Page 37 of Before You Can Blink (Rust Canyon #4)

Jett

November

With Daisy and me seated at the table, Aspen paced the kitchen floor. She’d asked to speak to us after dinner, and Tripp had been all too happy to run off somewhere on the ranch with Penny to give us this private moment.

“You’re wearing a path in the hardwood, sweetheart,” I teased, hoping it would prompt our daughter to spill whatever was weighing on her mind.

Aspen stopped the restless motion but kept wringing her hands. Eyes fixed on her feet, she said, “I got into college.”

Chest swelling with pride, I slapped my thigh. “Damn right, you did!”

My ass was halfway off the chair on my way to give her a congratulatory hug, when she added, “In California.”

I froze, my gaze shifting toward Daisy, who gave the tiniest shake of her head, indicating she was equally surprised by this news.

Swallowing roughly, I dropped back into my seat .

“California?” To my knowledge, our girl had applied to the University of Oklahoma. The plan had always been for her to stay local, with Norman being less than two hours away by car.

Nodding, Aspen chewed on her lower lip. “SoCal University in Los Angeles, to be exact.”

“Los Angeles,” I choked out. Small town life was all she had ever known. The big city would chew up a sweet, trusting girl like Aspen and spit her out.

“I know what you’re going to say. That it’s too far and you’ve only got enough saved for in-state tuition.”

Well, shit. I hadn’t even considered the higher cost.

“But I’ll cover the extra with student loans and pay them back myself.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I squeezed my eyes shut. “Aspen, you shouldn’t be rushing to put yourself into debt when your mama and I have tuition covered.”

Her shoulders slumped. “Only if I stay in Oklahoma for school.”

“Do you have any idea how long it’ll take to pay off those loans?

” My voice rose, along with my desperation to make her see the type of hole she would be digging for herself—one that could easily be avoided.

“For a decade or more, you’ll be handing over most of your hard-earned paycheck, forced to scrape by living on what’s left. ”

I opened my mouth to say more, but Daisy placed a hand on my forearm and squeezed, sending a silent signal for me to stop so she could address our daughter.

“I think your father’s only trying to understand why you’ve never mentioned anything about going to college on the West Coast before now.

If you’d have told us, maybe we could have adjusted our plans, found a way to support you as best we could. ”

Aspen’s blue eyes flashed to mine before shifting to focus on her mother. “I was worried you’d try to talk me out of it. ”

Damn straight, I would have.

“I don’t like the idea of you all alone in that big city,” I spoke my concerns aloud.

“But I won’t be alone! Bex got in too.”

Those two had been attached at the hip since kindergarten, and now I began to wonder whose idea this was, Aspen’s or Bex’s.

“Honey, I thought Bex wanted to stay in Rust Canyon,” Daisy chimed in.

“She did.” Shaking her head, Aspen quickly corrected, “She does. But with Tucker at school in Baltimore, she thought it might be fun to come with me.”

Tucker Grant was Bex’s boyfriend. A few years ahead of the girls in school, he’d already left town to pursue a degree in medicine.

He was a good kid, insanely smart, and had been raised right.

He was the kind of man I’d want for my own daughter.

Too bad he was a perfect match for her best friend, and it wouldn’t be long before they wound up hitched.

Mention of his name sparked inspiration. “Instead of California, why don’t you and Bex apply to somewhere in Maryland, closer to Tucker?” The distance wouldn’t bother me as much if I knew there was someone I trusted nearby to look out for them.

“That won’t work,” Aspen argued.

This was going nowhere fast, it seemed. “And why not?”

“Because SoCal offers one of the best architecture programs in the country.”

My eyebrows rose as she dropped yet another bomb.

Not only had she applied to a different school without telling me or her mother, but she’d pulled a one-eighty on her major.

For years, we’d discussed her getting a degree in business management, with the intent that she would take over running the books for the ranch—something I despised and gave me more headaches than I could count.

But architecture? There weren’t going to be job opportunities for her here in Rust Canyon if that’s the career path she chose to pursue.

Chest going concave, I rubbed at the persistent ache beneath my sternum.

My baby girl was slipping away.

How had we gotten here? How had seventeen years gone by so quickly?

I wasn’t ready to let her go.

But you know you have to. She’s ready to leave the nest, and it would be wrong for you to clip her wings.

I cleared my throat, which felt like it was lined with sandpaper, and my voice came out rough. “If it’s the best, then that’s where you need to be.”

Aspen’s lips parted in disbelief, and she breathed out, “Really?”

I rose from my chair. “Really. But don’t expect me to pretend that I won’t miss you like crazy.”

Letting out a squeal, she rushed into my arms, squeezing me tight. “Thank you, Daddy.”

A grunt was all I could offer with the tidal wave of emotions threatening to drown me.

Releasing her hold, Aspen exclaimed, “I’ve gotta call Bex and tell her we’re going!” before rushing out of the room.

Another set of arms encircled my waist from behind, and a kiss was pressed to the center of my back. “I know it’s killing you, but you did the right thing.”

“She’s not gonna come back. You didn’t when your daddy let you go.”

Tugging gently, Daisy got me to turn around.

“He didn’t let me do anything. I was an adult, capable of making decisions for my own life.

Decisions that led me to you, I might add.

” When I let out an unimpressed snort, she pressed on.

“She’s gonna be eighteen in less than six months.

If she’s willing to take out loans, she’s determined enough to do this with or without our blessing.

But it’ll ease her conscience knowing she’s got our support to branch out on her own. ”

“I just—” My head dropped back, and my chest rattled with the force of my heavy sigh. “I just wish she wanted to stay.”

“Oh, honey.” Warm palms found my face, directing my gaze to meet hers.

“She’s not running from us, Jett. She’s branching out, exploring the world in hopes of finding where she fits.

” Thumbs stroked over my stubble. “I think you forget that once upon a time you did the very same thing, and it led you right back here.”

Not by choice , but I kept that thought inside my head.

“Do you ever regret it? Staying here with me?”

Blue eyes bright, Daisy shook her head. “Not for one minute. You’ve given me everything I could have ever asked for. A place to call home, two beautiful children, and most importantly, your unending love.”

“Hasn’t been easy, this life,” I argued.

“No,” she agreed. “But it’s ours. Hard days or easy ones, I’ll take ’em all if it means I get to share them with you.”

Dropping my forehead to hers, I squeezed my eyes shut. “Don’t know what I’d do without you, Daze.”

Her light laughter warmed my soul. “Then it’s a good thing you’ll never have to find out.”

I prayed she was right.