I set her down and she hit me on the shoulder. “Don’t call me that. I hate it. Just Ava.” She gave me a once-over and glanced into the truck before asking, “No Jessica?”
I shook my head. “Not this time.”
Ava sighed. “Bummer. I was really hoping to pick her brain about France.”
Ava took my hand as we made our way up to the front door of the Morris’ house. “So is Jessica excited about moving to the ranch?”
“I think so,” I said, shrugging. “She’s in Europe with her mother and grandmother right now. They’re touring.”
My sister was going to be over the moon when she realized that she’d have my full attention all summer. I usually came home, worked on the ranch, and then drove into Austin to be with Jessica.
Ava’s eyes lit up. “Really? I have you all to myself?”
I chuckled and nodded. “At least until August twenty-sixth.”
Ava screamed as she flew into my arms. The door flew open and I turned to see Jase there, smiling. He seemed to be finishing up a text. When he looked back up he had a shit-eating grin on his face.
“What’s up bro?” I asked, giving him a quick handshake.
“Where’s your hot girlfriend?”
Ava pushed past Jase and called out over her shoulder, “She’s touring Europe.”
Jase threw his head back and laughed, slapping me on the shoulder. “Damn, dude. Liza’s gonna be stoked.”
I looked at him, shocked. “What? Why?”
Jase smiled and said, “Cause the gang is back together.”
I nodded, “Oh yeah. Right.”
I looked up and finally noticed the giant sign. Congratulations Taylor and Walker.
“She’s gonna be pissed,” I whispered.
Jase looked at the sign and shrugged. “Dude, I told my mom not to use Taylor, to use Liza,” Jase said as he looked around for his mom. “Mom says they accidentally put Taylor and by the time she noticed, it was too late to fix it.”
Layton and my father both rounded the corner. My father’s smile lit up his face when he saw me. He held out his hand as I reached for it. “Dad,” I said with a smile. I reached my hand out for Layton’s. “Sir, how are you?” I asked with a nod. I’d known Layton forever, since he was Jase and Liza’s father, but I couldn’t help but call him “sir.”
Layton gave me a once-over. “Well, I’m glad to see you kept in shape, Walker. I’m going to put your ass to work starting tomorrow morning. There’s a fence that needs mending in the front pasture over by Mimi and Frank’s place.”
“Yes, sir. I’m ready to get to work.” I said.
My father gave me a look and motioned for me to join him outside. Before I turned to follow him through the house and out the back door, though, I said, “Layton, sir. Do you have a Sharpie I can use? The kind with the thick, bold tip?”
Layton nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got one.”
“Dad, one second while I fix something.”
Layton returned from his office with a fat Sharpie. I grabbed a chair and stood on it to reach the sign. I drew an X through Taylor and wrote Liza in huge letters. Everyone started laughing. I jumped down and handed the Sharpie back to Layton and followed my father through the kitchen and to the back porch.
“Where’s Mom?” I asked.
My father headed down the steps. “Courtney’s checking on Mimi and Frank. They’re getting older, but insist on living in that giant ranch house all alone.”
We walked down to the main barn in silence. The moment we stepped into the barn, I was thrown back to the night I’d kissed Liza. I shook my head and attempted to push the memory away.
“So Jessica’s on her way to Europe?” My father asked as he took a seat.
I let out a tired breath and sat across from him. “Yep. Well, they leave tomorrow.”
“Is she excited about moving out here?”
I shrugged. “She said she was. Her parents are pushing for us to get married though.”
My father nodded his head slowly. “How do you feel about that?”
“About marrying, Jessica?”
He laughed. “Isn’t that who we’re talking about?”
“I don’t know dad. I mean, I’ve looked at rings a few times and it just doesn’t feel right. I love Jessica. I just don’t understand the rush to get married.”
He stood up and nodded. “And how does Jessica feel about that? She seemed like a really sweet girl when we met her last summer. Is she okay with waiting?”
