Page 40 of Unbroken (Poplar Springs #2)

THIRTY-EIGHT

FIONA

“ H ey, you eat yet?” Josh called out to me. “Because Zoe made some killer pizza and there’s extra. Come grab some before it gets cold.”

My stomach rumbled at the thought of food, but I’d been hoping Eli would finish up with the farrier so we could eat lunch together.

He’d been distant all day again. Sure, we were busy, but he usually took the time to talk to me.

I felt like he was avoiding me and there was something in his eyes that I couldn’t place.

It made even less sense because we’d had that beautiful night together and had woken up in each other’s arms. It was the best night of my life and I’d been hoping for a repeat, but Eli wasn’t even making eye contact with me. Did he regret it?

“Sure, that would be great, thanks.”

I met him on the porch and waited while he went inside to get me some.

“Here you go,” he said, handing me a plate with three slices of pizza—with what looked like fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella— stacked on top of each other.

“You can’t beat tomatoes fresh from the garden.

I swear, her pizza tastes better than Magiano’s.

Zo is really getting domestic these days. ”

I tried not to feel jealous about my brother’s adorable relationship as I took the plate from him.

“How hungry do you think I am?” I laughed as I sat down on a rocker.

“I know how hard you work; you need to fuel up,” he said, sitting down next to me.

“Looks delicious.” I picked up a slice, suddenly unsure if I could eat, and felt Josh watching me.

“What’s going on with you?” he asked. “You don’t seem like yourself. You’re quiet today.”

I scoffed and finally took a big bite of pizza, trying not to swoon because it really was good. “ I’m not the one who’s being weird. Eli’s been acting strange all day.”

Josh started rocking. “Well, can you blame him? He’s got a lot of change on the horizon.”

I froze, holding a pizza slice in front of my mouth. “Wait, what do you mean?”

“You know, with his new gig in Half Moon. He just put in his notice with me this morning. Totally caught me off guard, but at least he’s giving me plenty of time to find a replacement.”

The words came at me in slow motion.

Eli had gotten the job? He was really leaving? And he hadn’t bothered to tell me?

“Shit, Fi,” Josh said, studying my face. “Did he not tell you yet? ”

I put down my pizza and placed the plate on the table beside me, trying to compose myself.

My brother didn’t need to know about the ins and outs of what was going on with Eli.

Josh had always been overprotective of me.

I didn’t want him to go into Papa Bear mode, especially when he already had enough to worry about with the health of the ranch. I had to play it off.

I cleared my throat. “No, he hadn’t told me yet, but it explains why he’s been acting so weird today. Guess he’s checked out already.”

It came out sounding more bitter than I’d intended.

“Oh, come on. I wouldn’t say that at all,” Josh said. “He’s still working hard. He even offered to help train his replacement.”

“Well, I won’t need help,” I shot back at him as I had the sudden thought: what if Josh planned to hire someone over me? The bite of pizza I’d taken was threatening to come back up, so I took a slow breath willing it to stay down.

Josh put his hands up in surrender. “Whoa there, sorry. I know, that’s what I told him.”

Well, that was one worry out of the way. I sniffled and tried to blink away the tears I felt pooling in the corners of my eyes.

“Hey, you okay?” he asked softly.

I bit the inside of my cheek and nodded yes.

“Doesn’t look like you are,” Josh said.

I dropped my head.

“I’m sorry I was the one to tell you. He probably had a plan for letting you know, and I just fucked it up.

Hey, hey, don’t cry,” Josh said, reaching out to place his hand on my shoulder.

“It doesn’t mean it’s over for the two of you.

You guys could try long distance or something.

It’s only a few hours’ drive between ranches. ”

I managed a harsh laugh. “Yeah, that’s why Zoe’s here and not away at school.”

There had been a period during Josh’s courtship with Zoe when she had considered leaving Poplar Springs to go to grad school. In the end, she had decided to get her grad degree through an online program instead so she and Josh could stay together.

“Okay, sure, I get what you’re saying. But Zoe had other reasons for choosing not to go to Berkshire Institute, and ultimately, staying here was the right decision for her.

It doesn’t mean that’s the way it has to be for everyone.

People make long distance work all the time.

And it’s not like you’ll be trying to navigate a relationship from different states.

We’re only talking about three hundred miles. You could see each other on weekends.”

“But I don’t know if that’s what he wants,” I sniffled and looked at Josh. “We never talk about that stuff. We have fun together and we have amazing sex?—”

“I don’t need to hear about that.” Josh said, a pained expression on his face.

“—but we’ve never talked about what we are to each other, or what our future looks like. I have no idea if this is a real relationship that actually matters to him or if he’s just killing time with me until he leaves.”

“Have you ever tried having a conversation with Eli about it?”

I rubbed my nose with the back of my hand. “No.”

“Well, it’s probably about time you did, then. Neither one of you are mind readers, so maybe if you just open up and talk, you’ll get everything figured out?”

I went silent for a few moments, staring off into space, then shrugged.

“The more I think about it, the more I realize that there’s no point.

We both know what we agreed to since the beginning.

” It was only ever supposed to be a fake relationship to get the gossips off his back.

The fact that we had sex didn’t alter that.

“Yeah, but it sounds like things have changed. Can’t hurt to talk, right?” Josh offered.

I considered having this conversation with Eli. A tiny part of me had hoped that once I had told him I was staying in Poplar Springs, he might have said he’d be doing the same, but clearly his drive to leave had never faltered, despite my own change in plans.

Still.

Maybe it was worth it to try?

“What do you think?” Josh asked.

I stood up abruptly. “Yes. I need to talk to him.”

Josh finally smiled at me. “Atta girl. Go get your man.”