Dad let me go. Shooting toward her, he slipped into the booth, and wrapped his arm around her shuddering form. “It’s okay, Della. It’s okay.”
The last thing I saw before I was knocked on my butt and got an eyeful of the diner’s dirty ceiling was Jacob launching from the table and bulldozing me to the ground.
He’d vanished out the door before I could climb to my feet.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Hope
* * * * * *
“NO WAY. NO fucking way.”
“Language, Jacob Wild. Your mouth is as dirty as your father’s.” The Cassie woman who owned the equestrian centre argued just as loud as Jacob.
“Well, you’re always telling me how similar we are. Guess you have to take the good with the bad, huh?”
“Don’t change the subject. Hope is staying and—”
“Not gonna happen.”
“It is too gonna happen.” Her tone sharpened. “Her father made the booking almost three months ago. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but she’s here for the week, and you’re going to be civil—”
My new leather riding boots scuffed driveway gravel as I tiptoed closer, shutting up the voices inside the barn.
Darn it.
I was normally so good at eavesdropping. The number of secrets I’d gathered from slinking around the set and listening to actors, sound crew, and scriptwriters was fascinating. Hearing such juicy things—sexy things, naughty things, funny things—all helped with my own story-telling when Keeko made me do English homework, but today…I sucked at it.
Today, I wasn’t listening for secrets; I was listening to see how much trouble I was in, and if it was even worthwhile staying. Every time I thought about last night, my back prickled and tears heated and utter mortification made me nauseous.
Dad had driven us to Cherry River despite my pleas to reconsider. He’d told me either way—if I stayed or left—I deserved to say sorry face to face. He’d parked the car with strict instructions to stay put until he’d spoken to Della—just in case I mentioned the words dead, dying, or terminal.
I’d gotten better over the past year—mainly thanks to living in a country where English wasn’t the first language—and I no longer blurted out my morbid fascination with the afterlife to strangers. But I understood why he didn’t trust me.
Look at the mess I caused last night.
Of course, staying in the car became impossible when I spotted Cassie and Jacob vanish into the barn. And so, I broke yet another promise.
If there was a Heaven and Hell, I’d well and truly bought myself a one-way ticket to damnation.
But they were arguing.
I needed to know if it was about me.
Boots thumped on cobbles just before Jacob appeared from the shadowy building and caught me red-handed.
Again.
“You,” he seethed. “Don’t you think you’ve caused enough damage for one visit?”
I shrank into myself, staring at the ground. “I just came to say sorry. I don’t have to stay—”
“Damn right you don’t have to stay.” He crossed his arms. “Do you find it fun to be the most annoying person I’ve ever met?”
I shrank again, wishing I could literally vanish into my boots. “I said I’m sor—”
“Hope.” Cassie appeared from the barn, running a hand wearily through her hair. Glaring at Jacob, she came directly toward me and scooped me into a hug.
Drinking in the much needed contact, I lagged against her. Tears welled in my eyes as she pulled away and cupped my cheeks.
“You’re welcome here anytime, Hope. You know that, right? Last night was unfortunate timing, that’s all. Any other night, Jacob and his mom would’ve loved for you to join them for dinner.” Her hands trailed from my cheeks as she stood. “Last night, though…it was hard for both of them. I hope you don’t take it personally.”
“She stuck her nose where it didn’t belong. Again.” Jacob eyed me with disdain. “Don’t you get taught manners in Hollywood?”
“Jacob.” Cassie pinched his side—hard by the way Jacob flinched. “Hope is here for horse camp, not for you to pick on. You will be nice. You will be helpful. You will bend over backward to make her feel welcome as she is our guest. Got it?” She pinched him again.
He parried out of her reach. Rubbing his side, he sent her a withering glare. He didn’t reply, but the clench of his jaw hinted he had a lot to say—just not something she wanted to hear.
Pointing a finger in his face with warning, Cassie nodded once, then strode toward where Della and my dad were talking, leaving me alone with rage itself.
For the longest moment, heavy silence choked me.
Then Jacob cleared his throat and said in a robotic voice like any well-trained customer service worker, “Welcome back to Cherry River. I hope you have a pleasant stay.” With a thin smile that made his dark eyes darker and cheekbones sharper, he bowed, saluted, and turned on his heel and stormed away.