I thought back to yesterday when I’d dropped Jessica off at her house after having dinner with her parents.
“SO, DO YOU have a going away present for me?” Jessica asked with her cute little smile.
“Ah…I didn’t know I was supposed to get you a gift, baby. I’m sorry.” Her face dropped and she looked out the window. I placed my finger on her chin and pulled her eyes back to mine. “Jess, I didn’t even think about it.”
Her jaw tightened and I knew it was coming. “I find it funny that you thought to buy your best friend a ring when y’all went off to college, but when your girlfriend is leaving for the whole summer, and returning to live with you on your family’s ranch, it doesn’t even pop into your head that maybe you should buy her something.”
I closed my eyes and let out a long, slow breath. “Jesus, Jess. Why do you always bring that damn ring up? I wish I’d never told you about it. What do you want from me?”
“A commitment, Walker. Something that tells me you want the same things I want. I want to know that I’m not picking up my entire life and moving out to the country for a man who doesn’t want the same things I want.”
“Jessica, I just don’t see why we should rush into getting married just because we graduated.”
She laughed. “I’m not asking you to marry me tomorrow, Walker. I’m asking you to commit. To give me something.”
I nodded and looked into her eyes. “I promise, I’ll give you what you’re asking for.”
“When?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
I swallowed hard. “By the end of summer.”
She smiled. “Is that a promise?”
“WALKER?” MY FATHER snapped his fingers in my face. “Earth to Walker.”
I laughed. “Sorry, Dad. I was thinking of something.” Smiling, I slapped his back. “Dad, Jessica and I talked before she left for Europe. I’m planning on asking her to marry me before she moves out to the ranch. That doesn’t mean we’re gonna rush into a wedding, but she wants a commitment from me and I intend to give her one.”
My father smiled and nodded. “That sounds like the young man I raised. We’ll go down to the foreman’s cabin and show you how Layton and I fixed it up. We added another room so Jessica could have an office. I think you’ll both be very pleased.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” I said. “I’ll take pictures and send them to her.”
My dad led us back up to the house. As we walked, I heard someone pulling up the driveway. I’d parked out front, leaving room for Liza’s car in the back by the garage. When I saw her Camry come around the corner I couldn’t help but smile as I said, “Looks like Liza’s home.”
Right behind Liza were Whitley and my mother. The second I saw Liza step out of her car, the wind swept up her long, chestnut hair, I had to catch my breath. Shit. That hasn’t happened to me in a long time. What is the matter with me?
Whitley and my mother both squealed as Ava came running out the back door screaming. They all tackled Liza and started crying.
“Why do they do that?” I asked.
My father was watching the whole thing play out. “Why do they do what?”
I gestured toward the women. “Scream and cry like that. I mean, I get that Liza hasn’t been home in a while, but good lord.”
My father shook his head. “Son that is the first of many, many questions you’re going to have about women. Almost all of them come down to ‘why do they do that?’”
I laughed and followed my father ov
er to Liza’s car. Layton was hugging her and Jase was waiting for his turn. As much as he tried to be a badass, he loved his sister—and mine. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for either of them.
Liza turned around and the smile on her face about dropped me to my knees. Holy shit. Her hair was escaping from a loose bun on top of her head, despite a bandana wrapped around her head. My eyes traveled up and down her body as I took in the jean shorts, cowboy boots and pink T-shirt. Her smile faded briefly when she saw me, but she quickly brought it back when my father hugged her.
“My gosh, you’re not my little Liza who use to beg me to take her fishing every Saturday on the pontoon boat.”
Liza laughed. “I’m still that girl, just a little older. I still want to go fishing, Reed.”
My father took a step back and I approached Liza. I hadn’t felt this happy in a long time. I glanced at something hanging around her neck. When I saw that it was the ring I’d given her, I looked down to her left hand. That’s when I saw the giant-ass engagement ring. I stopped dead in my tracks. Liza chuckled nervously and gave me a quick hug.
