Page 151 of Here With Me

“Okay, he’s goin’ there now.”

“Ya ready to explain to Jase why you’re so distraught over his dad?” Magnolia asks.

“Don’t think this is the best time to tell him. He knows we’re friends.”

“Yeah, but even your father and brothers are gettin’ suspicious. None of them understand why he’s so protective of you...as afriend. Or why you refuse to leave his side. I lied for you and said you reminded him of his daughter, and you thought of him as a father figure.”

I smack her leg, scrunching my face in disgust. “Magnolia! That is foul. Right to jail. Oh my God.”

She bursts out laughing. “I’mkiddin’! Relax. That made me throw up in my mouth a little.”

I shake my head, grinning. “You and me both.”

“But at least I got a smile outta ya.”

Twenty minutes later, Waylon finally texts me.

Waylon

No answer. I left a note on his door just in case he comes back before checking his phone.

Noah

Okay, thanks.

“Jase ain’t home either. Where the hell could he be?”

“Maybe he has a secret girlfriend? Coulda spent the night at her place,” she suggests.

“That’d explain why he’s not at home but not why he’s not pickin’ up his phone.”

“How late did he stay? When I came over, he was gone already.”

“He left like fifteen minutes before ya showed up, so not that late. Around seven. Where did he go between the time he left and now?” I furrow my brows.

“I’m callin’ it. He had a booty call.”

I snort.

“Well, wherever he is, he better get his ass here soon.”

“Hi, honey. We brought ya some dinner.” Momma walks in with Gramma Grace an hour after Magnolia leaves. I knew she was getting anxious sitting here doing nothing, so I told her to go and I’d text her later.

Frowning, I look at the containers in their arms. “I don’t have much of an appetite. I’m sorry.”

“You need to eat and take care of yourself,” Momma demands. “Fisher wouldn’t want ya to starve. I brought your meds, too.”

“I’m not. I’m just not hungry.”

“I made your favorite. Peach cobbler.” Gramma grins.

That makes me smile for a split second. “Thanks.”

To appease my mother, I force-feed myself spaghetti and meatballs before eating dessert.

They tell me how the whole town’s talking about the fire and what Fisher did to save our horses. There’s no doubt he’s a hero. I just wish I could see his warm brown eyes and hear his rugged voice.

Momma updates me on the barn and everyone at the ranch. It took the firefighters eight hours to get the blaze out completely. They’ve already started going through the security footage and should know more tomorrow when they begin investigating how and where it started.