Page 11 of Make Me Trust Again (Bluebonnet Creek #3)

CHAPTER SEVEN

ROSE

“I don’t understand why you need to go. You know that we love having you and Kyle here.”

Closing the trunk of my Range Rover, I turn to my parents, who are watching me with matching worried expressions.

“I know, Mom. And I genuinely appreciate all you’ve done for Kyle and me, but we need to continue living our lives, and that means finding our own place to live.”

“But it’s not like you’re buying your own house. You’ll be renting some kind of cottage from the Williamses. Did you even see the place?”

The way she says cottage, you’d think we’re going to be living in a barn or some kind of shed.

“No, I didn’t see it, but Rebecca reassured me it’s fine. Better than the other place I’ve been looking at.”

“What if it’s in bad shape?” Mom insists, her brows pulling together in a deep scowl.

“Not to mention the fact that the boy’s been hiding in his house since he moved back home.

I’ve seen him around town a handful of times in the last couple of years, always scowling and walking with that beast.” She shakes her head, her lips twist in a frown.

“He’s troubled; I’m telling you. I’m not sure that’s the right environment for Kyle. ”

I want to laugh. Only my mother would refer to Chase Williams as a boy. There isn’t anything boyish about him. There never has been. Even when we were kids, he was too big, so much older than his age.

“Harriet…” Dad wraps his arm around her and pulls her into his side, but she glares at him over her shoulder.

“You know I’m right, Jamie. And, you never know, maybe she and John will manage to get over their differences and get back tog?—”

I bite back a groan.

“John and I aren’t getting back together, Mom.” I stop her before she can even finish.

I don’t want to give her any hope that that’s a possibility. Not that she believes me when I say it, but I’m determined to repeat it as many times as necessary. One day, it might actually stick. I hope that me taking this step will prompt it because I’m tired of repeating myself.

“You can’t know that for sure, Rose. If you actually gave him a shot…”

I sigh in defeat. Or maybe not.

“I’m not getting into this discussion again, Mom. John and I are done; I really hope you realize that and soon. I need to go; I want us settled in today because tomorrow we have a full day of work in front of us.”

“Fine, but you have to come to dinner this weekend.”

The dinner she invited John to. Yeah, I think not.

“We’ll see how everything goes.”

She opens her mouth, and I can see the protest on the tip of her tongue, but before she can say anything, I pull her into my arms. “I love you, Mom.”

It takes her a few seconds, but finally, she relaxes and returns my embrace. “I love you, too, baby. I’m just worried and want you happy.”

“I know that.”

And I do. I truly believe that she wants what’s best for me, and that’s the only reason I’m still here, making an effort.

“Are you still down for watching Kyle on the days I work over the summer break?” I ask, taking a step back.

“Of course.” She gives Dad a pointed look. “Maybe I’ll even manage to convince your father to take a day off from work. We could take Kyle to the pool for a change.”

Dad and I exchange a knowing look, biting back a laugh.

“I’ll see what I can do.” He hugs me as well. “You sure you don’t need help settling in?”

“We’ll be fine. It’s not that much stuff.”

Dad pats me on the shoulder. “Okay, if you need anything, just call.”

My parents say goodbye to Kyle, who’s been playing on his tablet in the truck, and I slide into the driver’s seat.

My stomach feels tight with nerves as I look in the rearview mirror at my childhood home and my parents, who are standing there watching us.

Fear and excitement mix together inside my belly.

Somehow, I was even more nervous now than I was the day I moved away for college.

But back then, I thought I knew what was waiting for me. If only that girl could see me now.

Swallowing the knot inside my throat, I start the car and get on the road.

My fingers are tightly squeezing the steering wheel, my palms sweaty with nerves as I drive through the town and away from the center, until we finally get on that tiny gravel road, and the big house slowly comes into view from between the trees.

There is nobody in sight, so, once again, I park my truck in front of it and unbuckle my seatbelt. When I turn around, I find a wide-eyed Kyle looking at the house.

“Is this our new home?”

A strangled laugh escapes me. Last night when I got home from work, I sat him down and explained how we’d be moving out of my parents’ place and into one of our own—a home, just for the two of us.

The scowl between Chase’s brows flashes in my mind.

This is only temporary.

Kyle finally shifts his gaze to me.

