“Why don’t you just follow his lead?”
She furrowed her brows at me. “Are you seriously talking to me about this?”
“Yes, Bridge, he’s a good friend to me and, to be honest, you have to be a rare kind of person for your friends to be okay with them dating your sister. You feel me?”
“Yeah, he’s a gentleman. And I know that sounds so stupid in this day and age, but Jonah is so kind to me, so considerate and thoughtful. I don’t think I’ve ever felt uncomfortable around him, and lately I’ve found myself watching his every move when he’s around or wondering where and what he’s doing when he’s not.”
I considered everything she was saying. “Just tread carefully,” I advised. “Follow his lead, don’t rush, and guard the shit out of your heart, Bridge.”
She nodded, taking everything I said seriously. I wondered why I couldn’t follow my own advice.
Halfway through dinner, Cricket shocked me walking into the hall. Her hair was back in one of her hair scarves and her eyes were red from crying, although I could tell she tried to cover them up.
My hands stilled on the table as she made herself a plate. I wanted to jump to my feet, run to her and pick her up. If I could have, if she would have let me, I would have carried her away. I wanted to kiss every inch of her swollen eyes and promise her that everything was going to be all right. Oh God, she makes my chest ache.
It took everything in me not to jump up when she approached the table. She made a move to sit next to Ellie, who happened to be sitting next to me, but changed her mind and sat at the complete opposite end of the table.
Damn it!
I watched her every single move, not caring at all if people thought I was psychotic. It wouldn’t have bothered me if they did, not when she was so obviously hurting.
When dinner was over, everyone sat and chatted for a while when the phone rang. Emmett got up to answer and Cricket used the opportunity to try and sneak off, but I followed her and caught her in the main living area.
“Cricket,” I said tenderly.
Instead of brushing me off, as I anticipated, Cricket faced me. “Yes?”
I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t expected her to be receptive at all, so I just went with the first thing I could think of. “I’m sorry about this morning.”
She smiled delicately. “It’s not a big deal, Spencer,” she said politely, making me feel uneasy.
“No, it was. I’m not exactly sure what I said, but I realize now that I pushed you too far and I’m sorry for that.”
“You just helped me understand what I was too blind to see, and I fixed it. So, I should be thanking you, really.” She smiled affably and turned toward the staircase.
She was acting so strangely, too politely, not at all the easygoing Cricket I was accustomed to. “Okay,” I said, following her. “Can we talk some more?”
“If you’ll excuse me,” she said, putting me in my place, “I have a few things to do, but I’ll see you around.” She ascended the remaining staircase and hooked a right down the long hall to her bedroom.
I followed her anyway, not satisfied with the cold, apathetic conversation she’d just given me.
“Cricket, why are you acting like this?” I asked. My hand settled on her forearm as she reached for her doorknob.
She looked down at my hand and I removed it. “I’m not acting like anything. I’m with Ethan. I’m not using him or afraid to leave him anymore, and I think our friendship is improper. I think you and I should be fellow ranch hands and nothing more.”
I felt like she’d punched me in the gut. “Anymore? You’re not broken up? What was earlier all about?”
She sighed. “Of course not,” she explained. “And earlier was just my fixing something that needed fixing. I’m setting boundaries between us, Spencer. You’ll be gone in a few months, and it’s not worth wrecking fifteen years of my life all because I’m starting to feel things for you.”
“But if I was sticking around? What then? Would you be with Ethan then? It feels like you’re settling.”
She shook her head. “It’s not settling. I’ve just made a decision. I made a promise and I cannot go back on it.”
And with that, she left me in the hall, stunned.
I staggered back a little and headed back toward the stairs. “Still with Ethan?”
I felt more shocked than I thought I would.