When You're Back

Piper. I’d ask Piper tomorrow at work if she could take me. I trusted her, and I knew she’d understand. Well, I thought she’d understand.

I shoved the tampons back under the counter and finished my list. I couldn’t worry about this now. There was a chance I wasn’t pregnant. I could just be late. I would hold on to that until I couldn’t.

“Hey, baby,” Mase called out as the front door opened.

I took my list and walked back into the living room. Seeing him standing there in his dusty jeans, cowboy hat, and boots never got old. Believing that he was mine was hard sometimes.

He smirked and walked over to me. “You keep looking at me like that, and we won’t make it to the grocery store like you wanted to.”

I knew exactly what we would do instead, and as tempting as that was, I was too scared to chance it. What if I wasn’t pregnant but still could get pregnant after messing up my pills? I patted his chest and smiled up at him, hoping I didn’t show the worry in my eyes. “We need groceries,” I reminded him.

He lowered his head and claimed my mouth with a soul-searing kiss that made me forget everything but how good he made me feel. “Whatever you want,” he whispered near my ear, then gave me a swat on my bottom. “God, I love that ass,” he added.

I held up the grocery list. “Priorities,” I told him, and I walked over to pick up my purse.

“I got one priority, and it sure ain’t a damn grocery list,” he said in an amused tone.

Was it possible to love someone as much as I loved Mase? Was it even healthy?

Mase

Reese called to tell me that Piper was taking her out for lunch on Tuesday. I was glad she was bonding with Piper. I wanted her to have friends here. This would be our world, and having Reese fit into it was important. I needed her to love it here as much as I did.

When lunchtime arrived, I headed up to Momma’s to get something to eat. Aida’s truck was parked outside, and I paused. If there was going to be drama, I wasn’t sure I could deal with it today.

She hadn’t left on good terms, and I wasn’t sure why she was back. But then again, I didn’t want to confront her in front of Reese later. Reese had dealt with enough this past month.

Sighing, I hoped this wasn’t going to ruin my lunch. When I stepped through the door leading into the kitchen, Momma turned to give me an apologetic smile. She had been expecting me; I’d called to let her know I didn’t need her packing a lunch for me and Reese today and that I’d just be eating with her.

Reluctantly, I turned my gaze to see Aida sitting at the table across from my stepdad. “Dad,” I said, then, “Aida.”

“You got that list ready for me to give to Johnson? He’ll be by later today.” Dad knew about the drama with Aida, and talking ranch stuff was his way of keeping things level.

“Yeah, I’ll get it to you after lunch,” I assured him, then walked over to kiss Momma on the cheek and take the plate she had been fixing for me. “I got this. Sit down and eat.”

“Sorry,” Momma mouthed as she let me take the plate from her. She hadn’t been expecting Aida, either. I nodded and finished filling my plate before turning to the table to sit down.

I figured ignoring Aida was pointless and tense for everyone. “So, what brings you down here, Aida?” I asked before taking a bite of the creamed potatoes.

She stiffened some, and I could see the nervous look in her eyes. We never used to be like this. It was a shame she’d messed up our friendship. “I missed everyone. Thought I’d come to see how things were,” she said.

I nodded and took a bite of biscuit.

“You ready to start back at school?” Momma asked a little too cheerfully.

Aida shrugged. “Not really. I don’t know what I want to do, so college seems pointless.”

“Well, it’s not. You need to build a solid foundation so you can be anything you want to be,” my stepdad piped up.

Aida nodded. She wasn’t going to argue with him. “That’s what my mom says,” she said with a pout.

“It’s true,” was Dad’s response.

I focused on my pork chops. I didn’t have anything to add to this conversation.

“I expected you to be engaged by now,” Aida said, and I stopped chewing for a second to let her words sink in. What was she trying to imply with that comment?

Once I finished my bite, I took a long drink of sweet tea and turned to look at her. “Not yet,” I replied.

A pleased smile touched her lips. Was she taking that as an in for her? Surely not. We had gone over this already.

“Let’s not discuss Mase’s personal life. When he’s ready to get engaged, he will,” Momma said with a smile that didn’t meet her eyes. She was annoyed with Aida, too.

“I was just wondering if he’d decided to put a ring on it or not,” Aida said with a shrug, then took a drink of her water while her gaze stayed on mine.

I didn’t want to give her an explanation, but I also didn’t want her thinking she had any hope. “When I think Reese is ready for that question, I assure you, I’ll ask it. I’m giving her time. She’s been through a lot lately,” I said. The annoyance in my voice was obvious.

Dad cleared his throat, and I glanced over at him. “Thinking of starting to breed the pygmy goats. Why don’t you meet me over at the east end and let’s brainstorm how to do that? Besides, your momma’s been keeping on at me about wanting goats.”