I smiled as I watched Reed pull in, jump out, and then walk up to the porch.
“My God, I can’t believe you’ve been fucking Misty for the last two weeks, you motherfucker. You knew how much I liked that girl. ”
I took a sip of coffee and smiled.
Liked her? He only wanted to sleep with her. “Twice, bro. It’s only been twice. ”
Reed twisted his baseball cap around and grabbed a chair. He sat down as he faced me. “Really? ’Cause, according to my baby sister, Wes said she heard you’ve been screwing Misty in the bar for the last two weeks. Misty has been telling everyone y’all are a couple. She even said you were packin’ some heat there, cowboy. I’m never going to be able to play pool in that bar again, you asshole. ”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Dude, don’t worry. I have absolutely no interest in Misty whatsoever. She was something that got my mind off of Olivia and Mike for a few minutes, that’s all. ”
Reed let out a deep breath and shook his head. “Layton, Mike’s death was over six months ago. I know y’all were each other’s world, dude, but you’ve got to move on. ”
I turned toward the pasture. “I not only lost my brother, but I also lost the love of my life. ”
I closed my eyes and pictured making love to Olivia for the first time in the deer cabin…and the last time in the barn. Watching her get up and walk away from me that morning while telling me she was leaving me for another man had about killed me.
“Layton, she left you the day after your brother died. She’s a bitch. If she ever loved you, she would have never walked away from you when you needed her the most. She’s not worth the heartache. ”
I rotated around and faced Reed with a smile. “You’re right. That’s why I’ll never trust another woman again. I’ll never let another person into my heart ever. ”
Reed let out a laugh and slapped my back. “Sure, dude. You keep telling yourself that. You headed out to check the fence line?”
“Yeah. You want to ride along?”
Reed smiled that smile of his. “Nah, I’m going on a picnic with Jennifer. ” He lifted his eyebrows up and down.
I shook my head and laughed as I walked away. “Have fun with that. ”
I rode along the fence line, just trying to clear my head. This was where I did my best thinking. I loved it out here. I could get lost, just being in the quiet of it all.
“Motherfucker! Son of a bitch! Stupid-ass car! Oh my God, I hate you!”
What in the hell?
I came up over a small hill and saw a silver Lexus RX pulled off on the side of the road. The girl standing next to the car, kicking the wheel, was obviously from the city. She was dressed in light gray slacks and a sheer white blouse. Her brown hair was pulled up and piled loosely on top of her head. The way she was screaming at the tire and yelling at the car made me smile instantly.
Too fucking cute. Damn city girls.
“Piece-of-shit car!”
I let out a small laugh. “Excuse me, ma’am. You’ve got a problem with your car?”
She spun around and threw her hands on her hips as she tilted her head. When she crinkled up her nose, I guessed it was something she did when she got mad.
“No, cowboy. I like standing on the side of the road in Texas in the middle of July, yelling at my piece-of-shit car. I get a kick out of it. ”
Wow. What a bitch. Yep, city girl. Bet she’s from New York or somewhere like that. “Wow. Full of spit and fire, and here I was, trying to be a Southern gentleman and help you out. If you prefer that I keep moving along, I’ll be more than happy to—”
“No! Wait! Oh God, please don’t go. I’ve been here for almost an hour, and not one car has gone by. Not one! My cell phone doesn’t have a signal, and you’re the first person I’ve seen. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be such a bitch. I’m late for my first big job interview, and I really wanted this to go so differently. ”
When she tried to hold back a sob, my heart sank.
Ah, shit.
I guided Cricket up against the fence, and then I pulled my leg over and jumped.
“Oh shit! Aren’t you afraid your horse is going to run away?”