West of Forever (Heartstone Ranch #1)(41)

“I know we’re broken up,” Jeremy says quickly. “But I miss you.” I start to speak, wanting to stop this before it goes too far, but he steps forward, raising his hand. “I miss you and I want you back, Lark. I love you.”

Oh, God.

My chest feels heavy as he says those three words.

Because since we broke up, I haven’t thought about him or missed him. I don’t know that I ever even loved him to begin with. Surely, if I did, I would’ve been heartbroken, right? I would’ve cried, pored over old photos, looked through text messages, and not kissed another man.

I don’t think I loved Jeremy. I loved that Jeremy was safe.

He wasn’t going to spin me on my head, make me question my life choices, and wonder whether I was going to end up hurt.

Things with him just existed, and I was completely okay with that.

But I’m not now.

I’m not able to go back to that, and he shouldn’t want that either.

“You and I didn’t work.”

“We did.”

I let out a deep breath through my nose. “We didn’t. We both know that. Things between us were never what the other wanted,” I remind him of what I said during our breakup. “You want a wife who is going to want to go to office parties, come work for your family’s company, or not work at all. I want to train horses until the day I die. I love this farm, I’m working to sa—” I cut myself off from finishing that word. No one knows about the status of our farm thanks to Ryan’s investment. I sigh heavily. “I just think that this is still for the best.”

“So you’re not with Tristan Stone?”

“Not that it’s any of your business or anyone else’s, but no. I’m not with anyone.”

“Then I have a chance.”

Please God, now is a moment you could send a distraction to save me from this conversation.

I wait.

Nothing.

“I don’t want to be mean when I say this, but we’re friends. That’s all we’ll ever be.”

Jeremy shakes his head. “I’m not giving up on us.”

Where the hell was all this persistence before? He was always so docile. Now he’s suddenly going to fight? Seriously, I’d prefer he not.

I may not want to be mean, but I feel like I’m going to have to, because he’s just not getting it.

“Jeremy, there is no us.”

I leave very little room for rebuttal.

“There is.”

I guess I left enough room for him.

“Please go,” I say, my head feeling like it’s been slammed around all day. I didn’t sleep, I can’t eat, all I do is think about yesterday and the man who has flipped my world upside down.

“Lark…”

“No. I’m really too tired for this.”

“I’m doing exactly what you wanted!” he says, coming forward. “You wanted a man who would fight. Who was willing to do what you needed. I’m here right now. I’m fighting for you.”

“It’s too late, Jeremy!” I yell back. “I don’t want you to fight now. I’m asking you to respect my wishes and see that we’re over.”

The barn door opens, and I feel a rush of relief. I don’t know the last time I was ever this happy to see Ryan.

“You okay?” he asks, striding inside.

I nod. “Jeremy was just leaving. He came by to see if I was okay.”

Ryan looks to him, and while I am not the least bit afraid of my brothers, that’s not the case with most people. They’re tall, intimidating, muscular, and assholes. It’s the whole cowboys with attitude persona that just oozes from them.

Jeremy takes the cue and sighs. “I’ll see myself out.”

“Goodbye, Jeremy.” My words are forceful and final.

His eyes widen a touch, and then he bows his head, leaving the barn.

Once he’s gone, Ryan looks to me. “What was that about?”

I shrug, slumping back down on the hay bale. “People love me, what can I say?”

He laughs. “Uh-huh. You’re an eternal ray of sunshine.”

“See, you get it.”

“I see a lot, including a picture of you and Tristan Stone dancing at the Beast.”

That’s it. I’m done. I let out a loud scream of frustration and then jab my finger into his chest. “Do not start, Ryan Gatlin. I swear to God, I will make every moment of your life hell. Do you hear me? It was nothing! I’m so sick of this! For coming from a family that hates the Stones so much, you all say their name an awful lot.”

Before Ryan can respond, Deacon rushes in. “Come quick, we have a problem in the red barn!”









Chapter 15





Tristan




“Sadie?” I call out as I come around the chicken coop area.

I haven’t seen her all day, which is thanks to the sale that came through late yesterday. I had to deliver the horses about two hours away, so I left before she was awake.

However, after I got back, Sadie didn’t come to find me, and I miss her.

“In here, Dad!”

I smile and walk over to find her in the coop, putting up…wallpaper?