“It doesn’t matter. You passed all the tests anyway.”
I couldn’t help but giggle.
Rip looked at me and then back to my father. “You really want me to work here? For you?”
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“I don’t have my degree yet.”
My smile faded, and I stood up. “What do you mean you don’t have your degree?”
Both of them looked at me, then looked back at each other.
“She doesn’t know?” my daddy asked.
Rip shook his head, clearly embarrassed he had let that slip.
“I don’t know what?”
“It’s not a big deal, Chloe. I’m just a couple of classes short of graduating with my business degree and one class short of my minor in accounting.”
My eyes widened in shock. “It’s true, then?”
Now it was Rip who looked shocked. “You knew?”
“Alyssa told me. I thought you were done last fall and chose not to walk. Why did you leave A&M if you weren’t finished?”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It does matter, Rip! You went to school all that time on a baseball scholarship, for crying out loud. To just walk away only needing two classes. What in the world made you—”
I stopped speaking. I knew what made him leave. Alyssa had told me.
Rip shoved his hands into his pocket and turned back to Steed. “I plan on finishing. I’m registered to take the two classes online this summer. I’ll have the degree soon.”
My father placed his hand on Rip’s shoulder. “I don’t care about that, Rip. I wouldn’t offer you the job if I didn’t think you could do it. Degree or no degree, I trust you with the company and I would like to see the position move to full time when I retire if it’s something you’re interested in doing. I know you like working with your hands and helping your brother and Trevor out, as well. That won’t be for a number of years, but at least I know you’ll be well trained.”
Rip grinned from ear-to-ear. “I’d be honored, sir.”
The room felt like it was spinning so I sat back down. It was true. Alyssa wasn’t just saying those things. Rip had left school because of me. Because I was dating Easton.
“Chloe, are you feeling okay yet?” my father asked, bending down and looking at me.
“Yes. I’m just…”
“Just what?”
Glancing over to Rip, I said, “Confused.”
“Confused about what?” Rip and my father asked at the same time.
I stood. “Nothing. I, um, I need to go. I told Grammy I’d help her bake some cookies. She’s probably wondering where in the heck I am.”
My father cupped my face in his hands and gave me a good once over. “You’re sure you feel okay?”
I nodded. “I don’t really know what brought that on. I mean, I do. It’s okay. I’m fine.”
He gave me a gentle smile. “I’m sure it is all the changes you’ve got going on.”
I exhaled and gave him a slight chuckle. If he only knew the thoughts running rampant through my brain and my heart since I had got back home. Instead, I just said, “Yeah, probably.”
Kissing me on the forehead, he winked. “Go and have fun. I called Rip in to talk business.”
“Business. Sure, of course.” The feeling of being left out was new. What did I expect? I had agreed to marry Easton and that meant I would be leaving. Why would Daddy include me in any business decisions or conversations?
When I turned to leave, my eyes met Rip’s. “I’ll see you later?”
“I have to leave after this. Plans tonight.”
“Oh, okay. Have fun, then.”
He must have seen the hurt in my eyes. “If you want to come, a bunch of us going to hang out at Cord’s Place. Nothing fancy.”
With a smile, I said, “I’d love to go. I haven’t seen anyone in forever.”
“We’re all meeting there around eight, if you want to join.”
I tried not to let my smile slip, but I felt positive I was doing a shitty job of hiding my disappointment. Before Easton and the engagement, Rip would have offered to pick me up, and we would have gone together. That would have been a given. Now…
Things really were going to be different, not only between me and Rip, but with everything and everyone.
Rip
CORD’S PLACE WAS packed, which wasn’t unusual. As I made my way through the crowd, a few people stopped to say hello.
When I finally caught sight of Bobby McMillan, I smiled. Mike, Alyssa, and Chloe were really the only people I had stayed friends with since high school. Since moving back to Oak Springs, though, I’d caught up with a few friends, and we would hang out once a month or so.
Bobby held out his hand, and I shook it.
“Myers! It’s good to see you. I heard the news. I’m sorry, bro.”
I frowned. “What news?”
“Chloe getting married to some rich dude from Houston.”
Laughing, I replied, “News travels fast.”
He nodded. “We’re still a small town, no matter how much they try to make us grow.”
I clapped him on the back. “Gonna get a beer.”
The next thing I knew, a beer appeared in front of me. And Chloe was the one handing it to me.
“Hey, thanks.”
She smiled. “No problem. We just got here.”
“We?”
“I came with Alyssa and Mike. I didn’t feel like driving in alone.”
Ouch, that jab hurt. I instantly felt like an asshole. “I should have offered to pick you up. Sorry about that. Guess I wasn’t thinking clearly after the offer your dad made me.”
She shrugged and took a drink of her beer.
“I can give you a ride home if you want.”
Chloe grinned, and my fucking knees wobbled.
Will this ever go away? Christ.
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Congratulations, Chloe. Heard you are getting married. Gotta say, we all thought it was going to be you two tying the knot,” Bobby shouted.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph…if I hear that one more time.
