“I will, Dad. I promise you.”
The door opened, and my mother and Lex came walking out. Lex turned and hugged my mom, and my mother whispered something to her while pushing a piece of hair behind her ear.
When Lex turned and started toward me, I couldn’t really read her face. She walked up to me, and I smiled as I took her hand before leading her to the passenger side of my truck. I opened the door, and she quickly jumped in. As I walked back around, I glanced up and saw my mom and dad just standing on the porch.
“Will, please be careful driving.”
I nodded my head. “I will, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you, too, darling.”
When I got in the truck and started it, Lex grabbed my hand. I backed up, turned my truck, and headed down the driveway.
I looked at her and smiled. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
She nodded her head. “Yeah. Your mom knows.”
I let out a laugh. “So does my dad.”
“She promised not to say anything to my parents.” Lex turned and looked at me. “Did your dad say if he was gonna tell my father?”
I could hear the panic in her voice. “No, he’s not going to say anything. What did my mom say to you?”
“She asked me if you made sure I was ready and if you were gentle with me.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh God. My mother knows I had sex.” I wanted to throw up.
Lex giggled and squeezed my hand. “She told me to soak in a hot bath if I was able to.”
I looked at her, and my heart began to hurt. “Are you sore?”
She nodded her head. “Yes, but it’s a good sore.”
Lex pulled out her phone and began texting someone.
“Who are you texting?”
“Colt. I’m seeing if he is still at Luke’s house.”
About a minute later, her phone beeped. “Can you take me to Luke’s? I’ll ride home with Colt.”
“Um…sure.”
I was almost to Luke’s driveway. I put on my signal and turned in. I punched in the gate code and started down the long driveway. When I pulled up and parked, I shut the truck off. I turned to see Lex staring at me.
“You don’t regret it, do you?” she asked.
My mouth dropped open, and I pulled her over to me. She crawled onto my lap. I put my hand behind her neck and brought her lips to mine. I poured nothing but love into the kiss. It was slow, sweet, and meaningful.
I barely broke our kiss when I whispered, “I’ll never forget this night for as long as I live, Lex. You have stolen my heart forever.”
A tear moved down her cheek.
“Baby, please don’t cry. I hate to see you cry.”
She was about to say something when someone banged on the window. I turned to see Luke.
He opened the door and grabbed Lex. “Get the fuck out of his truck, Lex.”
“What? Luke! Let go of me!”
Lex pulled her arm back, but Luke pulled her out.
“Luke, stop it right now!” Grace yelled.
I took a deep breath in and let it out as I got out of the truck. I had to put myself in Luke’s and Colt’s shoes.
How would I feel if I found out one of them had slept with Libby?
I shut the door and turned to face Luke. Colt was walking out.
Lex stepped in front of him. “Colt! Stop this right now! Grace, stop your brother.”
Luke walked up and pushed me. “You motherfucker. You went forward with it? You slept with her?”
“Luke, I’m not doing this with you. You knew—”
That was when it happened. He punched me square in the jaw. Lex, Grace, and Lauren all screamed.
Libby came running up to me. “Will! Oh my gosh, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Lib. Just step back, honey.”
Luke hadn’t hit me nearly as hard as he could have.
Libby turned around and walked over to Luke. She pushed him on the chest. Luke just stood there, staring at her.
“You asshole! He loves her, and she loves him. It’s none of your goddamn business what they do!”
Luke looked stunned as he stared at Libby.
She pushed him again and then began hitting him. “He loves her! Alex is lucky to have someone love and worship her like Will does. You wouldn’t know what that is like…to love and respect someone, you prick.”
Luke grabbed Libby by her arms to get her to stop. She took a step back and looked at him.
“Libby…I…” Luke looked away as Libby began sobbing.
I walked up and took her in my arms. I had no idea if Libby was more upset by what Luke had done to me or if he had done something to her.
“Lib, it’s okay, honey. He didn’t even hit me that hard.” I glanced over to Lex, who was still holding Colt back.
