Page 48 of The Getaway

He nods, smiling toward the horse. “Miss Rosie won’t startle her, from what I hear it’s more along the lines of she’ll worry about loose animals on the vineyard and damaging something.”

“Gottcha,” I nod, grabbing the handle of the dolly. I’m about to head to the barn when I remember something. “What’s the third thing?”

“Ma has dinner planned in two weeks. Said she wants “all her babies” there and to make sure you and Connor come.”

“Sounds good man. Text me the details and let Ma know we’ll be there.”

He shouts his goodbye and I head toward the barn thinking everything over.

I knew I had been shutting myself off from everyone, even more than before. Between losing my dad and Bri’s rejection… if I wasn’t working, I’d go down a spiral thinking about them. But in doing so, I had forgotten about the small community I have here.

With that thought, I scold myself to do better for them. They understand my grief, but no one aside from Connor knows about my beautiful strangers. And even he doesn’t know how much it hurt that she never called.

However, I can’t let that be the reason I shut everyone out. The loss of my dad won’t go away anytime soon, but he wouldn’t want me living like this.

If anything, he would want me ready for the next time a woman comes along. If Bri showed me anything, it’s that I do want someone in my life.

I don’t know when or how, but I know that when the woman I’m meant to be with comes along, I won’t let her get away.

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