Page 88 of Rough Ride with the Grumpy Cowboy
I scoff at the empty threats. “She’s bluffing. El would never do that.”
“I am not willing to risk it, so here—talk to her,” she demands, taking my hand and slapping the phone into it.
It rings again, and Lou glares at me until I pick it up. My hands are shaking as I do because I know this is not going to end well.
“El,” I whisper, bracing myself for the tongue-lashing that is sure to come.
She doesn’t disappoint.
“Ava Noa Ramirez. You promised me. We said no more secrets, and you broke our pact,” she admonishes.
“I’m sorry, El.”
“No note, not even a text message—what the hell do you take me for?”
“El—“
She continues to chew me out. “Do not ‘El’ me. Do you know how worried we all are?”
“How is he?” I ask, fearing the answer.
“Do you really want me to answer that? If you cared, you wouldn’t have left in the first place. Now everyone is angry and disappointed, including Daisy—you’re going to miss her recital,” she reminds me.
Oh God! Daisy—I forgot all about that.
“I’m sorry, El. I really am. Trust me, this is for the best,” I insist.
“If you’re doing this because of your family, then you better come back now—they have been dealt with,” she informs me,and I sit up at this news, nearly startling Lou, who is seated at the edge of the bed.
She gives me a questioning look, so I put the call on speaker. “What do you mean?”
“Zane asked Ryder to hunt them down since the police were taking too long. He got them to confess, and now they’re in jail,” she explains.
My whole body sags in relief at this news. I’m finally free—I don’t have to fear them anymore.
“Will you come back now?” she asks.
I hesitate. “No.”
“Why not?” she demands, getting angry all over again.
“Thank you for calling me, El, and telling me all this. I’m so sorry—please take care of yourself. Tell Zane I’m sorry.” I hang up and toss the phone back at Lou. “If she calls, do not pick up again.”
“Are you going to tell him now?” she asks, referring to the baby.
“No, I’m too scared that he’s angry at me,” I answer honestly.
“Ava—“
“I’d like to be alone, please.”
She gives me an unhappy look before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.
I’m happy that my mother, her husband, and his son have been caught, and I hope they get to pay for what they did to me and Zane. But now that I think about it, I’m too scared to go back because of how I left in the first place—that wasn’t very kind of me.
Maybe soon I’ll find the courage to go back to him. But for now, I’m ready to do this alone and be a single mom.
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