“You want a shot, too?” I asked him.
He walked up to me and looked me in the eyes. “I need to talk to you…alone.”
I nodded my head and kissed Libby on the forehead. “I’ll be right back, honey. Please don’t worry. I’m okay.”
Libby nodded her head and stood there as Colt and I walked away from everyone. We headed to the barn. When we stopped, I turned to face him. He stood there and stared at me.
“If you’re gonna hit me, Colt, just do it.”
He shook his head. “I’m not hotheaded like Luke. I just want to know one thing. Do you truly love her, Will?”
I smiled and nodded my head. “I love her more than anything, Colt. She’s my reason for breathing.”
He slowly nodded. “Did you make it special for her?”
“Yes. At least, I hope I did.”
“All right. I just want you to know, I love you like a brother. You’re my best friend, Will. But if you ever hurt her, I’ll hurt you.”
“I won’t, Colt. I promise you, I’ll never hurt her.”
Colt stuck out his hand, and we shook. He went to turn, and I grabbed his arm.
“Hey, I have something to say to you.”
He gave me a crooked-ass grin. “What’s that?”
“You hurt Lauren, I’ll hurt you.”
His smile faded. He turned and walked back toward everyone.
Libby and Lex both walked up to me.
Lex went right into my arms and whispered, “What did he say?”
“He told me that if I ever hurt you, he’d hurt me.”
She giggled. “I’m so sorry about Luke.”
I gently pushed her back from me, so I could look her in the face. “I would have done the same thing.”
I held out my arm for Libby, and she walked up next to Lex. I hugged them both. When I looked up at Luke, I could see the pain in his eyes. I wasn’t sure if it had more to do with Lex and him hitting me or with Libby breaking down and crying. If he cared at all about Libby like I did Lex, I knew that Libby’s tears had probably caused him pain.
Libby reached up and kissed my cheek. “I love you, Will.”
I smiled as I kissed her back on her cheek. “I love you, too, Lib.”
She turned and started to head to the house. Luke looked like he was going to say something to her, but he stopped. She walked right by him and followed Grace and Lauren into the house.
Luke ran his hands down his face and glanced back at me. “I’m going to bed. You working on the fence tomorrow?”
I nodded my head. “Yeah.”
“Fine. Be here at six in the morning, or we’re leaving without you.” He turned and stormed off into the house.
Lex let out a sigh as she watched him. She turned to me and said, “I’m so sorry. He had no right—”
I pulled her to me and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around my neck and let out a sweet moan.
“Thank you for tonight, Lex.”
She grinned from ear to ear. “Thank you. Thank you for my promise ring and for your promise. Thank you for making it the most amazing night of my life.”
“Let’s just hope your dad never finds out!”
We both started lau
ghing.
Colt walked back out. “Alex, you ready to go home?”
Lex looked up at me and gave me a weak smile. “I love you, Will.”
I leaned down and kissed her gently. “I love you, too, Lex.”
Lex turned and made her way over to Colt’s truck. She paused for a second to turn back and look at me. She waved and blew me a kiss, and I smiled and waved back. I watched as Colt’s truck drove down the driveway.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded my head and turned to face my sister. “Yeah. You ready to go home, Lib? Mom and Dad decided to come home early.”
The look on Libby’s face turned to horror. She slowly moved her hands up and covered her mouth. “They didn’t…”
I laughed. “Nah, but they knew. Lex and I were in the kitchen when they walked in.”
Libby closed her eyes. “Shit, Will. Mom texted me earlier and asked what we were doing. I said we were all watching movies at Luke’s. She asked if you were here, and I said yes. Will, I’m so sorry. We’re both going to get in trouble now.”
I shrugged my shoulders as I walked up to her. I threw my arm around her and began walking her to my truck. “Nah, I don’t think so. Besides, nothing will ever be worse than both my parents knowing I just had sex for the first time with my girlfriend.”