Chloe gave him a polite smile. “That seems to be the opinion of almost everyone in town.”
I took a long drink of my beer and looked around until I spotted Mike and Alyssa dancing.
“Want to dance?” I asked Chloe before I even had time to think about it.
“Yes! It’s been forever since we’ve danced.”
We set our beers down and headed through the crowd. Once we got to the wooden floor, I took her in my arms and we started to two-step to the music. It was a fast song, so we took off flying. Dancing with Chloe had always been one of my favorite things. I couldn’t stand dancing with other girls. It never felt right. They fit wrong in my arms every single time. I told myself it was because we had learned to dance with each other and that made it awkward to dance with other women.
I was lying to myself even back then.
“You know, I can’t seem to dance with anyone but you,” she said.
“That so?” I asked with a smirk.
She laughed. “Yeah. I often wonder if it was because we figured it out together.”
Tossing my head back, I laughed. “I was just thinking the same damn thing, I swear.”
The song changed, and the beat slowed. It was an old song by Elvis called “Love Me Tender.” The words almost brought me to my knees. It was everything I wanted to say to Chloe…but couldn’t.
“My grandmother loves this song,” I said, pulling Chloe in closer to me.
She didn’t say anything as she laid her head on my chest. We glided across the dance floor, neither one of us talking. Fuck. I loved how she fit against me. My heart started to beat faster as I thought about what Jonathon had said to me yesterday. I knew I would never be able to live with myself if I didn’t tell Chloe how I really felt.
Before I could work up the nerve, the song changed to Keith Urban’s “
Coming Home.” I chuckled.
“Welcome home, Chloe Cat.”
A wide smile spread over her beautiful face.
She looked around before looking back at me. “Let’s show them what real dancing looks like.”
I took her hand and spun her around a few times. Before I knew it, people were moving out of our way as we cut up the floor. A few people cheered us as we passed them by.
This felt like home. How in the hell could she leave all this for him?
That was all I could think of the rest of the song.
When it ended, everyone around us clapped and whistled. Chloe did a little curtsy before we walked back to the table that now had about fifteen people from high school gathered around it. Most of them were only home for the summer, or until they headed off to start their careers.
“Hey Chloe!” Lori Rhodes said.
Chloe hugged Lori. “How have you been?”
Lori pointed to her stomach. There was a small bump there. “I’m pregnant, hence the water.” She held up a bottle.
“Oh, wow! Congratulations. I had no idea,” Chloe said.
Lori gave Chloe a wide, toothy grin. “We were going to be getting married anyway. So just mixing things up a bit.”
I couldn’t help but notice Lori’s smile looked forced. Behind her stood some guy I had never seen before. Lori turned around and tapped his shoulder.
“James, this is Chloe Parker and Rip Myers. I knew them in high school, too.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, reaching my hand out to shake his.
“You, as well,” James replied.
“Chloe, I heard you’re getting married,” Lori said, a smirk on her face.
“Um, yes.”
Lori’s eyes flickered over to me before she looked back at Chloe. “It’s nice to see you finally moved on and gave up on that silly dream.”
My brows drew in tight, but Chloe laughed. “You never change. Do you, Lori?”
Lori gave me one last once over before she pulled her boyfriend along to meet someone else.
I shivered. “Okay, being checked out by a pregnant chick gave me the heebie-jeebies.”
Chloe lost it laughing.
A group of about three girls who used to be cheerleaders came up to Chloe, and soon they were all lost in conversation.
I went to the bar and ordered another beer. Someone came up next to me, and I could feel their eyes. Turning, I found a pretty dark-haired girl waiting to order.
“Evening,” I said.
“Hi.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she bit down on her lip. I had to give her credit, she was turning the flirting on.
“What can I get you, Rip?” the bartender asked.
“I’ll take a Bud Light and the lady will take…”
She smiled wide. “A gin and tonic, please.”
When the bartender turned to get our drinks, she faced me. “Thank you for that.”
“Sure, no problem.”
When she tried to hand me money, I shook my head.
“My name is Valerie.”
“Rip.” I reached out to shake her hand.
“Are you from here, Rip?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
A giggle slipped from her mouth, and she rolled her eyes at herself.
“Sorry. I’m from California, not used to seeing real cowboys. That hat makes you look like the hot cowboys we dream about back home.”
I chuckled. “Thank you for that.”
When the bartender came back with our drinks, I paid and faced Valerie. “You will find a lot of us here in Oak Springs.”
“I know. I’m seeing that. I’m here visiting my grandparents. They moved out here from Austin. This is their retirement. The whole family is visiting.”
“How do you like Oak Springs?”
“It’s a charming little town. Everyone is so nice. I’ve had fun.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow afternoon.” Her eyes turned dark. “I’m here with my cousin tonight. I think she’s hoping to get lucky.”
I placed my beer to my lips and took a drink. Then I looked around the bar. “Well, there are plenty of guys in here who I’m sure will be more than happy to help her out with that.”
Valarie’s smile faded slightly. “I’m striking out with you, aren’t I?”
