“Damn right, I’ll bring her back.You’ve got good taste, kid.”
Kyle throws himself at me one more time, and I give him another hard squeeze.
“It was good to meet you, buddy.”
He bounces from me to Boone once more, and I can’t keep the smile off my face.The grip I’ve been keeping on my heart slips another notch at the thought of so easily sliding into their family.
“You make sure you let Ripley drive.I don’t care how much you love that truck, it’s doctor’s orders.”Boone’s dad steps into the living room after refusing my help to load our suitcases in the truck.
“Dad, I’m fine.”
Mr.Thrasher crosses to me and picks up my hand before dropping the keys in it and closing my fingers around them.“Ripley’s driving.”
A chuckle works its way out of my throat.“Don’t worry.I won’t scratch her.”
“Be safe, both of you.”This comes from Boone’s mom.
“Yes, ma’am.I’ll make sure he calls you when we get back to Nashville.”
“Thank you for taking such good care of my boy, Ripley.”She comes toward me and wraps me in a hug.“You’re always welcome here.Always.”
The burn of emotion works its way up the back of my throat and tingles behind my eyes.
“Thank you, ma’am.I appreciate that.”
Mrs.Thrasher pulls back and meets my eyes.“He won’t break your heart.I taught him better than that,” she whispers before releasing me.
Buford meets us at the truck, and I drop to my knees to snuggle him one last time.“I’m gonna miss you too.”
“Probably not as much as he’s going to miss you.”Boone gives the dog a good long scratch behind the ears before holding out a hand to me.
Buford gives my face a lick, and I kiss his silky head before letting Boone haul me to my feet.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be seeing him again.I promised Ky I’d bring you back, and I’m a man of my word,” Boone says as he opens the driver’s door of his truck.
Do I dare believe him?What his mom said echoes through my head.“He won’t break your heart.”
I guess we’ll find out.
31
Boone
One of thesecurity guys waves at us as we drive through the gate, and I remember it’s Sunday and Anthony’s day off.
He better have made sure Esteban got breakfast.
Ripley shifts the truck into park once she brings it to a stop in the garage.“Is it weird that this is actually one of the better birthdays I’ve had?”
My gaze cuts in her direction.
“What did you say?”The words come out a lot harsher than I intended, but that fits with the level of my shock.
“I said it’s one of the better birthdays—”
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me it’s your birthday?”
Ripley shrugs.“I don’t know.It wasn’t a big deal.It never is.”