This isn’t happening.
“Pick up, pick up,” I mutter, twisting my comforter in my hand.
I did not fall for my roommate.
“The hell you doin’ you can’t answer my calls?” Bobby answers. He’s my uncle Bo’s son and I know when I hung up with Bo, he probably told Bobby to call me. Bobby and I were best friends growing up, which is weird with the age difference but he’s much more mature than most kids his age in high school. I’m like the sister he never had and he’s just another brother on my list of seemingly never ending siblings.
“I was busy,” I murmur. “Sorry. Hey, I may be coming home.”
Not that I want to, really. I want to stay and finish school here. But I can’t. Not when all I can think about is Able and the night together that I can’t even remember. Not when my mind has been obsessing all afternoon wondering what it would be like if I weren’t drunk. Wondering too many things that I shouldn't be.
It’s almost dinnertime and I haven’t even had time to study. This is going to ruin my GPA.
When he laughs, he sounds just like his dad. “No you ain’t. Shut up. My pops said you’re having some sort of break down. Now, I know I’m not older, but we both know I’m smarter.” He chuckles and I grin, rolling my eyes. Says the guy that intentionally tries to set off bear traps with his hand. “You can juggle school and a relationship, Annie. Stop acting like Aunt Affton before her and Uncle Tommy got together. A career ain’t more important than making connections with people.”
I roll my eyes. I’m not sure why I thought calling him would make me feel better. Bobby’s never been one to coddle me.
“I need to focus on school, Bobby. There's all the time in the world when I get home to find a man to settle down with. One that’ll understand the ranch lifestyle and schedule and not get jealous when I spend more time with the animals than I do with him.” I huff and realize Able has the patience of a saint. He’d be able to take it. Shit, listen to me. Able and I won’t...work.
“Well, unless you plan on comin’ home and marrying Frank Wright, you’re shit out of luck. Best bet is bringing someone home with ya. This about your roommate? The one I met. Jimmy?”
I laugh and cringe. “No. Definitely not that roommate.” I put him on speakerphone and grin, finding a photo of Able from the party last night and shooting it over to Bobby. “I sent you a pic of him.” I roll my eyes again, not sure why I’m doing this to myself. “He’s confusing, Bobby.”
“Look at ‘im though. He’s dreamy.” He starts to laugh. “What, with them blue eyes and dark hair. Looks like ya’ll would make some great lookin’ kids.” He laughs harder. “I don’t know, Annie, I think I'm supposed to say this shit. But on the real. He a good man?”
“He’s...” Perfect. Handsome. Reliable. Smart. Funny. “Yeah. He’s a good one.” One of the best if I’m being honest with myself. “But he’s kind of too good, you know?”
“No. I don’t know. Ain’t no one too good for you. You’re a Kenshaw.”
I laugh and lay back on the bed, sighing.
“I’m a Kenshaw, but he’s a Porter. And he’s popular. And hot.” So, so hot. “And everything I’ve stayed away from because I’ve been warned about the pretty boys.” My dad made sure to drill into me that the better looking the boy the worse of an influence he’ll be. My mom tended to agree with him, which I think offended him a bit. He stole her peanut butter sandwich after that conversation, and most days he knows better than to mess with her peanut butter. “He’s always watching out for me, though. And he’s...comfortable. He’s real comfortable. But we’re not dating or anything because I refuse to date a roommate and all.”
“I don’t get you city folk.” He chuckles. “You date who you like and treats you good. There’s plenty of fish in the sea, or whatever that saying is, but if you don’t snatch the right one, someone else will. You gonna give a damn if someone else snatches him up?”
I scrunch my eyebrows together, recalling how it felt to watch Ashley all over him earlier. How I reacted in the lap dance video. And my chest tightens. I don’t want him with anyone else.
But I can’t date him.
“I shoved some bitch off his lap when she was giving him a lap dance last night,” I whisper, trying not to laugh.
He laughs hard. “Hell ya! Don’t forget I only have enough money to bail you out of jail once. Sounds like you got it for the guy. You don’t do shit like that. You ain’t that kind of girl unless someone’s worth it.”
“Yeah,” I muter. “I do like him, Bobby.” Probably too much. “But I need to focus on school and the ranch. I can’t let my dad down.”
“Ha!” he barks. “Wait ‘till this story gets back to him. I’m not sayin’ your dad’s gonna be pissed, but I think your dad’s gonna be pissed when he finds out you didn’t follow your heart. You know he tries to tell his and Aunt Jo’s story like it’s the most epic love story of all time. What’s his moral every time? Follow your damn heart.”
There’s a knock at the front door and I almost hang up to get it but I hear Able yelling he’s got it. And all I can do is grin.
“Yeah,” I mutter. “But my damn heart isn’t going to keep the ranch alive.”
“Whelp, Annie, sounds like this guy’s a total douche if he wouldn’t let you love him and keep the ranch alive. Sounds like you fell for a chump who could throw himself on the ground and still miss. Way to go, kid. Ya fucked up. Your daddy’s gonna be pissed.”
“He’s not a douche! And he’s not stupid!” I snap. “He’s a gentleman. He’d move across the country for me without a blink of an eye,” I blurt then gasp. “Shit,” I whisper.
“I think that concludes session de Bobby. You owe me a hundred bucks for this session. I’ll collect when I come see you in a few weeks. I gotta meet blue eyes anyway. We good? You feel better?”
No. I’m more confused now than I was before and that’s saying something because before the phone call I was considering packing my bags and running away from everything and everyone I’ve ever known.
“Yeah,” I say. “Thank you.”
“Annie.” Able knocks on my door abruptly and I startle. “Someone’s here for you.” He doesn’t sound too happy about it, either.
“Don’t thank me, just pay me. Love ya, girl,” Bobby says over the phone.
“Bye, Bobby,” I mutter, ending the call. “Hang on!” I call to Able and run to the mirror to make sure I don’t look like a mess when I open the door to Able. It’s never bothered me in the past but now that I feel...something...I don’t want to gross him out. I need to shower. I probably stink. But after a spray of body mist and brushing out the tangles in my hair, I pull the door open and see Ryan Mayse standing just behind Able. “Oh my god. I completely forgot we had a study date.”