“No,” I shake my head. “It’s a smaller house close by. Stay here. I’m going to ask for the key, okay?”

Kyle nods, his gaze once again glancing at our new surroundings. “’kay.”

Opening the door, I slide out and smooth my sweaty palms over the skirt of my dress.

You can do this, Rose.

Walking up to the porch, I lift my hand and press the doorbell.

The sound rings loudly inside the house.

I bite the inside of my cheek as I wait for a while.

I expect to hear footsteps, but there are none.

I’m just about to ring the bell again when the door suddenly pulls open, and Chase’s naked chest fills the doorway.

Holy shit.

My mouth goes dry at the sight of him. He’s only dressed in a loose pair of sweatpants that are barely holding on to his narrow hips.

The firm, tanned skin is on display, muscles honed to perfection.

He isn’t too bulky, not like John is with his endless hours spent in the gym.

No, Chase’s muscles are leaner, defined by life and hard work.

A sheer layer of sweat covers his skin along with some dust. It shouldn’t be sexy, but there is just something about a man who’s capable of doing work around the house that apparently does it for me.

Get a grip, Rose, and stop ogling the man.

I blink, my tongue darting over my lower lip.

That’s when I notice them.

The scars.

Horror washes over me as I just stare at them.

The damage is extensive, covering the better part of his body.

I take them all in, trying to wrap my head around how this happened.

Fine pink and white lines crisscross over his flesh, but there are other scars, mostly on his right side, deeper ridges in his skin, angry red flesh patched together, leaving a permanent mark.

Who could have done something like this?

But it isn’t a who, is it?

It’s a what .

War.

“The cottage is out back,” Chase all but growls at me.

“Sorry, I didn’t know that nor do I have the key, so I figured I’d just stop by and ask…” My throat bobs as I swallow. “If this is a bad time, we can come by later.”

I don’t even want to imagine having to go back to my parents again, but what other choice do I have?

Chase doesn’t want us here. Not really. He just doesn’t like the idea of us living at the Merrick’s place, and I can’t fight him when he is being all logical.

But how can that be enough of a reason for us to stay here when his feelings about it are clear as day?

It can’t. This was a bad idea; one I should have never agreed to.

I open my mouth to say that, but Chase lifts his arm.

The sudden movement has me sucking in a breath. My body goes still for a second as he runs it over his face, and through his short hair before letting it fall by his side.

Those sharp eyes don’t miss a thing. They narrow at me, assessing.

I bite the inside of my cheek, holding my breath as our gazes stay locked.

His short hair is messy, like he ran his fingers through it countless times.

The stubble covering his jaw is even thicker today, and the dark circles under his eyes seem more like twin bruises.

When was the last time he got any sleep?

“I’ll be back,” he grumbles under his breath. With that, he spins on his heels and marches inside.

I catch a glimpse of Shadow standing in the hallway. The dog glances at me before her gaze darts to her owner, and she follows after him.

Letting out a shaky exhale, I swallow hard.

Chase isn’t gone for long, and this time when he comes out, he’s dressed in a shirt and a pair of sneakers, Shadow at his heels.

“Just drive the truck out back,” he mutters, tilting his head to the side.

Nodding, I go to my truck, where Kyle is peeking from around the seat. What’s going on?

I turn around and force out a smile, “We’re just going to the cottage.”

Kyle nods, but I can see the uncertainty on his face. Turning on the engine, I follow slowly after Chase and Shadow.

There is a barn behind the house, but Chase bypasses it and follows a smaller gravel path that leads to the right, so I do the same. His steps are quick, but I can see that his right leg is slightly lagging. Is it also covered in those deep scars like the rest of his body? It must be.

I try to remember if I heard any stories about what happened to him.

He joined the army the moment he finished high school and left Bluebonnet Creek, rarely coming home after that.

In the two years since I’ve been back home, I’ve heard some whispers about him.

How he returned home recently and is hiding on his family’s ranch.

I heard people mention he’s been wounded, and I’ve seen the scars on his face, but I haven’t heard any specifics.

I don’t get to think too much about it because after a slight turn, the little wooden cottage comes into view and grabs my attention.

The place blends in with the trees with its dark coloring and almost looks like something you’d find in a children’s book. The one-story house is slightly elevated from the ground, with a few steps leading to a small porch out front.