“Em messaged me back.”
His eyes crinkle at the sides as he shoulder bumps me. “That’s awesome. Now you’ve just got to decide how not to freak her out again.”
I glare at my best friend. “I didn’t do anythin’. Dare, Asher, and the twins all admitted they thought Em would bolt faster than an unbroken stallion. They just didn’t think she’d leave as fast as she did.”
“You know I’m just teasin’. Hell, you haven’t even told her she’s your One. That’s usually a surefire way to get a girl to run. So, the way I see it, she didn’t leave the mountain cause she fake marriedyou. I mean… I wouldn’t blame her, but?—”
I narrow my eyes. “Why do I keep you around again?”
“Because you love me. Though I’m thinkin’ those days are numbered. Soon enough you’ll leave me to ride into the sunset with your beloved Marion and I’ll have to pick up your slack.” He says this while returning his attention to the garden beds in front of us,
“Wy, I’m not leavin’ the mountain,” I tell him. “I can’t. You forget about the clause in Gramps’s will.”
He shoots an arched brow in my direction while continuing to plant along the line of dirt, not even dipping his head once to check his work. Yet another reason why hiring him to be an extra set of hands—especially with his experience and ranch know-how—has been a huge help to all of us.
“So, pray tell, how do you plan on livin’ happily ever after with your wife if she a) doesn’t yetknowshe’s your One, and b) doesn’t want to live on the mountainorin Timber Falls?”
“We don’t know that yet,” I counter.
“Except the fact she left years ago to build a life somewhere else, a place she couldn’twaitto get back to?”
“I—” Shit. I didn’t actually factor her life in Palmer into any of my imaginings of what our future together might look like.
Wyatt’s eyes fill with understanding “The Call is alot, Jude. I’ve seen many a man wobble and have doubts as they’re goin’ through it. For you, it’s been a whole lot more already and you’ve barely started along the journey.”
“Like what?”
He stares at me dumbfounded. “There’s you realizin’ that the only daughter of your family’s rival is your fated soulmate, a dyin’ man’s request that you marry and look out for her, the rushed weddin’, whatever happened between you and Em before the ceremony that had you nervous and excited in equal measure,andthen Sully passin’ while we were all celebratin’? That’s more than a lot, and all of that happened in oneday.”
My lips tug up on one side. “When you put itthatway…”
“Then she left—and believe me, havin’ lost a parent, I get it. But she did it without sayin’ goodbye and you somehow had the patience and wherewithal to lastthislong before askin’ her brothers for her phone number,” he continues. “Now, I don’t know about you, but that’s shit on top of crap, with a sprinklin’ of manure on it, as my Dad would say.”
I splutter out a laugh. “Say what you mean, Wy.”
“I’msayin’, I like that she replied and didn’t leave you hangin’. What I like more is seein’ you smile bigger than I’ve seen in the month she’s been gone, and all from seein’ her name on your phone. That’s all. End of deep and meaningful talk,” he adds.
“I smile.”
“Not likethat.” He points to my lips which have curled up of their own volition. “That’s the smile of a man with a crush.”
I snort. “And how would you know about crushes?”
“I don’t yet. Just seen more than my fair share of couples find the happiness they deserve with each other.” His expression turns serious. “Lookin’ forward to watchin’ as you work your way toward your happy ever after with Em.”
I stare at him, my throat feeling weird. “Thanks, man.”
He jerks his chin up. “Right. Enough of all of that. We’re supposed to be big, burly, rough and tough mountain ranchers.” That gets me laughing. “You goin’ to answer her now or wait till you’ve figured out and overanalyzed what to say and how to say it for a while?”Damn, it’s like he knows me or something.
“Probably better if I wait till I’mnotin the middle of somethin’ and know I can’t give both tasks my full attention,” I reply.
“Good choice. We better get plantin' then so you have enough time to formulate five different responses for your text.” Wy may tease me but he’s also not wrong. “You’ve waited this long, what’s a few more hours. Especially since you’ve been feelin’ the effects already.”
I still and slowly tilt my head his way. “I’m fine. It’sfine.”
“So, youhaven’tbeen super tired lately and rubbing your sternum like it’s achin’ all hours of the day?”
“Nope,” I reply quickly.