.”She pushed another plate in front of Rachel and may have been staring again.
“You don’t have to ask me twice.”Rachel giggled before helping herself to a large forkful of the paper-thin slices.
More contented hums filled the kitchen.And more compliments came.The compliments didn’t make her uncomfortable like they normally would though.These made her proud.
So proud, Riley decided she deserved to tuck in too and take a break.
Her mind raced as she took bite after bite.As tasty as these dishes were, they erred on the side of fancy.Which meant they were more for guests.She realized then that her next dish needed to be something heartier, to keep the ranch hand’s energy up.Short-rib ravioli would have to wait.
“What do you think of beef and cheddar beer chilli with cornbread croutons?”
“I sayyes please!”Rachel squealed.“And where is it?”
“I think I’m going to make it now,” Riley said as she pushed up off the chair.“Wanna help?”
Rachel excitedly jumped up and rolled up the sleeves to her sweater.“Where do you want me?”
Riley couldn’t believe her luck.Not only did she have yet another new friend, but she had one she could cook with.
Yep.Life was good.
***
It didn’t take longfor Riley to remember why she hadn’t been excited for today’s lunch with her parents.Or why she’d purposely spent the week trying not to think about it.
Within only a minute of arriving, Wade’s grilling started.Her dad was firing question after question at him, and they’d yet to even sit down at the table.
Poor Wade.
I bet he’s wishing he was working right now.
It was a Saturday, so they’d both had to take the afternoon off.And after spending the whole week apart, Riley could think of so many other ways they could be spending their time.
“Dad.”She sighed.Utterly mortified at her father’s latest question.
Really, what she should have said was ‘I think Wade’sintentionsright now are to sit down before you ask him any more ridiculous questions.’But she didn’t.Because the same thing happened every time she was around her parents; she felt smaller.Her voice even quieter than normal.
A therapist would have a field day with you!
Wade turned to her then and took her hand, an easy-going smile softening his square jawline.“It’s okay, petal.It’s only natural for a father to be curious about his daughter’s boyfriend.”Curious my ass.He’s trying to scare you off.Returning his attention to her dad, Wade continued to blow her mind.“As you know, Riley’s a very special woman.I knew that very early on.And like any man who wanders upon something special...they’d be considered rather dumb if they were to let it go.”
While she struggled to get her breathing under control, Wade and her father’s silence was deafening.She watched on as they eyed each other.Each exchanging hard and unreadable expressions.Was this some sort of super-secret macho communication?If so, she didn’t like it.And she really didn’t like the feel of her belly flipping as the silence dragged on.
“Let’s take a seat, shall we?”her mother chimed, breaking the stalemate and directing the men toward their modest pine dining table.“We don’t want the food to get cold.”
No, we wouldn’t want that,Riley thought as she rolled her eyes.A part of her was worried she’d miss her parents once she’d moved, after all, she’d never known anything else, but how wrong she was.Being back at her childhood home was already making every breath heavier.
Maybe I’m allergic to my mother’s hideous paisley wallpaper?
