Page 11 of Wildest Forever (Lovelock Bay #3)

CHAPTER SIX

PACEY

S itting in the large kitchen of my family home, my head is throbbing.

“You okay?” my mom's voice floats through me as she sits next to me, her hand pressed to my cheek as I look at her.

“Yeah ma, I'm fine,” and she gives me a sad smile.

“How about you? Are you okay?” my hand over hers as I bring it down and cup it tightly.

“I'm fine, my sunshine boy.”

“Good.”

“What are your plans for today?” she asks as she slips her hand from under mine and makes her way to the stove to boil the kettle.

“Packing up my room I suppose,” my breath catches at the back of my throat, and I have no idea why but this hurts more than I thought it would.

“I'm going to miss you,” she turns to look at me before she reaches for the mugs and I swallow down the lump.

“I'll only be across the town line ma,” I stand and walk across to her and wrap my arms around her shoulders as I rest my chin between her neck and shoulder.

“I know,” her hand reaches up as she rests it on my cheek, patting it slightly in reassurance.

“You still have me,” Tripp’s voice pulls me away from my mom and a boyish grin spreads across my face.

“Yeah, but you're not her favorite,” I wink and Tripp scowls at me. “Just telling the truth,” I shrug as I pinch some fresh toast from the middle of the breakfast bar and smother it in honey before I take a bite, still grinning ear to ear.

“None of you are my favorites,” she says a little louder as the kettle begins to whistle and that's when we hear the front door slam and the sound of heavy boots thudding across the tiles.

“Don't lie to them ma, you know that I’m your favorite,”Riggs grumbles and now me and Tripp both roll our eyes.

“I'm not lying,” she turns to face all three of us, her eyes trailing between each and every one of us.

“I think you are,” Riggs runs his hand over his beard.

She sighs, hands on her hips and she is so over our shit.

“You are all my special boys,” she comes in with the classic line and we all roll our eyes.

“It's okay ma, you don't have to admit it whilst they're here,” I step forward before thumbing behind me, “but I know I am your favorite.” I stop, placing a kiss on her cheek before I am moving forward and grabbing the kettle from the stove as I pour the boiling water into the cup, making us all a cup of tea.

“Where's Dix?” I ask, looking over my shoulder.

“Nursing Lainey, but she will have a coffee,” Tripp nods at me before I glide over and turn the switch on for the coffee machine and wait for it to boil.

Swiping my cup from the side, I bring it to my lips and blow softly.

“How's married life?” Riggs chuckles as he takes his own mug, trudging dirty footprints through the kitchen.

“Going great,” sarcasm drips from my tone and I roll my eyes in an over exaggerated manner.

He chuckles a little louder.

“I'm moving over there today, I have no idea what it is going to be like... feel a little weird about it.”

“I would be worried if you didn't feel weird about it,” Tripp says as he places a cup under the coffee spout, the hot brown liquid trickling out.

“What if this is all it'll be? Living together but not being together...how long should I ride it out for before I call it quits?”

“I suppose once the old man pops it, then you're a free man right?” Riggs says and that gets a clip around the back of his head from Ma.

“What?” he groans, rubbing his head but laughing.

“Don't say stuff like that, you took vows, you made an oath... you know how it works,” she furrows her brows at him and his smile drops.

“Yeah, but their marriage isn't actually a marriage,” Riggs tries to back pedal but fails.

“Pacey, did you sign in front of witnesses?”

“Yes ma'am,” a smile pulls at the corner of my mouth.

“Then he’s married,” she shakes her head as she busies herself.

“And that's why I'm the favorite,” I wink at Riggs, patting him on the chest as I move past him.

“Fuck you,” he says but I see his shoulders lift and fall as he laughs softly.

As much as I wanted to stand around and talk shit with them, I had my life to box up.

I wasn't sure how this was going to work. Gerry was still very much alive and kicking, but we agreed that I would move in the day after the wedding, and well, here we are.

I would live there and be respectful, but when the time comes, I’ll start working on the house. It was in desperate need of some tender loving care, and I don't want it to fall apart around us.

It wasn't a small job, I would be busy working on it for a good few months, but between family, work and everything in between I have no idea how I would fit it all in.

I didn't really want to take leave from my job, but again if I needed to I would.

I loved Tripp with every fibre of myself, but when he handed the reins over to me, I internally cursed at him.

I loved being Livestock Agent, but after getting shot and everything that went down with Kelcie and The Attaways, well, he thought it was best we all got a fresh start.

I agreed and took the badge because he wanted me to, but honestly—and I have never spoke this out loud—it's been a burden since.

I can't seem to get my foot in the door and I honestly sometimes think that someone else would be better suited for the job.

Pushing the door on my childhood room, my heart stutters in my chest. I've spent every night in here and yet, right now, it feels so raw.

Checkered blue comforter and matching pillow, thick carpets that have tread evident from where I walk the same line over and over. Teak wooden drawers with matching doors that lead into a closet where my clothes hang.

A window seat overlooking the front of the house, a cream pillow resting on top.

