“So how comes you’ve been drinking whenever you’re here?”
He opens the car door, and I stand to wait for him to reply, “Because there’s been so much pain on the ranch.”
He motions for me to sit down and I follow suit. He closes the car door, and he doesn’t wait for me to prompt him. He turns to face me, “My mom, grandma, and my dad all died at that ranch.”
“I thought your mom and grandma were sick?”
He nods, “They were and when they found out that there was nothing more that the hospital could do for them. They opted to die at home. Part of me wishes they hadn’t. The selfish part of me and I hate it at times, so I do the one thing that I’m good at, I just avoid the ranch.”
“I sometimes visit the place that my parents died; they died in a car crash.”
“I know you told me Elle; they say that time heals all wounds eventually. I don’t want the wounds to heal. I just want to forget it most of the time.”
“About your parents and grandma?”
He shakes his head, “No. Not about them.”
He’s quiet for a moment, and it’s as if he’s thinking about something, but then he changes his mind, “We need to get there soon otherwise, we won’t enjoy our day out.”
“Are we not going to the ranch today?”
He laughs, “You do love that place?”
“No, I just miss Autumn.”
“The horse?”
I sigh, “She’s not just any ordinary horse. She’s my horse. I’ve never owned one before. I don’t own anything now. Even the car I’m driving is Neil’s. He just gives me free access to it. Anyway, where are we going?”
"We're going to the Common Bond Cafe & Bakery. You are going to eat too much chocolate, doughnuts, and all sweet things. Because it's my treat and in between that when you feel like sleeping. I'll pump you up with some coffee to help you eat some more,” he starts the engine and then backs out of his space.
“There goes my diet!”
As we get to the door, to leave the building. He smiles, “Your diet. You don’t need to be on one. Your body’s perfect.”
Then he winks at me, and his hand touches my leg. I want to hold it, but then he moves it away quickly and starts focusing on the road. I feel like a teenage girl that’s got a major crush. It starts and ends with Isaac. I want him so bad, that I can’t think of anything else right now, but tonight the pair of us sharing the same bed. He can take me all he wants, because if this is a taste of his true personality, then I don’t want to go back to the ranch. I love the old Isaac. The one that Neil’s been talking about when he asked me to give him another chance. It just feels natural doing it now compared to when we were together at the ranch.
“
What are you smiling about?”
I laugh, “You and I. I hated you so much at the ranch.”
“I don’t blame you. I’m a bit of a jerk when I drink.”
“So, you know, and you keep doing it.”
He doesn’t say a word; there’s something that happens every time. Something that stops him from talking to me and telling me exactly what’s on his mind. I thought that it was drinking, but then I started to think that it was losing his relatives. But there’s something else. It’s starting to make sense now why he doesn’t want to touch me; there’s someone else. Maybe a girlfriend and this is the reason for the photo in the hallway, but when I asked him about it. He just brushed me off. The same way that he’s doing it now. I don’t know what to think about him; sometimes it’s as if we get close and then he backs away. Whereas I’m like an open book. What you see is what you get!
I see the sign and that there are a few people in the restaurant, which has glass walls. The place is starting to get busy as customers enter, but I love the waiters uniform with their white hats and matching shirts. It’s as if they’re bringing something old-fashion to the modern Houston.
“Cool, this is the place right?”
I ask as he parks and turns off the engine.
“Yep, I’m kind of shocked that I’ve got parking nearby. Usually, it’s a struggle which is why I woke you up early. Sorry?”
“You forget that I’m a cowgirl. I’m used to getting up early, besides seven-thirty is not exactly at the beginning of my book.”