by Amelia Shea
“Look, I know you’re hurting, Britt, I wish there was something I could do to make it better. But don’t make this life altering decision now, when your head is going in a million different directions. Just stay, think about it. If tomorrow, you feel the same and still want to leave, I’ll drive you to the airport myself. Give it a day, make this choice with a clear head. Please, Britt?”
He was right. She wasn’t thinking with a clear head—she was acting with a broken heart. A broken heart she’d have regardless of where she lived.
Through her tear-soaked eyes, she nodded. She needed to choose to stay or go when she was in a good head space. Today was not the day for life changes.
Lucas walked over, awkwardly put his arm around her shoulder, and hugged her into his side. Just like a brother. She smiled, resting her head on his chest.
»»•««
Two days later, she was still in Cloves County. She knew she had to make the decision for herself alone. Calling Darcy or even Leona would only have them begging her to come home. They were looking for any excuse, and this would be a good one.
She had to give credit to Lucas, never once did he try to talk her into staying. He knew the decision had to be hers. However, both mornings he made a point of finding her during her chores and saying, “Glad you stayed, they’d miss you a hell of a lot,” pointing down at the little goats. Truthfully, she’d miss them, too.
She’d spent the last two days hiding, for the most part. By now, everyone in town, including her ranch hands, had heard about the dinner party from hell and her breakup with Grey. Lucas had put her car in the vacant barn used for storage, so no one was wiser. Everyone thought she really left. She did her chores before the guys came in and didn’t go out until after they’d left. Lucas let them all cut out early the past two days. He even kept Britt’s secret from Sarah.
He said, “She wants you and Grey together, she said she likes seeing you in love. I was afraid if I told her she’d find a way to influence your decision.”
Britt snorted. “She’ll be pissed, she ever finds out. You’re a brave man, Lucas.”
“Nah, not brave, just trying to be a good friend.”
She stared down at her phone. It had been shut off since Sunday. She hadn’t bothered to turn it back on, and she wouldn’t until she had decided. It was time to turn on her phone because she had made her final decision.
“The guys are gone for the day.” Lucas appeared in her kitchen and sat at the table across from her. “How’s it going?”
“Good, I think I’m good.”
“Make a decision yet?”
“I’m gonna stay.”
A smile spread across Lucas’ face and he jumped up from the table and crossed to Britt, pulling her up from her seat and into a hug. “Good choice, boss.”
Britt laughed. “Thanks.” She sat back down and Lucas headed to the door but stopped in the doorway.
“I didn’t want to say anything before you made your decision, didn’t want anything to sway you.” He looked down at feet and then up to Britt again. “It’s none of my business what happened with you and Grey, and I wasn’t there so I don’t even know what happened except how Sarah said it went down. You know me, I’m the last person to stick up for any Fords, but he didn’t seem like a lying man when he stood at your door. I’m usually a really good judge of character, and the Grey I saw was a wreck, Britt. Sarah said there was a lot of hollering after you left, and best she could tell it was some ridiculous scheme thought up by Tripp. And well, you know what an ass he is. According to Sarah, he took his plan to heart but Grey didn’t. Jasper, neither.”
There was a part inside her that kept saying it wasn’t possible. What they had, what they shared, it was real. How could she deny what was in front of her? When confronted, Grey didn’t deny it. She knew Tripp would say anything and do anything for her land, but would he really sink so low?
“Has he called you?” Lucas asked.
Britt shrugged. “I don’t know. I turned my phone off Sunday night.” She eyed Lucas suspiciously. “You think I should give Grey the benefit of the doubt and forgive him?” She crossed her arms.
Lucas smirked. “No. But I do think you should at least hear him out. It’s like I said about you leaving. Need to make the decision on your own. But shouldn’t you have all sides of the story before you make up your mind?” Lucas walked toward the door. “You know, it wasn’t too long ago Sarah heard a story from Tripp Fords, one we both know wasn’t the full story.” He paused, raising his eyebrows. “If she hadn’t relented and heard my side, I’d be standing here a heartbroken single man. Just something to think about.”
