Without You

She nodded and smiled weakly.

“Libby, can I talk to you in private?” I asked as I stood up. I always knew when something wasn’t right with my sister. It was almost like I could feel when she was upset or sad or just not right.

She stood up and began walking to my truck. She stopped and turned around with a fake-ass smile on her face. “What’s up?”

I raised my eyebrow at her. “Libby, I know you well enough to know that something is off. You look flustered and confused as hell.”

She laughed. “Will, I promise, everything is okay.”

Then, I felt the heat moving up my body. “Did Luke try anything with you? I’ll hurt that bastard if he did.”

She shook her head. “Will, no. Everything is fine.”

Sam Hunt’s “Raised on It” began playing, and the girls all screamed.

Libby smiled at me and kissed me on the cheek. “I promise, I’m okay, Will.”

“I love you, Lib.”

“I love you, too.”

Libby turned and walked over to the girls, and they started dancing. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luke walking up. He was for sure drunk and acting like a fool.

I pulled out my phone and started recording everyone. I couldn’t help but think about how most of us would soon be leaving for college. I smiled as I watched Lex dancing. I tried to push away the uneasy feeling I got in the pit of my stomach. It was that same uneasy feeling that told me things were going to change soon, very soon.

I sat on my bed, holding Emma to my chest. Tears threatened to come again. I had cried so much the last two days that I was sure I had no more tears left.

I heard the door open and felt my bed move. The moment he entered my room, I knew it was Will.

“Hey,” he whispered.

I couldn’t talk. If I talked, I’d cry again. I shook my head and clutched Emma harder.

“Lex, I promise you, everything is going to be okay.”

I turned and looked at him. His eyes were bloodshot.

Has he been crying?

Libby had told me that Will hadn’t been sleeping well at all the last few nights.

“I-I can’t leave you.” I broke down crying again.

Will moved closer to me and took me in his arms. “Baby, I swear to you, we’re gonna make this work. Our love is too strong, Lex. You have to believe in our love.”

I sniffled and whispered, “I do, Will. I do believe in our love, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”

He ran his hand up and down my back. “I know it doesn’t. I’m not taking classes on Fridays, so I can always drive to Austin for the weekends. I won’t even be two hours away from you, Lex.”

I pulled back and looked into his heavenly blue eyes. “Promise me.”

“I swear to you, I’ll come visit you at least twice a month.”

I threw my arms around him and began kissing him. If I thought I could, I’d strip down naked and have him make love to me.

My father cleared his throat, and Will pulled back.

“Will, how are you today?”

Will stood up and winked at me before turning to shake Daddy’s hand. “I’m doing fine, sir. How are you?”

“I’ve been better. Not too sure I’m ready to send my girl off to college.”

I smiled as Will let out a small chuckle.

“You all packed and ready to go, son?”

Will nodded his head. “Yes, sir, I am.”

“Good to hear. You have any regrets about not playing football?”

I rolled my eyes. Daddy couldn’t understand how football was not a huge part of Luke’s and Will’s lives. They liked playing, and both had played in high school, but they each had turned down the chance to play in college. Colt, on the other hand, had every intention of playing football for A&M.

“No, sir. My goal is to focus on studying and possibly graduate early.”

Daddy raised his eyebrow and nodded. “You want on this ranch that bad, huh?”

Will chortled. “Yes, sir, I do. I believe Luke and I will be valued assets to both the cattle side of the business and the breeding side as well.”

Daddy hit Will on the back and shook his hand again. “I know you will. Y’all have already made Jeff and me proud as hell.”

“Thank you, sir.”

I smiled as I watched my father and the love of my life share a moment together.

Daddy glanced at me and winked. “I’ll let y’all visit for a while. You taking Alex out tonight, Will?”

“Yes, sir. We are all going to dinner and then back to my place to watch a movie.”