I giggled.
“Finish getting settled in and then we’ll drive up, Chloe Cat,” my mother said as they left my room and shut the door.
Taking in a deep breath, I pulled out my phone and called Alyssa.
“Hey! You back?”
“Yes. How are things going?”
“Great! I got a job at the elementary school as the school nurse! I cannot believe that position came up.”
“Oh, wow! Alyssa, that is amazing!”
She squealed on the other end of the phone. “I know! Are you glad to be home?”
Falling back onto my bed, I sighed. “So glad. Easton is here too.”
“I figured he would go back with you for the graduation party. Cracks me up your grandparents had to throw you a party the day you got home.”
I smiled. “I haven’t even seen Patches yet.”
Alyssa laughed. “Sneak away tonight and you can see him. I’m sure Waylynn will have him locked up tight. Rip said she asked him six times yesterday to check the barn latches.”
The mention of Rip’s name made my heart skip a beat. It always had, and I had come to terms with the fact that it always would. No matter what, Rip Myers would always be my first love.
“Patches is determined, and where there’s a will, he’ll definitely find a way.” I laughed but my heart really wasn’t in it.
“Maybe you can go dress shopping with me next weekend. We need to think about maid of honor dresses.”
Pulling in a deep breath, I said, “Yeah, about that. Guess you’ll need to shop for one, too.”
There was silence on the other end of the line.
“Oh, no.”
Why was everyone having this reaction?
“He asked you to marry him, didn’t he?” A sense of doom and gloom echoed through the phone.
“Yes, and why do you sound like it’s terrible?”
“I can give you a number of reasons why it’s terrible, Chloe Parker, and you know every single one of them. The major one would be you moving. Chloe! Do you really love this guy enough to give up everything and move to Houston? What about your family, what about the ranch, what about—” She didn’t even finish that sentence because, after all, she was my best friend and knew the truth.
I don’t know the answers to any of her questions.
“Alyssa, I wouldn’t have said yes if I wasn’t sure.”
“Are you sure you didn’t say yes for any other reason?”
“Like what?” I asked, anger laced in my voice.
“Rip?”
“Rip?” I asked with a laugh. “Why would I say yes to Easton because of Rip?”
“Let’s see. Did any or all of these things go through your mind before you answered him? Oak Springs. Working for your dad. Leaving your family and friends behind. Coming around on holidays or maybe just once or twice a year. Living in Houston. Or did Rip pop into your mind along with that day he rejected you?”
“He did, and you know it.”
“Chloe! Come on, did you really say yes to Easton because you love him enough to leave your life behind?
“For fuck’s sakes, Alyssa,” I said, standing up. “I love Easton.”
“Do you love Rip?”
“Yes. I will always love Rip as my best friend. That will never change.”
“So if I stood before you right now…”
“My mom is yelling for me, we have to leave. I’ll see you in a little bit.”
“Chloe Parker!”
Hitting End, I blew out a breath. I walked to the window and stared out at the large live oak I’d grown up with. Remembering how I’d snuck out to go to parties with Alyssa, climbing down this tree. Wrapping my arms around my waist, I stared out over the countryside. All the dreams I had growing up included this ranch. The plans that I had to take over from my dad. The dreams of raising a family here. All of it came flooding over me, and I wanted to sob.
A knock at my door startled me.
“Chloe?”
Spinning around, I wiped my tears away and looked at Gage.
“Gage!” I rushed over and threw myself into his arms. I might have been six years older than him, but he for sure was not my little brother. At seventeen, he was already built with a broad chest like my father and muscles like Rip’s.
I didn’t want to acknowledge I had just compared him to Rip and not Easton. Nope, wasn’t even going to give it a second thought.
“I missed you so much,” I sobbed into his chest. He held me tight and didn’t say a word. He always knew when I needed that extra-long hug.
When I took a step back, I forced a laugh. “Sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying.”
There was a look of disbelief on his face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“You’re leaving? Dad said you told Easton you would marry him.”
With a grin, I replied, “Yes, I accepted his proposal.”
Gage shook his head. “But why? Chloe, everyone knows it’s supposed to be you and Rip.”