Lucas was right. Tripp had a knack for telling half-truths, she was learning quickly. She needed to think, away from everything. She could hear Cal’s voice in her head whisper “The Point.”
Looking over to Lucas, she asked, “Can you saddle up Minnie?”
He smiled and nodded as he walked out the back door.
Britt got up and turned on her phone, plugging it into the charger before walking out the barn. A ride on Minnie up to The Point was what she needed. Clear her mind, get it all straight, and decide how she would handle the Grey situation.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Britt stayed later at the point than she planned. By the time she came back to the house, Lucas was gone for the night, the sun setting over her quiet land. After doing her best at closing up the barn for the night, she went inside.
Time up at The Point had given her the clarity she needed. She loved Grey. With everything inside her, she loved that man, and deep down she knew what they had was real. To give up without even giving him the chance to explain was something she wasn’t prepared to do. Once they spoke, she would decide if she could forgive him or not. It was a possibility she hated to think about, but it was there.
Stopping to take off her boots in the mudroom, she heard a buzzing sound. Seeing her phone light up on the counter, she rushed over, but it stopped ringing when she got to it. Clicking on her messages, she peered closer. There were several from Grey on Sunday night and into Monday. A few from Sarah, and even Kellie tried her twice yesterday. It was Darcy’s messages that caught her attention. Nine calls since this morning and over fifty text messages. She scanned them quick, seeing basically the same message on all.
Darcy: Call me ASAP
Darcy: Where r u? CALL NOW
Darcy: Answer this text, B
They all read the same way, urging her to call. Her last text made Britt’s stomach drop.
Darcy: 911…no joke, call me
Britt fumbled with the phone, almost dropping it on the floor. Hitting Darcy’s name, the phone began to ring. This was bad, they agreed to never use a 911 message unless it was an absolute emergency. Her fear crept inside, panicking. What if it was something really bad and Darcy needed her? She bit her fingernail muttering, “Pick up, Darc.”
The phone clicked and Darcy answered, “Hello?”
She sounded calm, not someone who was in the midst of a dire emergency.
“Darc, it’s me, are you okay?” Britt’s voice trembled from being so worked up with fear.
Darcy openly laughed. “Oh, hey, how are you?” Her tone was draped in sarcasm and Britt rolled her eyes. She loved Darcy, but even she could admit her best friend had her bitch moments. This will be one of them.
“Sorry, my phone was off for the last couple days. So, you’re okay? The nine-one-one was just to get me to call back? I thought we agreed to only use it under emergency situations. I would have called after the first couple messages had I seen them. Anyway, what’s…?”
“Shut up!” Darcy hushed into the receiver.
Britt winced. “What?”
Darcy’s voice was low, but she was obviously freaking out over something. “Shut up, I don’t have much time…”
“Oh, my God, Darc, are you being kidnapped?”
“What? No, you dumbass, I am hiding in my closet for you.”
“Wh
at’s going on?”
“You tell me, huh? Why aren’t you home? Where the hell are you?”
“Montana.”
“Montana?” she shouted then hissed, “Shit. But I thought you left? God, Britt. I was freaking out. You were supposed to be here, then I call your phone a million times, it goes straight to voicemail, leave you messages, you don’t call back, no texting me back. I thought you were dead somewhere, Britt.”
“I’m sorry, I just turned off my phone and didn’t think you’d need me. I suck. Sorry, it’s just been hell the last couple days.”
“I know, B.”
Britt inhaled deeply. She was about to ask Darcy how things were going when she froze. Her mind was racing and fast forwarding through their conversation. Wait a minute. That made no sense.
“Wait, Darcy. Why did you think I’d be coming home?”
“What do you mean, how’d I know you’d be coming home?”
“You said I was supposed to come home. I didn’t tell you I was coming back. We haven’t talked since last week. How’d you know?”