I chuckled, but Libby stopped walking.
I stopped and looked at her. “What’s wrong?”
A huge grin spread across her face. “Will, did you…oh my gosh. Did you wait for Alex?”
I felt my face turn fifty shades of red. I smiled slightly and whispered, “Yeah.”
She slowly shook her head. “William Hayes, you are the most romantic man I’ll ever know, and it really sucks you’re my brother.”
We both busted out laughing as I opened the passenger side door for her.
Before she got in, I took a hold of her arm. “Hey, Lib?”
“Yeah?”
I looked down and kicked the dirt. I wasn’t sure how to even ask her or if I even wanted to know. “Lib, do you, um…well…do you have feelings for Luke?”
Her smile instantly dropped. “It doesn’t really matter if I do.”
I tilted my head and stared at her. It was dark, but I swore I saw tears in her eyes.
“Sure it does, Libby. I know Luke had feelings for you at one time, and—”
She held up her hand and quickly shook her head. “No, he doesn’t. He made that perfectly clear this evening when he made out with Claire at the party.”
I instantly felt the heat move up into my head. “What?”
“Will, I don’t want to talk about it. Can we just go home? Please.”
I nodded my head. “Sure, Libby.”
As I shut the door and walked around my truck, I glanced back toward the house and saw Luke standing on the porch. I raised my hand.
He nodded as he stared into the truck. “Libby going home with you?”
“Uh…yeah. I thought you were going to bed?” I asked as I opened my door.
Luke started down toward the truck, and I had to admit, I tensed up, expecting him to throw another punch at me.
He walked up to me. Then, he looked around me and into the truck. “Y’all going to the river on Saturday night?”
I wasn’t sure if he was really asking both of us or just Libby.
Libby remained silent in the truck.
“Yeah. I mean, as far as I know, we’ll be there,” I said.
Luke nodded his head, never taking his eyes from Libby. “Night, Lib.”
She turned slightly and looked out the passenger side window. “Good night, Luke.”
Luke frowned and ran his hand through his hair as he looked at me. He gave me a weak smile. “Sorry for hitting you, bro.”
He stuck his hand out, and I shook it.
“I would have done the same thing, dude. No worries.”
“See ya in the morning,” Luke said before walking back to his house.
I jumped in and looked at Libby. It only took me a few seconds to realize my sister was crying.
I knew the reason why she was crying.
Luke.
I started the truck and began driving off. I looked over toward Luke and gripped my steeling wheel harder.
The next time my sister cries over him, I’m going to be the one throwing the first punch.
“Good morning, my handsome man.”
I walked into Banjo’s stall and gave him a handful of oats while he bobbed his head up and down. I ran my hand along his back, and my heart broke. I was going to miss him so much.
Banjo and I would go for a ride at least once a day. He was my everything—next to my parents, Colt, and Will.
“You want to go for a ride, big boy?”
“May I join you?”
I quickly turned to see my father leaning against the wall. I smiled and nodded my head. He winked at me and turned to saddle up a horse. I watched him as he got my saddle and his saddle. My father was so handsome, and Colt certainly inherited Daddy’s good looks. Colt and I both got our parents’ blue eyes and brown hair. Colt favored my father, and I favored my mother. I had to admit, when people told me I looked like my mother, it would make me feel good. To me, she was breathtaking, a natural beauty. My parents made such a cute couple.
“Alex, why are you staring at me with a goofy grin?”
I laughed and began to bring Banjo out of his stall. “I was thinking about how you and Mama make a cute couple with your handsome good looks and Mama’s natural beauty.”
My father grinned and then tilted his head. “What do you want?”
I hit him on the arm and said, “Nothing, Daddy. I was just thinking about how happy you both are. I want that, too. I want it with Will.”
His smile faded a bit, and he turned and grabbed his saddle. He began getting his horse ready. Neither one of us said anything as we saddled up the horses, got on them, and headed out.
