Page 46 of Huckleberry Hill
“Is Dad joining us?”
“Yes.”
“You promise not to talk about Declan when he’s here?”
“I thought nothing was going on between you and Declan?”
“Nothing is going on. But you know Dad. He’ll make a mountain out of a mole hill.”
I fell into silence as Muddy continued to cook. I nursed my drink and thought of the afternoon ride with Declan. I internally winced when I remembered how abrupt and short I’d been about the hot spring.
We’d raced back to the stables and then worked in silence, tending to our horses. He hadn’t tried to speak to me again.
Guilt swamped me.
Dad came home and poured himself a drink. He sat at the table, laughing and chatting with me. Being home was like being wrapped in a warm blanket.
I felt safe, protected.
My phone chimed in the middle of dinner. It was Salem. Her message made all good thoughts suddenly flee.
“What’s wrong?” Dad asked as he reached for the bread basket.
“Nothing,” I lied.
“Who texted?” Muddy demanded. “Gianni?”
I shook my head. “No. Not Gianni. I haven’t heard from him since he . . . it was Salem. She was just telling me she’d gone to Gianni’s apartment and packed up the things I had there. And left the key with the security guard.”
My finger absently stroked my left ring finger.
She’d returned the engagement ring, too. Leaving it in a box on his nightstand.
Dad and Muddy didn’t say anything.
What was there to say?
I picked up my plate and walked to the sink. “Thanks for dinner. I’m going to go upstairs for a bit.”
After I made it to my bedroom, I closed to the door and flopped down onto the bed, half my face smushed into a pillow. I texted Salem back.
A moment later, she called.
“Hello,” I mumbled.
“You sound exhausted.”
“I am exhausted. I got soft in my city life.”
“Ah, you went for a ride today.”
“Yep.”
“By yourself?”
I paused. “Nope.”
“You went with the hot wrangler in Wranglers, didn’t you?” she teased.