Her voice was hushed again. “Didn’t you listen to any of my messages?”
“No, I just called when I saw the nine-one-one. What the hell is going on, who told you I was coming home?”
“Well, I…” She never finished her sentence. Britt could hear muffled voices in the background.
What the hell was going on? She was about to call for her friend when she froze at the sound of the voice on the other line.
“Hello, darlin’.”
∙•∙
Grey’s heart pounded through his chest. It was a mixture of stress, anger, frustration, but mostly relief. She was safe and okay. He’d been going crazy for the past seven hours not knowing where she was.
He’d made the decision on Monday to follow her home. It had cost him an overpriced plane ticket and probably ten years off his life, wondering how he’d make her see the truth. Finally getting to her door, he was a bundle of nerves. He loved Britt and he couldn’t lose her, especially over a lie. He was determined he would not go back to Montana without his woman.
He knocked and prepared himself for the door to be slammed in his face. All his nervous energy changed to bloodcurdling anger when the door opened. What he didn’t expect was a shirtless man. Who the fuck was this guy in Britt’s apartment?
“Can I help you?” the man asked. He was about Grey’s age with dark hair and eyes.
“Yeah, you can tell me who the fuck you are?” Grey growled, stepping forward. Grey had a few inches on the guy. He looked like he was in shape, but with the rage Grey was feeling at the moment, this guy didn’t stand a chance.
The shirtless guy backed up an inch but stood tall and scowled. “Who the fuck are you?”
“I’m the guy who’s gonna beat the shit out of you if you don’t get away from my girl. Now!” he shouted.
“What the hell’s going on? Marcus?” A small, dark-haired woman stood behind the shirtless guy and peered up at Grey with wide eyes. He recognized her from a picture in Britt’s room. Darcy.
“Who are you?”
“Where’s Britt?” he demanded, calming his tone. The last thing he wanted to do was make an enemy of her best friend. Although she probably hated him anyway.
“Britt?” Darcy looked confused, and gaped up at the man in front of her.
“Britt lives in Montana,” the shirtless guy said, raising his eyebrows.
The girl elbowed him in the ribs. “Don’t tell him where she lives. Are you stupid?” Pointing at Grey, she said, “He’s obviously crazy!”
“I’m not crazy,” Grey scoffed. “I just want to talk to Britt.”
“Who are you?” She shouted in frustration.
“Greyson Fords.”
She blinked a few times and shook her head in confusion. “Wait, you’re Grey?”
He nodded.
“Britt’s cowboy Grey?”
He felt a small ounce of anger simmer as he smirked and nodded.
“What are you doing here? Why did you think Britt was here?” She reached out for his arm and dragged him in past the scowling shirtless guy. “Come in and explain this all to me.”
Grey sat down with Darcy and Marcus and gave them the story of what had happened. He could tell Darcy wasn’t buying it one hundred percent. When he explained Britt crying and feeling embarrassed and humiliated, he thought Darcy was going to lose her shit. On him.
“What kind of backwoods idiots are you?” Darcy shouted, getting up from her seat next to Marcus. Marcus gripped her hand and pulled her back to the couch. For a small woman, she had plenty of fire, which was currently directed at Grey. He understood it.
“I never once entertained the idea. Not. Once. Just hear me out, that’s all I’m asking,” Grey pleaded.
By the daggers she was throwing at him, listening was the last thing she wanted, but she did. Grey knew he had to be completely truthful if he had any chance at getting Britt back. When he finished his story, he turned to Darcy.
“What my brother said is the furthest thing from the truth. I love her. If there’s anything I want you to remember from this whole story it’s this, I love Britt and I’m gonna do everything possible to prove that to her.”
Darcy explained the last time she had spoken to Britt was on Friday. “We talked about how excited she was to go to your family’s house for dinner. She really wanted them to like her, Grey, ya know ’cause you’re so close to them.” It nearly broke his heart. “I texted her on Sunday night to find out how it went but she never answered. Been trying to call for the last couple days but got nothing. Thought she was just busy with the ranch and with you. Are you sure she came home?”
