Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
“Yeah, I guess I better get this show on the road. I’d like to be back in bed before Ryland and Sheriff Dane walk in.” She nods and helps me walk to the toilet, then gives me enough privacy while still remaining helpful. Once I finish, she’s there to help guide me back to the hospital bed. The wind in my sails has officially left me.
“Maybe we should have the sheriff come out to the ranch once you’ve rested,” Ms. Catherine offers.
“No, I don’t want that. Not for me and not for Case. I’d rather get this over and done with. There are so many lose ends as it is, which I can’t even handle right away. Gosh, this sucks.” I sit down gingerly on the side of the bed, trying not to jar my ribs too much. This is going to be a long road to recovery. It may even push back my graduation date.
“Honey, I know you’re not selfish by nature, but in this instance, you’re allowed to be.” She helps me slide my legs beneath the warm blankets. My head meets the pillow, and I close my eyes and attempt to take a deep breath. My body fights me, and pain hits my nervous system like a freight train. Whatever medicine they gave me is wearing off.
“I’d rather push through to put this behind me. I’d rather not have it hanging over my head for the foreseeable future.” I wonder if the sheriff can tell me how to go about getting Shane and his things out of my house.
“Alright, I’ll go get them. Please don’t overdo it, okay? The sheriff can wait a few hours. It won’t kill him, and if he pushes, you let my boy know. He’ll handle him.” She winks then skirts around the room, picking up her cardigan and placing it over her shoulders, then takes a deep breath and walks through the door. There’s a reason why she and my mom were so close to one another—both ballsy as hell, won’t take anyone’s shit, beautiful on the inside and out, and then there’s their courage. No problem, big or small, can stand in their way.
“You good, Sutton?” Ryland comes tearing in the second his mom stepped over the threshold, phone still in his hand and a look of concern written on his face.
“I am. A little tired, but I’d rather do this here than around Case and his little ears. Are you sure it’s a good idea for me to go back to the ranch with you?” I’m not sure where else I would go besides home, and even I know that would be dumb with everything I have going wrong with me.
“Babe, I’ll reassure you till you know it down to the marrow of your bones. I want you with me, Case will want you with us, and I get that while you were with that piece of shit, I gave you hell and stayed away. The temptation to wrap my hands in your hair and kiss you until we were breathless was too strong. Found out the truth of everything today with that little bombshell you dropped on me last night. That’s on me. I could have asked, should have asked, and I damn sure shouldn’t have been an asshole.” His hand slides beneath my neck to lightly massage the muscles, and the tenseness starts to dissipate with each touch of his fingers.
“Ry, you can’t take all the blame. I kept a lot to myself, putting my wellbeing in this situation when I should have kicked his ass to the curb a long time ago. My stupid bleeding heart and being nice is what landed me where I am.”
“Abso-fucking-lutely not. Shane is the reason you’re in a hospital bed. You’re a damn good person with a heart as big as the fucking sky. He took advantage of you. Everyone knew it, but no one knew how to approach the subject, not me, not Mom, not my brothers, not the sisters, and not Dad. Now we know, let us help you the way we’ve wanted and didn’t know how to.” I nod, already allowing them so deep into my heart and soul. I’ll never recover if something were to happen between us. Then Ryland goes and puts the icing on the cake and whispers in my ear, “Let me love you, Sutton.”
“Ryland. I’ll let you love me as long as you let me love you and Case.” Is it terrible that only a few months ago, I was married to Shane, yet I had feelings for this man? Arguably yes, but I never, not once, acted on them. I gave Case my undivided attention for selfish reasons; it wasn’t to gain his father’s attention. It’s because Case healed a hole in my heart. When the divorce papers were signed, I allowed my guard down, thought about the could-haves, should-haves, and would-haves. Only yesterday did it finally resonate that the only way I’d ever have this man in front of me was by putting my past to rest.