Fall for Me (Cowboys of Crested Butte 1)
Page 119
“I can’t talk until you stop, cowboy.”
Ben made a motion that he was zipping his lips and held his hands out for her to continue.
“I have a plan.”
Ben nodded.
“When you leave for Europe, you’ll fly out of Denver, right?”
He nodded again.
“We’ll fly to Denver together, that way I’ll be with you as long as possible before you leave for Europe.”
When Ben didn’t say anything, she continued.
“While you’re on tour, I’ll be training. But, Ben, if I don’t believe it’s working, I’ll quit.”
Liv felt Ben’s body tense.
“I have to try, but if something isn’t right, I’ll know. If it is right, and I believe Micah and I can compete, that’s what we’ll do. By the time you get back from Europe in March, I’ll know.”
Liv stopped talking and turned to him.
“Can I talk now?”
“Mmm hmm.”
He let out a huge sigh. “Wow. That was hard.”
“I bet. Imagine how hard it was for me? I actually had to make plans from now until March.”
“What about going to Monument, and leaving from there?”
“What about your boys?”
“Yeah, that would be hard. If you’re sure—”
“Shh.” Liv put her fingers on his lips again. “Since I’m staying, do you mind if I start the laundry? I need to wash a few clothes.”
“No, not at all, go ahead,” Ben answered, as though he was in a Twilight Zone episode.
When Liv left the room, he leaned forward, put his elbows on his knees, and his head in his hands.
Liv came back in and sat down next to him. She tucked her legs under her and leaned into him. “Ben?”
“Yeah?” He kept his elbows on his knees.
“I’ve never done this. I barely remember the few months I lived with Scott. I was a kid. A nineteen-year-old kid. Renie is two years older than I was when Scott was killed. Work with me, okay?”
He leaned back, put his arm around her, and pulled her closer to him. “I was either on the road or drunk the whole time I was married to Christine. I didn’t know what I was doing then, any more than I do now.”
“We’re gonna be okay, Ben.”
“You really love me?”
“More than anything.”
“Tell me.”