Page 5 of Take My Love

That he took my virginity.

chapter one

Posey

TWENTY-ONE MONTHS LATER

I’ve never seenmy brother so miserable and depressed. And I hate that there’s nothing I can say or do to lift his spirits.

“You’re comin’ to Bellamy and Bodie’s birthday party tonight, right?” I ask when I find him at his desk. He’s the stables manager of the horse ranch and where his office is located.

He’s ignored our sibling group chat all week and hasn’t confirmed if he’d be there or not. The twins are turning fifteen and since they’re the youngest, everyone makes a big deal out of it. Mostly, Mom and Aunt JoJo take any excuse to cook and bake all day.

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” he grumbles, not looking away from his computer screen.

His hair’s longer than usual, messy on the top and overgrown on the sides. He hasn’t shaved in weeks, which isn’t abnormal, but he hasn’t kept up with trimming it. The bags under his eyesrepresent how much he’s not sleeping without his wife next to him.

I’m honestly surprised he’s kept up with his job at this rate.

Not that Dad would fire him, but if it got bad enough, he’d definitely pull him aside and talk to him about it.

Our property is split into two businesses. One side for the horse ranch and the other for the luxury camping resort. We rent out cabins, leisure treehouses, domes, and glamping tents. It’s primarily for couples looking to respark their love or want an anniversary getaway. Since we’re nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, we offer guided horseback riding, trail walking, ziplining, biking, and cliff diving. We also have massage therapists on staff who come directly to their rooms to help couples relax. Most of the cabins also come with an outside hot tub.

Everyone in the family has a specific job on the ranch and resort. The three oldest siblings work full-time, but since the twins are still in high school, they work part-time on the weekends. Mom and Dad manage the finances, admin, marketing, and most of the employees.

I appreciate my job but working with your siblings means we’re always in each other’s business.

“You want me to come get you when it’s time?” I ask cautiously.

He lives in the trailer behind our parents’ house on the ranch side of our property, which is where he and Maisie were living so they had their own space and privacy. It’s only a few minutes away, but I hate that he’s there alone now.

“No, I don’t need a babysitter. I said I’ll be there, I’ll be there.”

Ironic he says that considering he thought I needed one at his wedding.

After he and Maisie got married, they spent all summer together before she went back to New York City for her final year of college. They did long-distance for another nine months, she visited a few times, then after graduation, she returned permanently.

He was so happy and excited to have his wife back instead of video chat dates and late night texts. I couldn’t blame him though but knew they’d survive through it. Watching their relationship over the years is exactly the type I’ve always wanted too. Madly in love, can’t get enough of each other, and stupidly obsessed with one another.

Who wouldn’t want that?

But then she got offered an apprenticeship and had to move back to pursue her dream in publishing. She begged him to come with her, but he wouldn’t leave the ranch.

I think he secretly hoped she’d realize she couldn’t live without him or didn’t like the job as much as she thought and would return. He visited her once but said it was like going to another country and not knowing the language.

Maisie visited over Christmas, but even I could feel the tension between them. I’d never seen Warren so damn broken when she finally told him that if he had no intention of moving there with her, they were over.

That was three months ago.

As far as I know, they haven’t spoken since the day she left.

“Alright, see ya there.”

I spend the next few hours helping Mom set up and decorate the house so the twins return from school with it all ready to go.My other younger brother, Colton, works full-time on the resort side, so I’m the only one around to help. He only graduated high school last spring and has been training to become the operations manager. Since I work as a receptionist at the Branch Haven where guests check in and out, my job’s more flexible for me to take off or find coverage.

Although I don’t plan to work there forever. I’m trying to convince my dad to let me start a goat farm so we can produce goat milk and use them for brush control in some of the pastures. I’ve been researching and putting together a business plan so he’ll take me seriously.

He hasn’t said no to the idea, so that’s promising.