I couldn’t take the silence anymore. “Daddy, why don’t you like Will?”
He snapped his head over and looked at me. “What? I love Will like a son. I just don’t like the idea of him dating my daughter.”
“I would think you’d like it better than some strange guy I might meet at UT. Will loves me, Daddy, and he treats me so good, like how you treat Mom.”
Daddy smiled and nodded his head. “I don’t doubt that, sweetheart.” He let out a sigh. “Alex, it’s just that the two of you only know each other and your close circle of friends. You’ve always been a part of the ranch and Mason. I want you both to have the chance to explore other things, other ideas. I know you say you want to come back and live on the ranch with Will, but you haven’t even begun to experience life outside of Mason, Alex.”
I looked down and frowned. “Daddy, why is it so hard for you to believe that I want to have a life like you and Mom? I love the ranch just as much as you, Mom, Colt, Will, and Luke. It just seems unfair.”
He nodded his head and looked ahead. “Alex, you’re going to college, and things will be so different. I know you love the ranch, sweetheart. I just want you to keep an open mind. You might go to Austin and decide that you love Austin. I want you to be happy, Alex. I never want you to settle. I want you to have every opportunity possible, and I don’t want this relationship with Will to cloud any of that.”
I bit down on my lower lip. We stayed silent as our horses walked along for a bit more.
“Daddy, I love Will. I can’t see my future without him.”
“Alex, I’m not doubting your love for him. Just know that it is possible that you will meet someone else in college who will—”
I looked at him. “Who will what?”
He stopped his horse, and I brought Banjo to a stop.
“Who will make you doubt your feelings for Will.”
My mouth dropped open. I looked down at my promise ring and then back into my father’s eyes. “That will never happen—ever.”
He gave me a weak smile and nodded his head. “C
ome on, let’s see what Banjo has against Apache. Let’s race down to the river.”
I giggled as I kicked Banjo, and we took off racing toward the water.
I ran down the stairs as soon as Will had sent me a text saying he was pulling down the driveway.
“Stop!”
I turned and looked at my father.
“Where are y’all going?”
My mother walked into the living room and smiled.
Colt came down the stairs and walked right past me. “Later.”
My mouth dropped open as he walked right out the door without my parents saying a word to him.
I used my hands and gestured toward where Colt had just left. “Um…hello? He just walked right by, and you didn’t ask him where he was going! I’m older and out of high school, and you’re going to stop and ask me?”
My father gave me a smirk that just made me all the madder. Ever since our ride the other day, he’d kept planting it in my head that I should take a break from Will when I headed to college. He’d said that if our love was true and strong, it shouldn’t matter.
My father walked toward me. “Your brother already told us he was going to a party down on the river at Claire Montgomery’s place.”
I slowly shook my head. “Daddy, surely you know I’m going to the same party.”
He chuckled. “I figured. Will there be alcohol, Alex?”
I raised my eyebrow at him and tilted my head. “Really, Dad? We’re in the country. There is nothing else to do but have river parties, field parties, and barn dances.”
“That doesn’t answer my question, does it?”
I never lied to my father—well, with the exception of the night when I’d bought the condoms.
“Yes, Daddy. There will be alcohol. Yes, I will watch everyone. No, I won’t let Will or Colt drink since they are driving. There is a plan already set up. Whoever drove and ends up drinking will stay the night at Claire’s. Plus, her brother, Duke, is home from college, and he will be keeping an eye on things, too.”
My father nodded his head. My parents weren’t very strict, but then again, they were. As long as we were always truthful with them, they would be okay with things. Colt and I always knew we could call our parents if needed.
I had gone to a party in Fredericksburg with Maegan, and I’d ended up drinking. I’d called my father, and my parents had come to pick me up. I’d gotten a nice long lecture the next day, but they always told us that we could call anytime with no punishments. If we didn’t call and we got caught, then the wrath of my father would fall upon us. Neither Colt nor I would want that.