Page 10 of Every Single Wildflower
Chapter six
Ivy
MaddoxmotherfuckingSheppard.
Heworkshere. Full time.
I stomp across the freshly cut grass, cursing under my breath the entire way to the arena.
I didn’t get to take him in this morning, I was too busy trying my hardest not to flash my naked ass to God and everyone. Then I was too busy putting on a front of indifference. His dark hair still slightly curled at the ends, like it was fresh from the shower, and it still poked out from beneath his straw cowboy hat. His jeans still molded to those strong thighs that were evidence of the many miles he’s ridden on this ranch. His stubbled jaw wasstill as sharp as his last words to me, and those damn hazel eyes still made my pulse thud uncontrollably beneath the skin on my neck. He was the same, yet different. He was older. Rougher, and still the man I would forever feel guilty for loving.
The reasons I stayed states away from this place for so long seem to be slamming right into my face this morning. No easing into the memories left behind. Nope. Those are making a cold as ice welcome, and I can already feel the frostbite.
I hate the way my heart fluttered at the sound of his voice. That smooth rumble that always made my stomach drop since I understood what it meant when my heart would begin to race when he merely entered a room. I believe the first time I felt it I was seventeen, and I soon realized that my four-year relationship with Brady was filled with nothing but easy friendship, and excuses. Excuses of why he partied so much. Excuses of why he was talking to that girl from San Antonio or the one from the rodeo the previous weekend that he attended without me. I cared for Brady, and we made social sense. Your typical cheerleader dates the football captain. Eventually, I realized how unfair it was to Brady that my feelings for him were practically nonexistent, and the breakup wasn’t as smooth as I had hoped. Brady being himself, threw a couple of tantrums to get my attention.To guilt meinto taking him back. But I was done. Done long before I said the words out loud. But as time went on, my innocent crush on his older brother soon bloomed into full blown feelings, in which he was very clear he didn’t have for me after the night I childishly humiliated myself. I took his protective nature as a possibility that he saw me as more than just a young girl. I thought when he held me in his arms and told me he would rip apart anyone who ever hurt me, that he meant it. When he told me I could call him anytime, no matter what, and he would answer, that I held more of a place in his life thanjust his little brother’s naive ex-girlfriend. But boy was I dead wrong, and my heart still has the deep set crack to prove it.
Finally, the arena comes into view, and I spot the faded red Bloomer trailer parked on the left side of the dingy white fence. I swing my leg over the pipe railing, then follow the path around to the trailer door. A small smile forms on my lips when I read the sign that’s hung with a piece of vet tape.
If it’s before 8am. Fuck off.
(Yes, that means you, Cooper)
Dakota Sterling was the freest of souls. This nomadic gypsy I secretly envied. I loved her ability to have zero reservations about what anyone else thought about her. I admired it, and the fact it was indeed before eight, had me grinning, despite the despair around us. When I pound a fist against the trailer door, I hear a groan, followed by some obscene foul language, then the heavy steps of a pissed off Dakota. The door is barely ajar when she starts spitting her venom.
“I swear to God, Cooper. I already told you; I don’t want your shit coffee.”
The door fully slings open, revealing a barefoot figure, with long black unruly hair. A Whitney Houston crop top stops just above her pierced navel, and a pair of pink spandex shorts cover her lower half.
“Does he still actually think it tastes good?” I ask as I cross my arms.
Her eyes widen, and the scowl slides into a shocked but genuine smile.
“You dirty little skank.” She reaches out, wrapping a long arm around my neck, crashing our top halves together. The position is awkward as I hover over the makeshiftstairto the trailer, which is a strategically placed Yeti cooler.
“I’m so pissed at you.” She releases me. Kisses my forehead, then jerks me inside, slamming the door behind me. “Get inhere before Cooper sees I’m up. He’ll make me help saddle the horses.”
I snicker, knowing secretly that Cooper will saddle the horses for her regardless. Dakota may be clueless to my brother’s clear affection for her, but I’m not. The only reason we became close friends is because he was friends with her first. I just kind of stole her away. Truth be told she prefers him over me, though her stubbornness would never allow her to admit it.
“Does Laiken know you're home?” She opens a plastic tub, pulling out a pair of washed-out jeans.
“Not yet.” I take a seat on a pile of outdated rodeo magazines on the couch.
Laiken Sheppard was another piece to our trio that formed when I started dating Brady. Laiken is his sister. Two years older, and we became fast friends that lasted even through the cheating scandals and ultimately the breakup.
“Just move that stuff. I need to toss it anyway," she murmurs as she spins around to change her top. She works the t-shirt over her head before she flips her hair out of the neck and faces me.
“Where the hell have you been, Ivy?” She gathers her hair up to put it in a bun on top of her head. “And what the hell happened with the fire? I was dead asleep when Clyde and Farley came beating the door down.”
I sigh. That’s a lot to unload. “How about we go to breakfast with Laiken? We can talk then. I would like to bring mom some food and clothes back to the hospital.”
She purses her lips but finally nods. “Fine. But you're buying. Serves you right for ghosting us.”
There’s a lightness in her tone, but the truth of it presses on my chest. We Face Timed and talked as often as we could, but it wasn’t the same, and being back here for the short time I have tells me thatnothingmay ever be the same.
Chapter seven
Ivy
Dakota peels out from the only red light in Mayson Ridge just in time to completely cut off Laiken’s SUV, causing her to skid to a stop. Her window immediately rolls down, her mouth ready to give Dakota the what for when she spots me.
