My jaw clenches as I target horse-boy with my eyes. Good for her? He’s a chickenshit who waited until she was heartbroken to go after her.
Faith snaps her fingers in front of my face. “But that doesn’t matter because Peyton’s heart isn’t really in it. Not like it was with you. Now, you did not hear that from me, all right?” She waits for me to nod, which I do, my heart pounding in my chest. “But if you’re gonna be here, you better really be here, and if you’re honestly trying to do this, you should know you’ve got your work cut out for you.”
“Got it.” The first full breath I’ve taken since Peyton dropped the boyfriend bomb at dinner fills my lungs as she and Cade stop a short distance away.
“Got what?” she asks, narrowing her eyes at Faith. Her best friend shrugs innocently.
“That I can’t go around slamming car doors,” I reply easily. “It’ll spook the horses.”
Peyton looks dubious but she doesn’t question it. Instead, she rocks back on her heels. “What are you doing here?”
Ouch. “Now, Sunshine, when you say things like that, you make me believe you don’t want me around.”
The truth? I use the nickname for a couple reasons. Mostly because I like it and because I know she secretly does, too. She just won’t admit it. The fact that her new boyfriend hates it so much is simply a bonus.
“Why would she want you here?” Cade asks, sliding his hand around her waist and resting it possessively on her hip. “You got lucky being paired with her for an assignment, but that doesn’t mean she wants you anywhere near her outside class.”
The hand on Peyton’s hip flexes and Faith chokes on a laugh. Seems along with growing a pair, horse boy found some spunk. Clearly, he doesn’t want me here and isn’t afraid to show it. Unfortunately for him, things like that don’t stop me. If I only ever went where people were glad to see me, I’d never go home.
But this does mean I have to adjust my strategy on the fly. I’d hoped Peyton wouldn’t have told Cade about our project. That she’d be so confused over the time we’ve spent together lately that she would’ve hidden it, at least for a little while, and the advantage of surprise would be mine. His knowing proves how close they really are, and frustration churns in my gut.
Leaning against the Jeep, my gaze drops to the hand clamped around her waist and then away toward the main house. “Actually, as much as I love seeing this pretty girl’s face, I’m here to see my father-in-law.”
“He’s not here.” When I turn back, Peyton is stepping out of Cade’s grasp, a subtle shift of her feet. I’d be lying if I said that didn’t make my damn week. “We’re out of feed pellets for the horses so Dad went out to get some. You actually just missed him.” She folds her arms across her chest and kicks the dirt with her boot. “You’re welcome to wait if you want.”
An innocent offer, one I’ve accepted a number of times over the years. I normally tried to show up late whenever we had a team meeting or party, hoping to avoid an awkward conversation with Peyton, but I’ve certainly not been a stranger to the ranch. For some reason though, hearing her invite me to stick around feels different. Like gaining ground. Something that Cade obviously doesn’t like.
Glaring at me, he asks, “What do you need with Mr. Williams?”
I don’t owe this dude a damn thing. It’s no skin off my nose if he doubts me—but I enjoy rubbing my relationship with Peyton’s dad in his face. Cade has always hated the way he treats me like a son.
“I ran into the area scout for the Rangers last night at The Zone,” I say, referencing the local batting cages. “It seems the rumor I could go high in the draft has actual legs and I’d like his advice on a few things.”
“You’d really give up A&M?” Peyton’s expression gives nothing away, but it doesn’t have to. That she knows about the letter of intent has to be a good sign. Perhaps sensing that, she quickly adds, “Dad mentioned it at dinner one night.”
“I haven’t decided anything yet,” I tell her with a shrug. “Hell, that scout could be blowing smoke up my ass for all I know.”
Don’t get me wrong, I’m good. Damn good. But I gave up optimism a long time ago, right around the time I stopped believing people kept their promises.
“A&M is still a definite possibility.” I meet her eyes, wondering if I’m making a mistake when I say, “The plan can still happen.”
Peyton’s eyes widen, seemingly shocked that I remember. As if I’d ever forget.
Back when we were together, our plan was College Station, me for their baseball team and her for their top-ranked Vet program. Even though we broke up, and the idea of her taking me back hadn’t seemed impossible, another college had never been an option.
“You can major in creative writing,” she says, needling me the same way she always did.