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A lump was growing in my throat, all that hope I’d been holding on to, all that progress I thought we’d made... it was disappearing, leaving me just as hollow as I’d felt before she came back home, and I realized, I’d been holding out for this girl for the last fifteen years in one way or another.

Three more years of this, and I will have spent more than half my life hung up over Maggie Ray.

And after what happened last year, I knew; life was short.

I couldn’t do this anymore.

“Rhett?” she asked.

I met her gaze, taking her hands in mine and knowing this could very well be the last time we touched. “Maggie, I understand that you don’t know what you want, but I can’t stick around hoping you’ll decide it’s me. If you’re not ready to move forward, to giveusa real shot, then I think this is it for us.” My voice barely held out to that last word, and I blinked quickly to hold back tears. I didn’t want her to try and console me or be with me because she felt bad, but because she truly wanted to see what the future could hold for us as a couple.

I held on for one more second, memorizing the feel of her soft hands under my calloused ones. Remembering the way her blue eyes held mine like no other woman’s eyes ever had. But also holding on to that knowing in my chest that said I deserved someone willing to give me their heart.

When she didn’t speak, I let go and said, “I’ll see you at the game on Friday, Maggie Ray.”

She didn’t say a word, and when I got in my truck and drove away, I still saw her standing there in my rearview mirror.

36

RHETT

I pickedup a six pack from the liquor store in town before driving out to my parents’ place. Griffen Farms had meant a lot to me over the years. It was the place I learned to walk, to drive a stick shift, how to swim in the creek, and how to rein a cutting horse. It represented a dream, a piece of land to call my own and raise my family, but also, it reminded me that no matter how alone I felt, I still had a place to call home.

I drove under the Griffen Farms sign, my chest just a little lighter than it had been before. At the end of the drive stood that white farmhouse with the flower boxes under the windowsills Mom kept planted and blooming in the summertime. There were cars all over the driveway—Henrietta’s pride and joy, her red SUV, Gage’s white minivan, Liv’s truck, my parents’ vehicles, and now my truck too.

I parked behind the old pickup with white doors and a red cab and bed we called Candy Cane, then I grabbed the six pack and walked inside, bracing myself for Mom to ask where Maggie was. I still didn’t know how I’d answer, because there wasn’t an easy way to say the girl you loved didn’t want to be with you.

I made it a few steps down the sidewalk before my nieces and nephews sprinted past, spraying each other with water blasters. Except Maya missed Andrew by a good two feet and completely soaked the front of my shirt with water. I took a deep breath against the cold burst, and Maya and Drew stared at me wide-eyed.

Great. Just fucking great.

Maya said, “Uncle Rhett?”

I kept my eyes closed, cooling down. This was exactly the distraction I needed right now. “You’re gonna pay for that,” I said, grinning. “Go on, I’ll give you a five-second head start.”

They didn’t move, so I started counting. “Five…four...”

She and Drew screamed and sprinted off, making me smile despite that well of sadness in my chest.

When I got to zero, I ran around the house to the backyard, where they were trying—and failing—to hide behind the doghouse. I hauled Maya over one arm and Drew over the other, carrying them kicking and screaming toward the spigot.

Drew’s siblings, Levi and Cora, were cackling and snorting at the pair of them about to get payback.

“Cora,” I said, “get me a couple water balloons, will ya?”

She dutifully walked to the bucket full of balloons and carried two to me as Drew and Maya struggled in my arms, half laughing, half arguing.

“Okay, Cora, right on their heads!”

Maya said, “Cora, you’re my favorite cousin, don’t do thi—”

With an evil grin, Cora smashed the water balloon on Maya’s head, sending water right down her face.

I cackled at Maya’s stunned expression, but then Cora got Drew with another balloon, making me laugh even more, despite the fact that my clothes were getting wetter by the second.

Still in stitches over Drew’s sputtering face and Maya’s protestations, I let them go, but that was a mistake.

They both went to the balloon bucket fast as lightning and proceeded to rocket water balloons at me, with Levi and Cora’s help, until I was soaking wet and had to yell uncle.