“I reached out to my cousin, Sarah, who assured me Britt left. She would know being Lucas’ girlfriend.” Grey took a deep breath, folding his arms over his chest. “If she’s not here, then where the hell is she?”
“Let me call her again. Make yourself at home. Oh, and Grey, if I find out you’re lying to me, I’ll cut off your balls.” Darcy walked into the kitchen of their apartment.
Grey glanced over to Marcus. “You’re a brave man.”
Marcus chuckled. “Yeah, well, I make it a point to never lie to Darcy.” He leaned up from his seat and rested his elbows on his knees. “Britt will call her back. Those two are as close as sisters. Just give it time.”
He was left to wait.
Darcy’s phone rang a few times during the day. He watched the disappointment on her face when she saw the caller each time. Where was she, and why wasn’t she calling her friend back? As his mind wandered, the worst-case scenarios crept in, and his body tensed. She had to be okay.
Marcus handed him a beer and sat across from him on the couch. “She’s fine, probably just needed some time alone.”
Grey gave him a somber nod. The phone rang on the table next to Darcy. She sprang off the seat. Her face was masked but not disappointed. Walking backward out of the room, she said, “It’s not her, but I gotta take this.”
Grey looked to Marcus and raised his eyebrows, confirming what he was thinking. It was Britt. Both men stood up and Grey followed Marcus down the hall. They were quiet and slowly entered the empty bedroom. They both stood in the center, looking around the empty room.
“Montana?” Darcy blurted.
Then she muttered, “Shit.”
Marcus smirked and walked over to the closet, pressing his ear to the door. Abruptly, he yanked open the doors to see Darcy huddled in a mass of clothes, her wide, shocked eyes staring back at him.
Yeah, it was Britt on the phone.
Marcus grabbed the phone from Darcy and handed it to Grey.
“Hey, gimme my phone back.” Marcus then lifted her over his shoulder while she wiggled her body and lunged out to grab the phone from Grey. He backed away as Marcus stalked out of the room. Grey smiled and brought the phone to his mouth.
“Hello, darlin’.”
The other end of the phone was silent. She wa
s going to talk to him whether she liked it or not. Grey could hear the low ranting of Darcy from the next room. “Put me down.” He walked to the door and closed it, waiting for Britt to speak.
“Wh-what are y-you doing at my place?” she stuttered.
“Well, seeing as how you wouldn’t talk to me after Sunday, and Lucas said you left, I did the only thing I could do. I booked a flight and came here.”
“You flew five hundred miles just to talk to me?”
“Don’t know why you sound so damn surprised. You really think I’d just let you go? I’d be fine with us being over?” His voice had an edge. He was getting angry. Of course he wouldn’t just let her go.
There was silence again and he growled.
“There is no us, Grey. There’s just the ranch.” There was doubt in her voice.
“Do you really believe that?”
“I know what I heard, and I know you didn’t deny it.”
“You never gave me a chance to explain.”
“Explain what? How you set me up?”
Grey growled, tightening his grip on the phone. “The fuck I did. It was a joke—we were playing around—and it was months ago. It was stupid bullshit, it happened right after you refused to sell. I never agreed to get with you to get the land. It was all bullshit on a drunken night with my brothers. No one took it seriously.” He clenched his hand into a fist. He could not lose it on her.
“Really? Well, Tripp seemed to think you were serious.”
“Tripp is a spoiled little shithead who ran his mouth with a bullshit story.”
“Oh really? Then why was your dad so eager to tell me the land came first, huh?”
Grey took a breath, his face heating. They should be having this conversation in front of each other, not five hundred miles away over the phone. He was very aware she could hang up. It was the last thing he wanted. He had to keep his anger under control. But she was really pissing him off.
“He told you because it’s true. Ranching has always come first with me. Until you.”
He heard a cruel laugh. “Yeah, right. You really expect me to believe I changed everything for you?”