Page 106 of No Strings

“I don’t do feelings.”

“You are twenty-nine, grow the fuck up. The way you two would look at each other, the way you always protected her. Must I remind you, you killed someone on my fucking property for her?”

I lower my head.Was it love?I know I liked her. Maybe more than like, but love?

“We live two different lives; she doesn’t want to live up here, and I don’t want to live in the city.”

“Because those are the only two locations to live? Look, I have a mate who lives south of Perth. He’s selling their property; it’s about five hundred acres. Farm down there. Agist part of it. Fuck, I’ll chuck my cattle on it between runs.”

“My own property?” I ponder it for a moment.What was I going to do, just manage this place for the rest of my life? Is that something Morgan would want?

“Why not, you run this for me, and it’s three times bigger. Buy the land and get the girl.”

I shake my head, “Morgan needs the city.”

He sighs. “Stop coming up with excuses. There is a small city about thirty, forty five minutes away. Hopeland Downs.”

What if she doesn’t want to?

“She will want to, I don’t see anyone else lining up to be with you.” I must have asked that last one out loud, or he can see the questions on my face.

“What about you? Who will run this?”

He shrugs, “Davis.”

To be honest, he’d be my pick as well. As suddenly as he was here, Brent is standing, and he is finishing his beer, then telling me he has some calls to make.

“Wait…” but Brent is walking away. Looks like I’m moving south.

I pick up my phone planning to look into this property, how many five-hundred-acre properties go up for sale, should be easy enough to find. But I don’t do that, I jump onto social media, so I can see if I can find anything about Morgan.

That’s right, this is what she has reduced me to. One- getting social media, and two- stalking her on said social media.

But today is different, because I find more than one reason to finally go back to the place I used to call home.

MORGAN

The next week goes by, at a snail’s pace. Shane’s place isn’t too bad, he just works. A lot. He said the corruption is getting worse, and the cult is getting louder.

I’m grateful he cleaned out his spare room for me to stay in, and I’m glad I don’t have to stay with Mum and Dad. I asked Shane not to tell them I was back. Not just yet.

I throw myself into finding a job, but there isn’t much around; not around here anyway. There’s a couple in Rafter Falls, the town about an hour from us. Slightly bigger than here… okay a lot bigger than here. I also do my best not to think of them. Of him.

Today I get to see Paige. I finally reached out, and she was so excited to catch up. “Water under the bridge,” she said when I tried to apologise for dropping contact.

When I get to the café, I order myself a latte and a scone; which I nervously pick at while sitting at a table that has a direct view of the door. I check my phone, and see it’s five minutes past when we agreed to meet.Should I call her? I’m sure trying to get out with a baby is hard. Or maybe she changed her mind?

Just as I’m about to call her, in she walks with baby Sawyer on her hip, and a nappy bag slung over her shoulder.

As soon as she sees me, her mouth widens into that all too familiar smile; the one that can make anyone smile. I know that because I’m mirroring her expression. God, I’ve missed her.

I stand awkwardly, not sure what to do. We haven’t spoken in years or seen each other longer than that. But Paige knows what to do. She doesn’t hesitate and wraps her arms around me.

“Good grief I’ve missed you.”

“Ditto.” I wrap my own arms around her. Breaking apart, I look at Sawyer. “Paige, she looks so much like you.”

“She has Levi’s smile.”