“Hey, you. Oh my gosh it’s been what? A year?”
I couldn’t pull my eyes from the ring. Liza was engaged? When I finally met her gaze, she glanced briefly at her ring before putting her hand in her pocket.
“Um…how have you been?” she asked.
“You’re engaged?” I blurted. Her smile dropped and she squinted her left eye at me, just like she always did when she was agitated.
“What did you say, Walker?” Whitley asked.
That’s when I noticed Liza biting her lip. I realized she didn’t want anyone to know she was engaged. But why?
“I um,” I said “Just, wow, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other.”
Liza let out the breath she was holding and smiled weakly at me.
I smiled back before starting back toward the barn.
“Walker?” she called after me.
I just kept walking. It felt like all of the air had been pulled from my lungs as I desperately attempted to drag in air. She’d moved on—again.
I WATCHED AS Walker walked toward the barn. My first instinct was to go after him. Instead, I plastered on a fake-ass smile for everyone.
My mother pulled me in for another hug. “I’m so glad you’re home,” she whispered into my ear.
I held her tighter. “Me too, Mom. Me too.”
My father clapped his hands said, “Let’s head back in and eat some barbecue ribs, shall we?”
I looked back toward the barn as Jase and Walker both walked through the barn doors. I turned to my father who gave me a funny look, then winked.
Walking into the kitchen, I instantly felt relaxed. I loved being home. I loved our ranch, the river, the cows, the horses. I loved everything about this place. My mother and Courtney were getting everything ready for us to sit and have a feast. Ava was bouncing around, talking a mile a minute about how she only had one year of college left. Her degree was in design, and she would be interning this summer at design firm in Austin.
“Liza, how is Keith?” Courtney asked as Reed wrapped his arms around her.
I smiled at their display of affection. Walker and Ava were just like their parents. Ava was the spitting image of her Courtney. Walker was a younger version of Reed. When I’d seen Walker earlier, it took everything out of me to keep my jaw from dropping. Walker had clearly been working out. He was bigger than he was last summer. His messy brown hair always looked like he’d just run his hands through it after a shower. When my eyes were searching his body, I’d noticed a piece of a tattoo on his right arm, peeking out from his T-shirt. His blue eyes had pierced mine, demanding my attention, like always.
The moment he’d noticed the ring on my finger, I’d seen the hurt in his eyes. It had just about gutted me. I can’t believe I was so stupid—I’d meant to take it off. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out.
Keith: I just landed. Are you home?
Me: Yep! Just got here a bit ago.
Keith: Have you told your folks the news?
Me: News??
Keith: Yes, Liza. Our engagement!
I rolled my eyes and looked around. Everyone was busy talking so I walked out into the living room.
Me: I haven’t officially said yes yet.
Keith: You’re wearing the ring though, right?
I pulled my hand up and looked at the massive oval-cut diamond on my finger. I tried to take a deep, cleansing breath. I need to take this massive thing off.
Me: Yes. But, Keith, you gave me until the end of summer. Remember?
Then I heard a scream. My mother came running toward me. “Taylor Elizabeth Morris! Why didn’t you tell us?”
I gave her a confused look and laughed. “What are you talking about, Mom?”
I caught my mother staring at my hand, and I instantly spun the ring around and attempted to put my hand in my pocket. But she was quick, grabbing my arm and pulling it out. She gasped when she saw the ring. Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Liza,” My mother implored. “Why in the world didn’t you tell us that Keith asked you to marry him at Christmas?”
I tried to talk, but nothing came out—I was too surprised.
How in the world did my mother know that Keith asked me to marry him last Christmas? I tried to clear my head, but now Ava was grabbing my hand and Courtney was next in line.
“It’s beautiful!” Ava said. “Oh, wow. That thing must have cost him a fortune.”
“Ava Grace, that is just rude. Try to filter yourself—even if I don’t,” Courtney said, holding my hand to examine the ring.
My mother placed her hands on her hips. “Well?”
