“Yeah, it’s me,” I say, as I stand in the doorway to her room.
She’s laying on her bed half asleep.
Pulling my beanie off, I lay it on her dresser along with what I brought her. I shrug my leather jacket off and lay it across the back of the chair at her dressing table. I grin, seeing the framed photo of us sitting next to her favorite watermelon lip balm. She scoots over and I kick my shoes off, getting into bed with her.
Her Nana is in the kitchen, so it isn’t like I’m going to put the moves on her.
Peyton snuggles into the crook of my neck, wrapping her arm around my center and drifts back to sleep.
“I missed you at school today,” I whisper into her hair.
Nana pokes her head in the room and asks if I’m hungry. I shake my head no and moments later she brings me a plate anyway.
With Peyton curled up next to me I eat tater tots for the first time in years.
The Present
The slamming of the car door startles me back into the now as the realtor unlocks the gate.
She returns to the car and drives down the winding driveway. I’m already sold without having seen the rest. If the pictures she showed me are anything close to the real thing, I’m buying.
As I get out of the car, I breathe in the country air wishing I had someone to share in this decision with—Peyton would love it here. There’s even a guesthouse that would be perfect for Nana and Pappy.
Jesus, why do my thoughts always lead to Peyton?
I can hear my sister say, “Because you love her silly.”
My mind flashes to the feeling of her engagement ring under my finger.
She loves someone else now.
Ruby Jane would say its fate that has brought Peyton and me back together. She’s still young and has romantic notions about the way the world turns. I know better. This is the work of that bitch karma and she’s gonna make sure I see that Peyton has moved on.
If only I could do the same.
After a brief tour of the house and the property, I make an offer.
When I get back to the suite the show is putting me up in my phone rings.
Austin.
“I’m in town and we’re going out tonight.”
“I don’t know man,” I tell him not really in the mood.
“Don’t be a pussy. I made dinner reservations. I’ll text you.”
Looking around my empty hotel room I decide why the fuck not.
&nb
sp; Chapter 13
Peyton
After that disaster of a meeting I am shopping for a bikini with Ruby Jane, Karson, and my friend Whitley (my college roommate).
The three of them are ganging up on me and trying to convince me to get a skimpy string bikini. It’s so not my style, but I know Wes wished I would have shown off more for him. I still have the tickets for our honeymoon trip to Cancun. I’m not going to let them go to waste. I told Ruby Jane that we can make it a girl’s trip if Thea and Rodney will let me take her. If not, I’ll take Karson if she can get time off work. Though I am thinking of just giving the trip to my grandparents as a gift. They never take trips. It could be romantic for them. Their anniversary is coming up. I don’t think Wes would complain either if I told him what I want to do with the tickets.