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They’d been young and dumb back then, but there were things about their relationship he couldn’t regret. Giving his heart to her was one of them. She deserved more than he could ever offer her, but for now, he’d allow her the time she needed to make up her mind about what she felt for him.

And if she didn’t hold the same feelings for him anymore, could he go on with his life as if the best part of his heart hadn’t been shattered?

“I need some time,” she whispered.

There it was. The tip of the knife pierced the skin of his chest. Would she drive it deeper and twist, or would she pull back and save him?

“Whatever you need.” He turned and winked at her. He could pretend on the outside while he was screaming on the inside.

“Thanks. I just don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know when I’ll be able to walk again or when I’ll be able to go home.”

The knife hit its mark and twisted. She still wanted to leave, and could he blame her?

“Is it okay if I hang around to help? I know it’ll be hard for you to get around for a while, and you’ll have lots of doctor appointments. I’d like to be your personal driver.”

There. That was logical. She needed a ride. He had a truck.

“I’d like that.” She played with her hair and turned her attention to the road ahead. “So, this is the ranch?”

There were still so many uncertainties between them, and as much as he wanted to push, he couldn’t beg for more when she wasn’t ready to give it.

After all, he’d waited years for another chance; he could wait a little longer.

Chapter10

Thea

Brett parked the truck in front of the cute cabin. It wasn’t big, but it had the look of a new construction. Smoke billowed out of the chimney, and a purple car was parked out front. The homey scene pulled Thea’s attention from the pain in her chest and face.

“This is Hadley’s place, which makes it your place for now,” Brett said as he turned off the engine. “You ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Truly, she was ready. Seeing the ranch and the cabin had hiked up her excitement, and meeting her new roommate had her uninjured heel tapping on the floorboard.

Brett jumped out of the truck and jogged around the front, opening her door before she had time to grab her crutches out of the back seat.

“I’ll take those,” Brett said as he extended a hand.

“Why? You don’t need them.”

“Trust me, cup–” His eyes widened, and he cleared his throat. “Just trust me.”

Trust. Wasn’t that the one thing she’d always been short on? Fortunately for him, Brett had barreled over her walls a long time ago.

She handed him the crutches, and he propped them against the truck. He turned back to her and rested his hands on the top of the open doorframe. Leaning in, he gave her that heart-melting grin.

“Now, can I carry you inside?”

Thea rolled her eyes, but her stomach did a little happy dance. “That’s unnecessary.”

“I’ll let you hobble on your own if you want, but please let me do this for you. The doctor said you’d have swelling for a while, and you haven’t had it elevated in over an hour. It’s a long drive from Cody.”

Well, Brett had certainly been working on his persuasion skills because she had zero rebuttal. Maybe she didn’t want to protest. “Okay, but we’re not making a habit of this. I’ll never get back to walking if you carry me around all the time.”

Brett didn’t try to hide his triumphant grin as he slid a hand under her knees and positioned the other behind her back. His grip on her leg and side was strong and sturdy as he lifted her from the seat as if she weighed as much as the duffel bag she’d brought. She grunted a little as the familiar pain shot up her side. The heavy brace weighed her down, but Brett didn’t miss a beat.

“Don’t worry. You’ll be dancing on that leg again in no time,” Brett said.