“Um, well, what?” I said as I chewed on my lip. I could feel it swelling—I was abusing the hell out of it.
Mom shook her head. “I want to know why I had to hear it from Keith.”
“Hear what from Keith? Mom, you’re really confusing me.” My phone buzzed in my hand and I glanced down to see Keith’s text. All I saw on the screen was “Sorry.”
I opened the message. I could feel the anger building the moment I read his text.
Keith: Sorry. I texted your mom and asked if she was excited and whether she’d seen the ring yet.
I tried to smile at my mother. That’s when I saw the sign behind her. “Taylor” was crossed out with “Liza” written above it. I instantly knew who’d done it. Walker.
“Liza? What are you thinking about? Why didn’t you tell us about the engagement?” My mother said as my father came in.
“What engagement?” he asked.
Ava started jumping. “Liza is engaged! She’s getting married.”
My father turned quickly. “What? Liza, is that true?”
My heart was beating faster than ever. I wasn’t sure if I was pissed at Keith or upset with myself.
I placed my hand on my temple. “Wait. Give me a second here.” Ava was still bouncing around. “Ava! Cut it out!” I yelled. She instantly stopped and stared at me.
I glanced at my mother who now looked very concerned. My father just seemed confused as hell. Before I could stop myself, I blurted, “I’m not engaged!”
Everyone was staring at the engagement ring on my finger. When I saw blue eyes gazing at me from the door, I sucked in a breath. Then my phone rang. I glanced down—it was Keith. I was too angry to talk to him right now.
My mother cleared her throat, waiting for an explanation.
I took a deep breath and said, “I mean. I’m not…I haven’t said yes…yet.”
I risked a look at Walker, who just stared back at me. Then he checked his phone. As he walked away, I heard him say, “Hey, Jess…are you getting ready to leave?”
I’d wanted to grill Ava, to see if Walker was still dating Jessica. I guess I didn’t have to. I tried desperately to quell the jealous feelings that ran rampant in me.
I tried to laugh. “I mean, I told Keith I wanted to wait until after col
lege to make my decision.”
“Smart girl,” My father said. “I knew I raised you right.”
I giggled nervously as I glanced back over to Walker. He was still standing in the corner, talking on the phone. He was smiling when I read his lips saying, “I love you.”
He pulled the phone away and must have hung up. He looked directly at me, but I looked away, continuing to explain the engagement thing to my parents.
“I, um…I told him I would for sure give him my answer by the time he came back from his hiking trip with his dad. He uh…well, he asked me to wear the ring, so…” I held it up and tried to laugh before I dropped my hand and shrugged.
Ava pulled me in for a hug. “Well, I know that you wouldn’t have put it on if you didn’t think your answer would be ‘yes.’”
I swallowed as I peeked over to Walker. He gave me a weak smile.
“Well,” I said, “we still have some things to talk about so…” I trailed off as I saw the look on my mother’s face—it was like she could see the internal struggle going on in my head. “Anyway,” I said. “I’m starved. Are those ribs done yet?”
Everyone dispersed. Jase and Walker headed into the den and mentioned something about playing a game of pool. We’d always loved to play pool. Walker had taught me how to play and Jase hated that I constantly beat him.
“After dinner boys,” Courtney called. “Let’s eat!”
Courtney carried a giant bowl of potato salad to the table and I was more than happy to help out. Anything to turn the conversation away from the ring.
I STOOD AT the kitchen sink staring out the window as I dried off a plate. I felt someone pull the plate from my hand and turned to see my mother. She was so beautiful, like always. Her hair was pulled up in a simple ponytail and her blue eyes sparkled as she looked into mine.
“Follow your heart,” she whispered. “I promise, it will always lead you down the right path.”
I felt the tears building in my eyes. “Mom,” I whispered as she took me into her arms. I fought like hell to hold my tears back as she held me. I’d missed her so much. Did I really want to leave all of this? Leave my family? I pulled back and wiped a tear away. “Thanks, Mom.”