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I look out at into the distance, staring at the people watching the movie. “No one knows this, so when I tell you, just know that you’ll be the first person to know the meaning. Please understand that.” I turn back to her, and we lock eyes.
Zoey nods and places a hand on my leg.
“I haven’t been the sheriff here for very long; only a couple of years. Before that, I was working in another state as a state trooper. Did that for a few years. My partner and I got a call about a stranded motorist.” Resting my arm that’s not around Zoey on my leg, I place my head in my hand. “He shot at us as we approached the vehicle. He was waiting off to the side of the highway. Shot my partner and then shot me.”
Her hand tightens around my thigh.
“I grabbed my partner and dragged him to cover, getting shot myself in the process.” I lift up the sleeve of my left arm. “I was grazed. As I was getting ready to call for back up, another set of troopers showed up. The shooter started shooting at them, too.” Taking a moment, I steady my breaths. “The tats of the broken clocks … that’s the time they passed. The dates are their end of watch.” Pulling up the sleeve, I show her the rest of the tattoo. My entire arm memorializes them.
That day, I should have trusted my instincts. I felt it in my bones that something was off on that call. Because I didn’t listen to myself, three people were killed.
The shooter was hidden, and we never saw him from where we were at when we pulled up. The guilt I carried with me ate at me for the longest time. I wasn’t able to protect them, my brothers.
Zoey wraps her arms around me, and we fall the rest of the way down so that we’re laying on the blanket.
For a moment, we merely stare at each other, not saying a word.
“Is that why you came back here?” she whispers. Her eyes water with unshed tears.
I shake my head. “No. Mom got sick. Cancer. She’s fine now, though. Cancer free. But that was the reason I came back here. I couldn’t help the family and mom through it if I wasn’t here.”
Zoey nods and then tucks herself into me, laying on my arm. It’s quiet for a while after that.
“Do you think your family’s looking for you?” I finally whisper to her.
Her answer is immediate, “No.”
If she’s sure her family isn’t looking for her, then it’s not her family that she ran from. That leads me to believe she’s running from a boyfriend or husband. Her fear isn’t fabricated; she’s deathly afraid of whoever it is, but it’s not her parents.
“What are you going to do now that you’re starting over?” I ask her.
She takes a moment to answer. “Not sure. But whatever it is, I just want to stay in control of my future, my life, and my heart.”
Chapter 7
Zoey
The soundI hate the most is an alarm clock before the sun is even up. It’s only five thirty in the morning and I have to be up and getting ready for my first day on the ranch. Ugh. To make matters worse, it’s a fucking Monday. No one likes Mondays.
Rolling over, I close my eyes and see if I can squeeze out a few more minutes.
“Zo. Time to get up.” Mother fucker. Of course his sexy ass is up this early.
“Go away!” I yell back at him.
“I’m coming in, Zo. So be covered up or dressed.” Before I can respond, he’s opening my door.
He turns on the light in the room, and I shut my eyes tighter and throw the covers over my head.
“Come on, sleepyhead. You have a full day of me all to yourself.” Ryker chuckles.
I groan as he pulls the covers off me, and he stops dead in his tracks.
“Um.” Ryker’s eyes go wide, and he clears his throat. “Sorry.” He immediately turns and walks out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
My face feels like it’s on fire, burning from embarrassment. I look down. All I have on is a pink camisole and black boy shorts. Let’s also not forget that my nipples just made an appearance through the camisole.
Note to self: Buy a onesie.