Page 98 of Spencer and the Younger Girl
“For the record, I was catcalling the horse, not you.” She still didn’t turn to him. “Catcalling? No. Horsecalling maybe? Is that a word? It should be a word.”
“Hey, Hadley.” Spencer dug his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels.
“Ah, so you do remember my name.” She finally lifted her eyes to his, a foreboding feeling stirring in her chest. “Haven’t seen you this morning, stranger.” Whatever was wrong, it didn’t stop her from wanting to be near him. She climbed the fence, jumping down on the other side. “Hi.” A shy smile spread across her lips.
Spencer didn’t return the smile. Instead, he flicked his eyes to the house.
Hadley stepped closer, brushing her hand down the front of his shirt. She rose up on her toes for a kiss, but he stepped away.
“Okay, then.” She crossed her arms. “That answers that question. Something is bothering you.”
He pretended to adjust Harbinger’s halter, but she knew the action for what it was. An escape. From her. “Hadley, we need to talk.”
“Oh, boy.” She whirled on her heel. “Not how I expected this day to go.” He was dumping her. Her! She’d known it was coming, that they were living in some alternate reality where nothing existed other than this ranch.
But she’d thought they had a bit more time.
When she reached the fence, she set her hands on it, trying to muster up the strength to pull herself over like she’d done so many times.
“Hadley, come on.” Spencer appeared at her side. “You knew we were only temporary.” His voice held no conviction, no emotion.
Well, two could play that game.
“It’s fine, Spencer. You’re right. I did know.” She turned to him and forced a smile onto her lips. “We’re good, okay?”
“That’s it?” A storm brewed in his eyes, a storm she knew well.
“I’m not sure what you want from me.” She crossed the paddock to the metal gate.
“I don’t know. I just thought…”
“Thought what?” she threw back over her shoulder. “That I’d cry or beg you to love me or something? I’m not that person, Spencer. I don’t need you.” She didn’t need anyone. Tears burned at the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Spencer wasn’t the first guy she’d dated, and he wouldn’t be the last.
But why did her chest tighten just looking at him?
“I thought you’d fight me.” His voice was small, insignificant. “You always fight me.”
“That’s what you want?” She twisted to face him. “Fine, Spence. You’re a colossal jerk. You just broke up with me as if nothing between us matters. Well, guess what, it matters to me. I knew you were leaving… I knew nothing I felt could last. But, for freak’s sake! At least make me feel like you cared even a little.”
He swallowed, his breath rasping between his teeth. “I care, Hadley. I’m sorry.” He closed his eyes, and for a moment Hadley thought she saw a flicker of pain across his face. “I need to choose my family right now.”
That sentence sent a crack straight through her heart. How could she compete with family? She didn’t know what he meant by that, but she’d seen his relationship with his parents and would have done anything to help him fix it.
She held in her tears, owing herself that much, as she studied the planes of his face, memorizing every part of him.
Reaching out, she took his hand in hers, thankful when he didn’t pull away. “I hope wherever you go next is spectacular. I really do.” Dropping his hand, she turned and rushed through the gate and toward the main house.
Tears broke free, and she wiped them away. Damien called her name, but she didn’t stop. Getting out of there was now priority number one. She’d make up some kind of illness. Heartbreakitis? Was that a thing?
She wanted to hate him with every part of her, but she didn’t have the energy.
When a familiar car pulled down the long drive, she hiccupped back a sob. Roman climbed out of the driver’s side, and she ran toward him.
He saw her jump in time to catch her as she threw herself into his arms, needing someone to hold her together.
“Hey,” Roman cooed. “I tried to get here as fast as I could. Did you already hear somehow?”
“Hear what?” She lifted a tear-stained face to him.
“I thought that’s what the crying was about.”
“Hear what, Roman?”
He squeezed his arms tighter around her. “Hads, it’s Jack. He’s in the hospital.”
Her tears dried instantly as the fissures in her heart widened. Just like Spencer chose his family, she had hers.
And grandpa was it.
“Take me to him. Please.”