Sad that I used to sit there and watch Aspen run down the fence line, the small lights illuminating as she passed them, guiding her home.

Shaking the past out of me, I move to the closet and start dumping out my clothes onto my bed and that's where I stay for most of the day, boxing up stuff and loading up the back of my truck.

My mom comes in occasionally to help, Dixie too.

Tripp is out on the ranch so it's just the three of us and Lainey.

I didn't know how I felt about this next chapter in my life, but excitement bubbled deep inside of me.

I felt I had a purpose now.

I wasn't just the baby Rivera brother who was trying desperately to follow in his older brothers footsteps.

This was my chance to become my own person, and Morgan Wheeler was going to be the one to do that.

I hoped.

Closing the back of the truck, I dusted my hands off and looked over at my family’s ranch, the sun lowering slightly between the peaks of the mountains and I spot Riggs and Tripp in the distance as they ride back down.

I needed to get my horse over to Cottonwheel but I'll sort that in the next few days.

My mom creeps up behind me, the sound of her feet crunching over the shingle has me looking down, a soft smile gracing my lips as she stands next to me.

“You ready for this?” she asks as she leans into me, my arm lifting so she rests her head on the side of my ribs.

“Not one bit,” I admit, my exhale shaky.

“It'll be okay, you will get on perfectly with Morgan, I really do believe that,” and I look down at her, but she doesn't look up at me, she is watching her two sons gallop on down the field to meet us.

“Yeah?” I mumble as my own sights drift to my brothers.

“Yeah,” and her voice doesn't even tremble.

“I hope so ma,” I whisper just as Riggs slows down in front of me, tinted glasses on, a smirk on his face.

“You all packed up?” he eyes the truck, and I give a steady nod.

“Do you need help getting it over?”

“Nope, think I've got it,” and I lift my arm from my mom and step aside.

“Do you want me to bring Chase over?” he asks as he looks at the stables and I shake my head.

“I'll collect him tomorrow maybe, can't leave him here with you two, he'll get chubby and never be worked.” I scoff a laugh and Tripp chuckles beside Riggs.

“Of course we would work him, probably more than you will over at Cottonwheel.”

“Hey, he will work wonders over there,” I smirk and fish my keys out of my pocket.

“Never thought I would see the day when our kid brother was leaving the nest.”

That's when all eyes move to my mom; she's sniffling.

My heart throbs inside my chest.

“Ma,” I rasp as I close the gap between us, wrapping my arms around her as she silently sobs into my chest.

“I am so proud of you for stepping up like this... but at the same time,” and she can't even finish her sentence before she is sobbing into my tee.

“I know, I know,” I whisper, my hand stroking the back of her head and I gaze my eyes up to Riggs and Tripp. Riggs gives Tripp a nod as he swings his leg over the back of Travis and hops down just as I roll my mom into Tripp's arms.

“I just feel like if none of this would have happened... then you wouldn't have to move out,” she lifts her head from Tripp's chest and her glassy green eyes are on me.

“I know ma, but look, you still have Tripp home, and Dixie and Lainey.”

A ghost of a smile graces her lips.

“I know he isn't the favorite, but I will be home every Sunday for dinner, I will pop in all the time, plus, it's not going to be forever is it,” I soften my gaze on her as I tilt my head to look at her.

I feel awful for leaving her, but I have to do this.

She understands that, I know she does, but it still doesn't make this any easier.

One day it'll just be her rattling around in this big old house, but I am hoping Dixie doesn't want to move back into her childhood home and they choose to stay here, then when Ma is reunited with dad again, they can keep our legacy going, or if they don't, I'm sure I’ll be back, single and childless.

“Are you okay?” I ask as I look at my mom, Tripp still holding onto her.

“Yes,” she smiles at me and steps away from Tripp's grasp, glancing over at Riggs before she closes the gap between us.

“Don't forget who you are Pacey, shoot for the stars and don't settle for anything less okay?” her hand is on my cheek.

“Do what you have to do, but don't lose yourself whilst you're trying to help someone else,” and I nod, giving her a smile.

“I promise I won't ma,” leaning forward, I place a kiss in the center of her forehead.

“Love you, my sunshine boy.”

“Love you right back,” I mutter before I am pulling her into my arms, enveloping her in my grasp and in that moment, I didn't want to leave.

“He is definitely the favorite,” Riggs grumbles and I smile, laughing softly as I flip them off behind her back.

“They're right,” she whispers before lifting her head from my chest as she looks at me, “but don't tell them that,” a soft laugh escapes her as she winks.

And I know she is playing, but I kind of needed that in this moment.

Driving out of Rivera Ranch felt odd. I knew I wasn't leaving for good, I knew that deep in the crevices of my soul, but it still felt like a goodbye.

I glance back in the rearview mirror and see my mom, Riggs and Tripp all standing in the dusty driveway watching me drive away.

Swallowing down the lump, my eyes cast to the large oak tree where my dad lay and I bring my fingertips to my lips and kiss them before my fingers are locked back around my steering wheel as I drive out of Lovelock Bay and into Blossom Cove.

My story was only just beginning.