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“I get that. You want a job that’s going to challenge you, but that also feeds your soul. The position at Ithaca University definitely challenges you?—”

“But it doesn’t feed my soul one bit. In fact, it makes me feel kinda dead inside.”

This is the first time I’m walking through this out loud. God bless Mollie. She’s super smart, and if anyone understands the ambitions I have, it’s her. She operates a gigantic cattle ranchandowns a cowboy boot company. She also understands that work has to have meaning in order for it to be enjoyable. Or at the very least, worth the sacrifice.

“Right. So let’s take Ithaca University off the table. Are you comfortable with that?”

I glance at the door. “My parents are going to flip their shit.”

“They’ll get over it when they see how happy you are in your new job. How doyoufeel?”

Honestly? “I’d feel, God, so relieved if I didn’t have to go back to New York.”

“There’s your answer.”

She’s right.

Mollie is absolutelyright.

I’m terrified to turn down the job. I’m also already mentally drafting my resignation letter, which makes me feel—again—relieved. Facing Dad won’t be easy. Disappointing my mentors and professors will suck. You know what will suck more, though? Living a life that’s not mine.

Deep down, I know a life in Ithaca isn’t right for me, even if Wyatt weren’t in the picture. He’s just making that decision easier, clearer.

“Maybe that’s the right move.” I hardly believe what I’m saying. “What do I do about a job, though?”

“We brainstorm. Talk to everyone and anyone in a hundred-mile radius. We’ll come up with something. We always do, don’t we?”

She’s talking about the little found family we’ve made on the ranch—how, come hell or high water, the Lucks and theRivers and the Powells work together to find a solution and make things work.

I feel all mushy inside, knowing they have my back.

Dad and my professors will forgive me. But I’ll never be able to forgive myself if I don’t go after what I want.

I want to stay in Texas and be with Wyatt and rock some sort of veterinary surgeon position that doesn’t require me to sacrifice my happiness.

“We do figure it out, yeah,” I say.

I hear the smile in Mollie’s voice when she replies, “Keep the faith.”

I climb into bed at seven thirty. Not super early by ranch standards, but compared to last night’s late bedtime, it makes me feel like I’m in third grade again, when Mom and Dad would put me to bed while it was still light outside.

I’m beat. I can barely keep my eyes open as I read a book on my Kindle. But when I shut off the light at quarter past eight, I can’t fall asleep. Mostly because I’m thinking about what I’d be doing right now if I were in Wyatt’s bed instead of my own.

I get why he wanted me to be at home tonight. I still kinda hate him for it, though. Because I’m pretty sure we’d be fucking right now, the fire crackling in the fireplace as Wyatt and I sampled every position under the sun.

An ache blossoms to life between my legs. The soreness is gone now, thank goodness. And Wyatt and I took a long, hot shower before he drove me home this morning. But I swear I can still feel him inside me.

Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.

I toss and turn. My knees and back throb, which is what happens when I’m this tired. I need to sleep. If I could just?—

Tap, tap, tap.

I bolt upright, my stomach pitching, and I smile when I see a familiar shadow darkening the window across from my bed.

He didn’t.

Oh, but Wyatt Rivers definitely did. He’s definitely here, and I am definitely going to make him fuck me in my bed like he said he would.