Page 48 of A Place Like You

“Neither are you,” I respond sharply, my annoyance showing through. “Now, what do you want from me?”

“We just want this to be fair with the ranch work,” he states.

“It’s not like I’m lounging around while you guys work,” I remind him, trying to keep my voice down because if we fight, we won’t be able to avoid each other for months or years, the way we used to do it.

“I work nights, but you don’t see me complaining,” he argues defensively, jaw ticking.

I raise an eyebrow. “Speaking of, how did you get hired at the bar when they didn’t need staff?”

He smirks. “What can I say? I’m very persuasive.”

“Is that why you’re here? Your brothers sent you to convince me to . . . What exactly is that you want from me?” I ask warily.

“We have a proposition,” he pauses, clearing his throat. “You work mornings with us, then go to the clinic at eleven,” he states.

“Wren needs me to cover mornings so she can have time to be with Milo,” I remind him.

His jaw clenches. “Can she get a babysitter or a nanny?”

I scoff. “We’re not in the Thorndale world anymore. In this town, people care for their children, and they don’t just delegate the responsibility to some stranger,” I retort, emphasizing the difference between normal people and our fucked-up family.

“That’s a foreign concept.” He taps his temple. “It doesn’t compute.”

“Understandable. Look deep inside your hardened heart and stop harassing me about the ranch. There’re plenty of hands to help,” I suggest, trying to end the discussion.

River scratches his chin contemplatively. “Fine, I’ll leave you be for now.” His lips quirk up. “But you owe me one.”

I frown warily. “Owe you what exactly?”

“Not sure yet, but I’ll cash in when I need it.” He smirks as he walks off, leaving me uneasy.

I just made a deal with the devil, it seems.

Is it worth it?

But it is worth it, I remind myself. Wren and Milo’s lives are better with me around. I’ll deal with River when the time comes. How much can he really ask while we’re all stuck in this small town?

He’s harmless . . . right?

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Wren: Thank you for the flowers?

Drake: What’s with the question mark? You do know how to use your punctuation, right? ← See, this is a question.

Wren: Ha, ha!

Drake: My text was intended to educate you, not to humor you. You should talk to the professor. He might give you a lesson or two on when to use a question mark.

Wren: :raised eyebrow: emoji . . . Who is the professor?

Drake: So about those flowers, are you thanking me for them or just letting me know you received them?

Wren: Oh no, you don’t get to change the subject. I need to know which one of your brothers is the professor.

Drake: No, you don’t.

Wren: (inserts puppy pout)

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