Page 19 of Wildest Forever (Lovelock Bay #3)

“Hey sweet girl,” Dixie whispers, scooping Lainey into her arms, resting her on her bump as Lainey rubs the sleep out of her eyes, a little groggy as she places her head on her momma's chest, her fingers pinching at the thin gold necklace that sits around Dixie's neck.

“When will it be our turn,” Aspen whispers to Riggs who stands beside her, his arm curling around her waist.

“Soon Wildflower, so soon,” and I don't miss the sadness that etches across his face for just a moment as his lips press against the top of her head.

“Do you want kids, Morgan?” Aspen sighs as she looks at my wife, Morgan's eyes widen as she begins to rub her palm against her thigh, her mouth parting then closing.

“You don't need to answer that,” my mom eyes down Aspen as she shrinks back into Riggs momentarily.

I know the answer.

Kids were never in her plan.

But then again, neither was I.

I always knew I wanted kids, wanted the big family.

But I could maybe make peace with the fact of not having any if that's what she wanted.

Morgan drops her head for a moment and eyes her mug of tea.

“I am just trying to focus on each day as it comes at the moment,” she looks up at Aspen and smiles sweetly at her.

“How's Aust? I wanna shoot over to see him after,” I aim my question at Aspen, trying to change the subject.

“Yeah he is okay, good days and bad... today's a good day,” she rolls her lips and I know Aspen well enough to know that my mom's comment has made her feel bad.

“Perfect, I wanna catch up with him anyway so will pop in after I am done here,” I smile. “Ma,” I say just as she stands up from the chair, giving herself a moment to stretch out after being nap trapped for far too long.

Dixie has walked from the room to sort Lainey so it's only me, Morgan, Tripp, Aspen and Riggs.

“Yeah?” she reaches for her cup and takes a mouthful, a little hum of appreciation escaping her lips as she swallows.

“I brought some laundry home,” and I hear Morgan tut beside me. “What?” I laugh softly and she rolls her eyes in an over exaggerated manner.

“I have told him to do his laundry back home, but nope...” she side-eyes me then raises her brows at my mom.

My mom twists her lips and fights the smile.

“He is particular,” she winks at me, “but you're thirty Pacey, you should be doing your own laundry.” She steps in front of me and places her hand on her cheek.

“Momma can't keep doing it for you,” she winks then walks out of the room and Riggs falls into the seat our mom has just left, Aspen following and lowering herself onto his lap.

“Have you decided whether you're going to do your book tour or not next year?” I ask and Morgan looks at me before drifting her eyes to Aspen.

“Book tour?” she crinkles her brow.

“Yeah, Aspen writes romance books,” I smile at my wife, eyes soft before I am back on my brother and Aspen.

“Wow, I never knew... where can I buy one? I would love to read it,” Morgan shifts to the edge of her seat as she waits for Aspen to talk.

“You don't have to buy one,” she tilts her head, her lips pressed into a permanent smile. “I'll pop one to your ranch later on today, I have loads at home that I bought for my tour this year but...” she trails off and Riggs wraps his arm around her, pulling her close to him.

“I know, baby,” he rasps as he places a kiss on her cheek, and I hate that I feel some kind of resentment towards them.

The feelings I had for Aspen have well and truly been buried, but in certain moments, an echo of them resurfaces, and I find myself wondering what could have been, but I know we would have never worked.

She was destined to be with Riggs.

They were written in the stars.

I just needed to lick my wounds and get over it.

I deserved to be loved, but I made peace with knowing that it may not come for me.

I am brought back to the room by Lainey climbing up my legs and I smile down at her.Wide blue eyes, curly brown hair. She's babbling away.

“Hey princess Lainey,” I whisper, scooping her up onto my lap as she grabs my bottom lip.

Dixie smiles as she stands a little back from where I am sat, Tripp now standing at the back of the sofa.

“Are we close to walking yet?” my voice is muffled as she tugs on my lip.

“So close,” Tripp beams at his daughter over my shoulder.

“Dada!” she squeals as she lets go of me then slaps her little hands on my face.

“Ow,” I laugh and Lainey stops suddenly as she looks at Morgan, her smile slowly slipping into a frown, but as soon as Morgan leans in and smiles, Lainey goes back to beaming her toothy grin. She crawls onto Morgan's lap, her little hands tucked in front of her as she just stares.

“Hey little lady,” Morgan says quietly and the whole room falls silent.

Lainey coos at her, her smile only widening and my heart slows for just a moment.

“You ready?” I ask after what feels like hours, I could watch her all day, but I have stuff I need to get on with and watching my wife and my niece was not on that list.

