Page 111 of Resisting Isaac

She props beside me on the bed. “He’s the glue, Elena. Our family’s chaos—he keeps it together. I know he can be a lot. And he hides a lot of how he feels with humor. But he’s steady. And you wouldn’t believe it to look at him, but the guy’s all heart under that cowboy bravado.”

My chest tightens. “I think I see that. Sometimes.”

She reaches over and gently nudges my water and graham crackers and the small round containers of peanut butter toward me. “He’s already texted me three times to make sure you to eat something. So…maybe don’t count him out just yet.”

And for the first time, I wonder if this reckless, often shirtless cowboy with a crooked grin and a wild reputation might just be the kind of man who remembers birthdays, reads bedtime stories, and shows up for the hard stuff.

He’s already shown up for me more than I’ve asked for. I can only hope he’ll show up for our child, too.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

isaac

The following day, they discharge Elena around lunchtime. They hand me an inflatable cushion for her bruised tailbone and wheel her out to my truck that Wyatt and Ivy dropped off.

She only protested for ten minutes when I insisted on her staying at my place while she heals.

She’s wearing my old high school football hoodie and hasn’t said anything about running lines or the usual work she can’t keep herself from doing.

Which is how I know she’s not okay.

I’m cutting up fruit she probably won’t eat when I hear the door creak open.

Wyatt’s voice carries through the house. “Hope this isn’t a bad time.”

I glance at Elena.

“It’s fine.” But she pulls the blanket tighter around herself like she can hide in it.

Ivy’s the first one in. She’s carrying a container of soup I suspect my mom sent.

“Hey,” she says softly, setting it down on the counter before joining Elena on the couch. “How’s the pain?”

“Not too bad,” Elena replies. “Just a little sore.”

Wyatt steps in behind her, tugging his ball cap off and twisting it in his hands.

“We talked to the ranch’s lawyer,” he says, getting straight down to business. “About the contract.”

I glance at him. “What’d they say?”

We both signed one. We’re in breach. No doubt.

Ivy answers. “There’s a clause. Buried in the legalese. The fraternization policy doesn’t apply to family. Which is legally defined as anyone related by blood or marriage.”

Elena’s head lifts, slowly. “Meaning what exactly?”

Ivy looks between us, reluctance in her gaze. “Meaning if you two were married, they couldn’t enforce the policy. Couldn’t get out of the location contract with the ranch or have any cause to replace Elena. It’s why Wyatt and I didn’t have to sign one—because even though I’m associated with production and he’s technically a ranch employee, we’re already married.”

The silence that follows is thick enough to drown in.

“So, we’d have to get married to keep them from firing me and dissolving the filming location contract with the ranch?” Elena asks. Her voice is neutral, but my ego doesn’t miss the tone change onhave to get married. Like she’d rather be raked over hot coals or strung up naked and stoned to death in the middle of town.

“No one expect you to do that,” Ivy says gently. “We just wanted you to know there’s a legal way to nullify the fraternization policy. So far, it’s the only avenue we’ve found.”

Elena exhales shakily, gaze fixed on the blanket in her lap.

“This isn’t some rom-com,” she says. “It’s our life.”