I know she means well, but unfortunately, I’ve only been interested in one woman since my divorce, and it’s the one person I can’t have.
“Thanks, Ma. You don’t need to worry about me, though, alright? What’s that saying? You’ll find love when you least expect it?” I say to amuse her.
“Oh, I don’t believe that. You’ve gotta put yourself out there. Love isn’t gonna fall into your lap without any effort.”
I chuckle at her defensive tone though it reminds me of the night at the club when Elle literally did fall into my lap, and I didn’t want to let her go.
“Well, I’m off to bed,” I announce.
“Okay, just think about the offer. Mackenzie Bishop is very pretty, ya know. Blond hair, blue eyes, really sweet girl.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of how she looks.”
She could probably throw a bale of hay with one hand. She grew up on the ranch her whole life, just like every other Bishop, so it wouldn’t surprise me.
After I finally get my mother off the phone, I finish cleaning and go to bed. I’m so damn frustrated with myself, I set my alarm before dawn so I can go for a morning run.
It’ll hopefully keep me from doing something stupid—like admitting my damn feelings or texting Elle just to check up on her—knowing I can’t do either.
Chapter Eleven
Elizabeth
I cannot believe it’s already the end of June. Between helping with Gavin and Maize’s wedding and studying for my exam, this month has flown by.
The wedding was absolutely stunning, and Maize looked gorgeous. It was a small affair for a Bishop wedding with only one hundred guests, all made up of friends and family. The day was perfect—full of food, dancing, and a few tears of happiness. Grandma Bishop has already started asking them for more great-grandbabies, though I secretly hope Maize gets pregnant soon too. They’re so cute together, and we’re all thrilled they got their happily ever after.
Other than the wedding, I’ve done nothing but stay glued to my state board exam notes for the past four weeks. When my nose wasn’t in a book, Connor was quizzing me. He was a huge help and pushed me when I needed it the most.
Though I worked hard as hell, with his help, I proudly got a ninety-five, almost a perfect score. While I was in school, I worked under Connor’s license, but now that I’ve graduated, I had to wait. I’ve checked the mail every day for the past week but haven’t received my Authority to Practice letter yet.
Now that I’m done with everything, I don’t really know what to do with myself. It’s strange not to have a mile-long list of things to do. The sun has barely risen, and I’ve already had two cups of coffee. Mom and Dad worked the night shift, and Ethan’s out working on the ranch, so the house is quiet. After I eat some avocado toast, I realize how much my mind is wandering. The mail won’t come for at least another six hours, so I need to keep myself busy. Instead of pacing the house and driving myself crazy all day, I decide to do something I haven’t done in a long-ass time.
I go to my room and tidy up. Then I get dressed, brush my teeth, and put my hair up. By the time I’m ready to go, a half hour has passed.
“Where’re you goin’ so early?” Mom asks when I walk down the hallway, my boots clapping on the hardwood floor. I almost didn’t see her standing near the fridge. When she turns around, she looks exhausted, but she’s worked fifteen-hour shifts every day for the past week without a day off, so I don’t blame her.
“I think I’m gonna ride some trails,” I say.
“Really? You haven’t done that in years.”
I beam. “Yep, time to change that.”
After I say goodbye, I hop in my truck and drive over to the horse barn. It’ll be nice to clear my mind. When I was a teenager, I used to ride all the time, but I became obsessed with my grades once I entered high school. My parents stressed the importance of a high GPA, and they were right since it opened the doors for me to become a vet.
When I turn toward the B&B, I instantly smile. Instead of going straight to the stables, I stop in and grab a muffin.
“Where are you goin’?” Uncle John asks. He looks up at my cowgirl hat with a grin.
“Was thinking I’d go for a ride today,” I explain.
“It’s gonna be a good day for that. Won’t get too hot until one, and you’re early, so you might miss the extreme heat.”
“Perfect. I didn’t even check the weather,” I admit, taking a bite off the top of the muffin. “Need to clear my mind.”