Pushing up from the sofa, Morgan looks at Dixie and scoops Lainey under the arms before standing and passing her to her mom.

“Thank you for letting me hold her,” she smiles then says goodbye to Dixie before she waves bye to Riggs and Aspen.

“Bye hun,” Aspen beams, waving back before she ducks her head down and says bye to Tripp as she passes.

Walking into the kitchen, she is close behind me as I see my mom going through my laundry bag.

“Ma,” I say softly as she stands up and looks at me.

“You've been gone a day Pacey Rivera, how the hell is there so much?” and I smirk.

“Did you pack dirty washing?” her hands are on her hips as she taps her foot to the floor.

My cheeks turn pink.

“Pacey!” Morgan squeals as she shoves her hand into the top of my arm and I laugh softly.

“I will never understand you,” Mom huffs, pulling more laundry out the bag.

“Mrs Rivera,” Morgan begins, “I will teach your son how to use the washing machine.”

“Orla, please,” my ma beams at Morgan.

“What time shall I pick this up?” and I get a thunderous glare from Morgan.

“What?” I half laugh, and her eyes widen.

“She's not a laundromat!” Morgan clips me around the back of the head, and I laugh.

“Ow,” I rub out the sting.

“Orla, pack it back up, I'll do it,” and my mom shakes her head.

“No sweet girl, I'll do it today, Pacey can grow up and learn to do his own laundry tomorrow,” she winks, and I roll my eyes.

“You shouldn't be bringing laundry home to your mom,” she whispers as she knocks her shoulder into mine.

“I know, but...” I shrug my shoulder up as I pace over to my mom, placing a soft kiss on her cheek as she leans into me.

“Collect it tomorrow after work,” she says softly before I turn and smirk at Morgan, but she just crosses her arm in front of her and shakes her head softly.

“Ready?” I ask, winking at my wife before she rolls her eyes.

“Bye Orla,” she waves, and my mom closes the gap between the both of them before she pulls her into an embrace, holding her tightly and my chest hurts.

Once my mom breaks away, Morgan gives her a soft smile before she is walking past me. I give my mom one last look and she blows me a kiss. Following behind Morgan, I close the door behind me and climb into the truck.

If we were coming back here, I would walk down the fields and climb the fence like we did as kids, but knowing that we're going back to Cottonwheel Ranch, well, it seems a bit pointless.

Turning the key, the truck rumbles as she closes the door behind her.

“You don't mind coming to Austin's with me do you?” I ask, looking at her before I pop the truck into reverse.

She just nods, her fingers picking the skin around her nail.

“Sure?” I raise a brow as I run my hand through my thick blond hair.She nods again.

“Okay.”

Turning the car around, I move out the long and winding driveway of Rivera Ranch and within minutes I am pulling into the orange dusty road of Maple Farm. I look at the idyllic house in the distance, maple trees line the road and my heart pumps in my chest.

We spent many of our childhood days here. More so Riggs than me.

But Riggs' childhood was different to the one me and Tripp remember.

His was hard.

Ours was a little easier.

Riggs was always going to be made to work the ranch, made to stay in Lovelock Bay.

That's what happened with prom night.

Dad was so concerned that Riggs would ruin his business with Buck that he wouldn't let Riggs near her.

Work was too important.

So, he broke her heart.

Stood her up, but little did she know at the time it was all part of the plan on my dad's part. I was told to put on a suit and lead her to prom knowing that Riggs was watching from the shadows.

It was no secret that I crushed hard on Aspen, always had.She was the same age as me, but her eyes always found Riggs.

Sad thing was, I noticed everything about her yet she noticed nothing about me.

Why would she when she loved him?

“You okay?” Morgan's voice slips over me like silk and my thoughts settle down for a moment or two.

“Yeah, just thinking,” I admit as I pull into the parking spot just right of the stables.

“About?” she continues to pick.

“Our childhood,” I smile across the car at her, “we spent a lot of time here as kids, kind of grew up here I suppose,” I shrug a shoulder up.

Pointing down the fence line, I sit back a little further in my chair.

“You see those small little lights that are cable tied to the fence posts,” and I glance at her as she nods, “well Riggs put them in for Aspen, so when she ran down the fence line towards ours, or if she was coming home, she would have a trail of lights guiding her door to door,” I smile a little wider.

“Scared of the dark?” she asked and I sigh a little heavier then turned to look at her once more.

“Yeah, hated it,” I nibble the inside of my bottom lip as my arms rest over the steering wheel, shoulders up a little.

“Bless her,” her lips twist.

Silence fills the truck cab for a moment before I slip out and she follows me, her feet hitting the gravelled floor.