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“That does make sense.”

“And second, y’all gotta have fun with each other. What’s the point of bein’ together if you can’t laugh and have a good time? That’s the glue. Get the fun right, and chances are, she’ll stick around.”

Rolling my shoulders, I let my head fall back. “I’m not great at fun.”

“You said it yourself. Practice makes perfect.”

“The part about letting her go. What’s that about?”

John thinks on this for a beat. “Means you let her chase her dreams while you’re chasing yours. Be honest about what you want, of course. But don’t guilt her into anything. Don’t make her feel any pressure to make her life fit around yours. I knew Patsy wanted to go to a different college than I did. It was a better fit for her. Yeah, I was scared shitless she’d find someone new and forget about me. But…” His mouth curves into a small, secret smile. “I made sure I was unforgettable.”

My turn to chuckle. “Do I wanna know?”

“Son, a man doesn’t kiss and tell.” His eyes dance as they lock on mine. “From the way Mollie looks at you, I’d say you’re hard to forget too. Keep doing what you’re doing. Trust yourself. The rest will fall into place.”

I hesitate. “And if it doesn’t?”

John’s chest rises on an inhale. “Then it wasn’t meant to be. Awful thing to hear, I know. But you can’t hold on tootightly. If you let her go and she doesn’t come back, then we pick up the pieces and do the best we can to help you move on.”

My throat feels thick as I swallow. Much as I feel alone in my responsibilities sometimes, I know at the end of the day, my family—both real and found—really will be there to pick me up if I fall.

“Appreciate that,” I reply gruffly.

John walks over to clap me on the shoulder. “I got a feeling, though, that Mollie’s comin’ back.”

I hope he’s right.

And when she does, I hope she stays.

CHAPTER 27

Mollie

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS

“Goodness,Mollie, you’re nearly impossible to get on the phone these days.” I hear theclick,click, clickof Mom’s blinker on the other end of the line. “Answer when I call, honey! Otherwise, I worry.”

Ducking into the New House’s primary bedroom, I close the door behind me. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’ve been so freaking busy, I haven’t had a second to catch my breath.”

A pause.

“Not busy with any cowboys, I hope?”

My stomach flips as I force out a nervous laugh. “I know how you feel about cowboys.”

Looking around, my stomach flips again at the disaster before me. There are clothes everywhere. Shoes litter the carpet while stacks of paperwork sit on every available surface. The only semi-neat area is the bed itself. I made it up, gah, when? Last Thursday? Thursday before that? Whatever day was the last time I slept here before I ended up at Cash’s.

I’ve stayed at the cabin ever since, only coming back to take my birth control and grab what I need before supper every day. Which is why this room is such a mess. Between working on the ranch, then working on Bellamy Brooks at night,thenworkingout my stress between the sheets with Cash, I don’t have time to pick up. I told the cleaning service that comes every week to just leave the room alone. Why clean it if it’s not actually being used?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I blush when I think about how often we’re changing Cash’s sheets. Even now, bone-tired from a day working cattle alongside the cowboys, my body heats at the thought of messing up those sheets again.

“Hello? Mollie? Are you still there?”

Blinking, I put a hand on my face. My skin is hot. “Yes. Sorry. How are things in Dallas?”

“I’m happy to report that I have news.” She singsongs the last word.

Maybe that’s why my heart takes a swan dive into my stomach.