“That’s really sweet.” My fingers trace the thin lip of the glass. I think my grandmother used to have these same ones.
“Might be hard to believe, but River’s a really good soul,” she says. “He’s a good man. He takes care of people, though he’ll never take credit for it. I mean, there’s no reason he needs that big old chicken coop if it’s just him living by himself. I swear he only has it so he can give us eggs all the time. I think he likes feeling like he can take care of someone, you know? And he always helps Guy during calving season. We can call him up in the middle of the night and he’s there within ten minutes.”
Molly is quiet for a second, focusing on the white sugar bowl in the center of her kitchen table.
“Anyway, I could go on and on about all the things he does,” she says, “not just for us, but for a lot of people around here. My point is, River’s all bark and no bite. Underneath that grouchy, bitter exterior is a man with a really big heart. Once you get to know him, you’ll see.”
I huff. “I’d love to see a softer side of him. Right now I feel like I annoy him.”
“Why would you say that?”
“I don’t know. Just the vibe I get?”
“River acts like the whole entire world annoys him, and I know damn well that it doesn’t. He’s just angry about a few things, that’s all. Takes it out on the world but he doesn’t mean to.” Molly takes a careful sip of tea. “Anyway, I wanted to have some girl talk and here we are talking about a damn man.”
“Sorry.”
“No, no.” She smiles, her eyes crinkling at the sides. “So are you really leaving next Friday?”
My mind immediately goes to Seth for some odd reason. His dimples. His cool blue stare. His broad shoulders. His innately kind and protective nature.
“That’s the plan …” I say.
“No, you should stay.” Molly places her hand over mine. “Seriously. Or do you have a job to get back to?”
“No, no job.” I rest my head on my hand, exhaling. “I quit my job a few days ago. Well, I didn’t so much as quit as I asked for a sabbatical. My boss said art galleries don’t offer sabbaticals, but he offered to give me the summer off. Without pay. I figured that was better than nothing. Anyway, I don’t know if I’m going to go back to Scottsdale. Everything’s just kind of up in the air right now, for the first time in my life. And it’s oddly … freeing.”
Molly’s pink mouth slides up at the sides. “That’s the spirit.”
My phone rings in my bag, and I’m afraid to look at it. Grant’s been calling daily, relentlessly.
“You can get that if you need,” she says.
I groan. “It’s fine. It’s probably my ex. He’s been calling me nonstop since I left.”
“I’m sorry, but men are idiots. And I can say that because I’m raising five of them in hopes that they don’t turn out half as stupid as their predecessors,” she says. “Whatever possesses them to harass us into submission is beyond me.”
“He can call as much as he wants, I’m not going back there.” I hold my head high, realizing I haven’t once cried over that asshole. Maybe the love ran out a while back and neither of us noticed.
“Good for you.” Molly lifts her iced tea as if to make a toast. “Anyway, I’m serious about you sticking around for the summer. I’m in the market for a new best friend, and I really think you’d be great for River.”
I nearly choke on my drink. “What do you mean, I’d be great for River? We’re not … it’s not like that … I’m not looking for anything like that … not with him …”
“Calm down, girly.” She covers my hand with hers. “I just mean, I think he’s lonelier than he lets on. And I see the way he looks at you. There’s something in his eyes. This little spark of color that hasn’t been there in years.”
“I don’t know.” My head tilts to the side.
“I’m telling you. I see something.”
“Even if there was something, he’s not my type,” I say gently.
“What is your type?” Molly crosses her legs, leaning in closer.
Seth’s image fills my mind again, sending goose bumps up and down my arm and a quick flutter to my stomach. I’m like a damn school girl with a crush.
“You’re smiling,” she says, pointing. “Who are you thinking about right now?”
“I went out last night.” I drag my fingertip through a small puddle of condensation on the table. “And I met this guy. He was really nice. And funny. And cute. And personable. And charming. So I guess that’s my type? Nice, funny, cute, personable, and charming?”
Molly’s excitement fades into a frown, as if I’ve just dashed all hopes of being everything she wanted me to be for River.
“Anyway, I’m not looking for anything.” I lift one hand in the air. “I’m newly single, I didn’t come here looking for a reason to stay. If I meet anyone here, it’ll be strictly for … fun. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Totally understand.”
We lose ourselves in thought for a while, and then I check the time. “I should probably get back.”
Molly pouts. “Fine. But come back anytime. I mean it. And promise me you’ll think about sticking around past next Friday?”
I don’t want to make a promise I can’t keep, so I offer a non-committal, “I’ll think about it.”
Besides, a lot can happen in a week.
Chapter Ten
Leighton
Coming to The Oasis last night was driven by slight boredom.
Coming to The Oasis tonight is driven by the fact that I can’t stop thinking about Seth, the bar owner.
He’s like an earworm, stuck in my head, and I can’t get him out. I almost want to see him again just to know that he’s real, that I didn’t dream up this handsome, charming stranger in some alcohol-induced stupor.
I’m certainly not looking for anything remotely akin to a brand new romantic relationship at this point in my life, but I’d be lying if I said the attention didn’t give me an innocent little adrenaline rush.
I spent most of today doing odd jobs around River’s farm. Weeding the vegetable garden, cleaning out the stable, feeding calves and chickens, and checking the water troughs in the pastures.
River was MIA all morning, and when we met back at the house for lunch, he didn’t say more than a handful of words to me. It was probably for the best that I stayed out of his way anyway because he wasn’t in a mood to exchange social pleasantries.
After dinner, I showered and got myself cleaned up. River was gone when I came downstairs. His truck and dog, too.
Refusing to spend my first Friday night as a single woman sitting at home alone, I found myself speeding down the country roads and making a beeline for The Oasis.
“Leighton, you’re back!” A woman’s voice squeals in my ear followed by two lanky arms wrapping around me from behind.
I turn to see Karly Conway, one of the girls I ran into on my way out last night.