27
CARLY
Austin stands at the door of my parents’ house with me, holding both my hands in his. “You sure you don’t want me to come in with you?” he asks.
“Yes and no,” I reply. It’s not the first time I’ve ever felt nervous walking into my own home. But in the past few days, I’m not who I used to be. It’s laughable since I was gone for over three years. That changed me, definitely, but this time, it’s my choice.
My decisions that are changing the course of my life. They aren’t what my parents want, but what I do.
He lowers his head, presses his lips against mine. “I understand.”
“I need to do this alone.” I hold his hand, clinging to him in contrast to my words. “Although I would love it if you could come in with me. I mean, how else will he find out how awesome you are except by giving you a chance?”
“Yeah, well, he’s not really interested in giving me a chance. At least not yet. How about you go solo tonight with them tonight? Baby steps.”
He’s probably right, but dad also has to give me a chance.
“He’ll come around. My father is a good man, Austin. Unfortunately, you haven’t seen the best side of him.”
My mind wanders to what my father told me—that Jonathan Bridger may have had a hand in my abduction. That’s huge. Crazy serious and will impact Austin and his brothers.
Except that’s not something I can burden Austin with, at least not yet. Not until I find out whether it’s true or not, and maybe not even then. Austin is not his father, and he shouldn’t have to live with what his father may have done. Same goes for Miles and Chance.
That’s what I need to get my own father to understand, even if I have to hit him over the head with it.
“Call me,” he says. “Just let me know you’re okay tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll try to come find you during lunch. Do you know where you’ll be?”
“I’ll check in at the vet’s office around noon,” I say. “Unless they call me back into town for more questioning about that body.”
“I doubt they will” His mouth thins into a line. “You’ve told them everything.”
Over dinner, I shared with all three Bridger men what Lexie and I were asked, what we answered.
“True enough.” I stand on my tiptoes and wrap my arms around his neck. “Thank you. For everything.”
It’s late, but there are lights on in the house.
“All I did was wash your clothes, baby.”
I kiss his lips lightly. “You did a lot more than that, and you know it. Thank you for coming home. For… for choosing me.”
He trails a finger over my jawline, traces my lower lip. “Carly, there was no other choice.”
I open my mouth to speak, when—
My mother opens the door. She hasn’t changed for bed, still in tan pants and a blue top I know is her favorite. “Carly, it’s you! I heard a car pull up.”
“I’m sorry if we scared you.”
She looks between me and Austin. “Are you back?”
“For now.” I pull away from him. “Goodbye, Austin.”
“Hello, Mrs. Vance,” he says to Mom and then glances down at me. Brushes his knuckles over my cheek. “Good night, Carly. Call me.”
“I will.”
He steps back and returns to the Bridger Ranch truck he used to bring me home.