I break through the trees on my property and continue jogging through my yard. I thought a mild workout while taking in my land would help clear my head from missing Callie and get me into writing. It’s harder today for some reason. Probably because I know I’ll get to see her tomorrow. I made her promise to come over to my place when she got home. I grin as I recall that conversation.
“Reed, I haven’t been home. I need to clean and—”
“I want you with me, Bluebird. Please? Besides, I’m drowning in uneaten food that this sexy woman with a great ass and killer tits made me. Someone has to help me eat it.”
Silence for just a beat and then…
“You think I have killer tits?”
Her question startled a laugh out of me, but I creatively told her just how “killer” they were, and it was enough to break through to her and get her to agree to come to my house. I make it about ten feet from my driveway and frown. Pulled up beside my vehicle is a shiny, new, white pickup—a Ford King Ranch to be exact. I know who it is. I don’t even have to see the guy behind the wheel. He’s been waiting on me for a bit because his engine is turned off, and his windows are down.
This is the day that just keeps on giving.
I stop jogging, walking up slowly. I mean, a man has to have a cooling down period after jogging. right? It has nothing to do with the fact that I’d rather chew nails than deal with Jake right now.
As he gets out of the truck, slamming the door, I’m about five feet from him. He leans against his bedside, wearing faded jeans, worn cowboy boots, and a wife beater T-shirt. His white Stetson is worn with a frontward tilt—covering most of his dark hair. He really hasn’t changed that much since high school, although he is a little leaner—his lanky frame could definitely use a few pounds. I’m happy to find he’s still showing a bit of the bruise under his eye that I put there with my fist.
“Jake. Come by for round two?”
“You told me you bought this place years ago, remember? Thought I’d come check it out.” He looks as uncomfortable as I feel. I hate things are so stilted between us.
“Well, since you’re not here for round two, you want a water? I was just about to go in and grab me one.”
“I’d rather have a beer.”
I frown because it’s not even ten in the morning. From the looks of him, however, he hasn’t been in bed. I shrug and walk toward the house. I can hear his footsteps echoing on the pavement behind me, so I know he’s following. The cool air of the house hits me as soon as I open the door. Thank God for air conditioning in Texas in the summer. Nashville gets hot this time of year, but Texas heat could fry you from the inside at times.
I grab the towel I left lying on the table by the door and immediately wipe the sweat and grime off the back of my neck and arms. I peel off my shirt, which is damp from my workout, and the chill that falls over my skin feels damn good. I drape my shirt over the stool that’s pulled up to the kitchen island. Perhaps I shouldn’t have made two laps around the place. I’m not used to owning this much land. My place in Nashville barely has room for the patio and pool that never gets used. I’m just not there enough. Things will be different here though. Satisfaction hits me. I’m going to take the time.
I open the fridge and grab a bottle of water and a beer for Jake. He takes it from me with a tense nod. I twist the lid off my water and guzzle down a fourth of the bottle before stopping and giving Jake my attention.
“Didn’t figure I’d see you again anytime soon,” I finally say, uneasy with his brooding silence. He has a right to be pissed. I kept something important from him that I never should have. The thing is, I don’t think I entirely disagreed with Katie that Jake would have grown to resent her and Lennon. I love the guy. He was the closest thing to a brother that I ever had, but he can be a selfish asshole. I don’t think he ever realized the treasure he had in Katie’s love. I’m not sure he still does for that matter.
Still, he couldn’t see anything he had in high school. He was determined to get out of Macon. Sure, he wanted Katie with him, but he wasn’t thinking marriage. I don’t know if he told her that, but I can’t count the number of times he told me I was stupid for trying to tie myself to Callie when I had so much in front of me that I haven’t even strived to achieve. He couldn’t quite comprehend that for me Callie was the beginning and ending of all my dreams. Anything that I wanted to achieve, I wanted to do it with her by my side. Jake missed Katie, but that didn’t keep him from finding comfort elsewhere when he got lonely. I knew that—even if Katie didn’t. So, I kept her secret.