Page 16 of Rope Me In

Growing up, my family was more of the side-hug-and-wave type of people. As a child of divorce, my parents didn’t even tell me they loved me, say nothing of giving me a lot of affection, and I guess I got used to it. That was one of the things Derek never liked about me. He’s touchy-feely, and I tend not to be. I like my personal space.

Yet another reason I’ve been stuck on thoughts of Kade. Him invading my bubble in the alley and me not stepping back was strange of me.

I pluck that thought from my head as soon as it enters. I shouldn’t be thinking about him, anyway, not when I have an emotional Lyla in my arms. I pat her back awkwardly as she cries. Should I say something to her?

Just as I’m about to make a probably weird attempt at an “everything is going to be okay” speech, she pulls back.

Her tan cheeks darken. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. That was so…wow!” She brushes the tears from her face and steps back.

“It’s okay.”

“I’m known for not having any filter or boundaries. I didn’t mean to cry on you—we hardly know each other. You must think I’m nuts.”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t think that.” And I don’t. Even though I’m not a touchy-feely person, I constantly do things that make me seem weird, as shown by my behavior last night at Night Hawk. At least I ended the night on a high note—Stu told Jake he was impressed by how I handled the bar when Gavin was saying god knows what to Kade in the back room.

I was proud of how I handled the pressure. I don’t really remember the rest of the night because of how busy it was. All I know is that I made some decent tips, and I only had a few people comment on my hair and tattoos after Polly and her friends.

Lyla sighs. “I should be the one comforting you. I’m so sorry, Presley. Really.”

With the focus back on me and my new predicament, my heart starts to race, and my palms sweat. I hear myself say, “It’s okay, Lyla,” even though I don’t know how I’m going to be okay with no place to live. “I just hope everything’s fine with your family.”

“It’ll be okay, just a lot going on. This year hasn’t been the greatest for the crops with the drought. We got some rain, but—anyway, you don’t need to hear about farm problems or family drama, so I won’t bother you with it.”

“You can if you want.”

She throws her arms around me again, and this time, I allow my body to relax as she hugs me. “I knew you were a good one, Presley. That’s why we rented you this place.” When she pulls away, she’s smiling through her wet eyes. “Now, do you want to hear the good news?”

I raise an eyebrow at her, my heart still pounding. “There’s good news?”

Lyla rocks on the balls of her feet. “Oh, geez, I should’ve led with that! Sorry.”

My lips press together. Yes, that would have been nice, but now I just want to know what the good news is. “It’s okay.”

“When I found out my brother was coming home, I knew I couldn’t just kick you out without another place to go.” She eyes the suitcase on the floor before meeting my gaze again. “You don’t have another place, right?”

I shake my head. Without this guest house, my next option is a motel or my car, which is a last resort considering I’d have no place to shower and my car isn’t exactly big. This space was perfect because I could pay as I went and I didn’t have to make any commitment.

With the size of this town, I’m not exactly sure what kind of housing options they even have on such short notice.

“Great!” she says happily.

I screw my face up in confusion, wondering why that’s great.

When she sees my reaction, she huffs a laugh. “That was bad phrasing. I say ‘great’ because I found a place for you to stay.”

That settles my racing heart a bit. “You didn’t have to do that, Lyla.”

“Pfft! Yes, I did. I told you; I feel terrible.”

“Please don’t. I understand that things come up.” And I mean it, too. She doesn’t owe me anything. I’m practically a stranger to her, so it’s nice she’s even trying to set me up in a new place.

She hums then begins to wring her hands again while looking at the floor.

“What is it?” I ask.

She bites her lip as our eyes connect. “The room, it kind of comes with a catch.”

“What kind of catch?”