With a wink, I replied, “I’m afraid so.”
“Well, it was worth a shot, cowboy. A guy as good looking as you surely has a girlfriend.”
Not replying to her comment, I lifted my beer to take a drink. I gave her a polite grin. “Enjoy the rest of your time here.”
As I made my way back to the group, I noticed Chloe looking my way. I couldn’t help but wonder if she had been watching me talk to Valerie.
When I got back to the table, Chloe kept staring. She had a lost look on her face, similar to after that panic attack. When I frowned and gave her an inquisitive look, she glanced away.
Mike pulled me away some. “Dude, Butch just opened his mouth and told everyone that you’re in here once a week nursing your broken heart with whiskey because Chloe wouldn’t have anything to do with you.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“No. And Alyssa said Chloe knows you left A&M because of her and Easton.”
“What the fuck is this? Take Rip down night?”
“I guess she felt like Chloe should know.”
“Alyssa told her? I told you that in confidence, dude.”
“And I tell Alyssa everything. We don’t have secrets from each other, Rip. Believe me, when she told me she told Chloe yesterday, I was pissed.”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I exhaled. “So that is how she found out.”
“Yeah, and the little news about you being here drinking seems to have pushed her over a ledge. She was breathing fire. I’d avoid her if you can. Like right now, if looks could kill you’d be on the floor.”
I chanced a peek, and Mike was right. Chloe was shooting daggers at me.
“How in the hell am I supposed to avoid her? We’re all hanging out, and I already told her I’d give her a ride home.”
Mike smiled. “You’re up a creek without a paddle.”
“Thanks for that, Mike.”
“Hey, it’s about damn time it all comes out.”
“No, it’s not about damn time. Chloe is happy. She’s moved on. She is engaged to another man.”
“Yes, but would she be if you’d been up front with her?”
“I don’t play what-if games.”
Mike shook his head. “You’re still scared. Jesus, you’re about to lose her for good, and you’re still fucking scared.” He tossed his hands up and let them fall to his side. “I give up, man. I don’t think you even know what in the hell you want anymore.”
I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning, I found Chloe. I went to talk, but she cut me off.
“I’d like to leave now. Is your offer still on to drive me home?”
I chanced a look at the exit. If I jumped a few chairs and frantically made my way through the crowd, I could probably get away clean. Then I looked down at her.
Oh yeah, she was pissed.
“Um, of course. Let’s go.”
She spun on the heel of her boot and started walking off. I handed my beer to Mike.
“Looks like I’m leaving.”
“Good luck, bro.”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I sighed. “I’m gonna need it.”
The ride to the ranch was filled with silence. Chloe stared out the window, not once looking my way. I figured the closer we got to ranch the more she’d finally say what was on her mind.
I was wrong.
When I pulled up in front of her house, she opened the passenger door.
“Chloe?”
She looked over her shoulder at me.
“Have a good night.” I softly said.
Her eyes narrowed while her mouth opened slightly. Then she made a growling sound, jumped out of the truck, and
slammed the door. When she got halfway up her steps, she turned and shouted, “You asshole!”
My eyes widened in shock.
“What did I do?” I called out.
When she got to the door, she shook her head and looked back at me.
“Nothing. That’s the problem, Rip.” She slammed the door, ending our conversation before it even began.
I looked around, stunned.
“What in the living hell is that supposed to mean?”
Chloe
AS I SAT on the back porch swing, I stared down at the empty notebook. My mother had asked me to start making a list of things I wanted for the wedding. Colors, theme, bridesmaids, etc. I couldn’t think, though. My mind was filled with nothing but doubt. I wasn’t sure I was making the right decision. Easton and I had yet another fight this morning. His mother had taken him to look at houses. Something I said we should do together, just the two of us, when I was in town. I wanted something farther out, with at least a big yard. He wanted something completely different. If it were up to him, he would be in a condo in downtown Houston. He said that three times today on the phone. I finally gave in and told him that was fine. It was the only thing I could do to end the disagreement and get him off the phone.
Was this what my life would be like? Caving in to Easton because I was too prideful to admit I had possibly made a mistake by saying yes? Was I really going to settle?
Looking back over the months we had dated, it had never been that way. The moment he slipped a ring on my finger, I became something else to him. And a part of me—a large part of me—didn’t even want the ring on my finger.
“Chloe, you haven’t written a single thing down?”
I looked over to find Aunt Waylynn. Smiling, I shrugged. “I can’t seem to focus right now.”
“Doubts?” she asked. That was Aunt Waylynn. She was a straight shooter and didn’t have time to dance around a subject. There was definitely no doubt as to how Liberty turned out the exact same way.
“Yes.”
“About?”
I slowly shook my head and glanced down at my ring. “Why I said yes.”
“That is one hell of a doubt. So tell me, Chloe Cat, why did you say yes?”
Letting out a deep exhale, I laughed.
Hard.
Then she laughed. Soon we were both laughing and had tears streaming down our face.
Love at First Sight Page 9