My house looked very different with everything packed up and put away. It was depressing, really, to see the walls empty and bare. I leaned against the kitchen counter, waiting for my father to return to help me load up the last of the furniture. All that remained was the bedframe and mattress in the bedroom, and the couch and loveseat in the living room.

I glanced out the window just above the kitchen sink, noting how quickly night had fallen over us. The auctioneer would be by in the morning to take Maybelle, and I desperately wished I could stay with her to keep her calm. She was a smart girl. She’d probably be worried out of her mind if somebody other than me led her by the reins.

The air was cold enough to make me shiver, but I didn’t bother to turn up the thermostat. I wasn’t going to be here in a few hours, so there wasn’t any point leaving it on. I held my arms against my chest, trying to stay warm, and chewed the inside of my cheek, deep in thought.

I remembered the day I’d put the front door on the frame of this house. I’d painted the walls by myself, nearly falling off the ladder twice as I reached for corners that were just a bit too high. This was my home, my pride and joy, but it didn’t belong to me anymore.

I supposed I should have been grateful that Jacob and Thomas had agreed to buy everything out. Without them, I probably would have been stubborn enough to see Breakaway Ranch go under three times over before finally calling it quits.

My mind went back to the scene at the motel. I could barely recall what I’d said to him, like my ears had purposefully gone deaf to shield me from the shame I’d feel. Jacob had looked so hurt, so utterly distraught and fragile, that I’d been seconds away from dropping to my knees to apologize.

The way he’d looked at me, called after me in a voice so desperate and weak … I’d had to fight every fiber of my body not to turn and go to him.

Being with me. Last night. Do you regret it?

No, I didn’t regret it; that much was clear to me now. I finally felt like myself, free and unhindered by thoughts of what others would think. But I didn’t know why it hurt so much.

It felt like my world was exploding and caving in at the same time. I felt out of sync, disassociated –- like I was standing outside of my body and watching my life crumble from two feet away.

I can’t stop thinking about you.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of tires crunching over gravel. Assuming my father had returned to help me move the remaining furniture, I pushed myself off of the edge of the counter and walked out the front door.

I stopped mid-stride when I noticed that a sedan had pulled up instead of my father’s rust old truck. The headlights were blinding, making it impossible to see who it was. But I could guess instantly –- knew instantly.

The vehicle’s engine cut out, along with the headlights. Jacob climbed out of the car quickly, swinging the door shut behind him as he strode toward me confidently.

“What are you doing here–-”

He cut me off with a bruising, deep kiss. There was no hesitation, no momentary pause. He cupped my face with his hands and kissed me, hard and true.

When he finally pulled away, I damn near followed, suddenly aching for his warmth. My breath caught in my throat, damn near choking me into unconsciousness.

“Daniel Stanton, you listen to me and you listen well,” he said sternly, holding my eyes with his own. “I love you. I love you with all my heart, and I want nothing more than to make you happy.”

“Jacob, what–-”

“Shut up, I’m talking,” he said with a grin. Fuck, it was good to see him.

“I left you all those years ago, and now that I have you in my life again, I don’t ever want to let you go. I understand that you may not be ready to tell me how you feel, and that’s okay. I’m not going to rush you, and I’m not going anywhere. We’ll take things slow, if you want, but I’m sure as hell not going to give up on you, because I love you.”

“What do you mean, you’re not going anywhere?” I asked. “What about the development?”

“Screw the development.” Jacob released his hold on my face and pulled out a folded piece of paper from his inside jacket pocket. He opened the paper and held it out to me, and I took it carefully in my hands.

“I don’t understand,” I muttered, before looking up in disbelief. “This is the deed to the property.”

There were two signature lines at the very bottom, one of which had already been filled with Jacob’s signature.

“All you have to do is sign, with me as your co-signer. I’ll take care of all the debts owing, just as we had agreed, but if you sign it with me, it means–-”

“That I get to keep the land,” I concluded, mouth agape in awe.

“Exactly,” he replied.

“You’d really do that for me?” I asked, voice so soft I barely heard myself speak the words.

“Yes, I would. The subdivision can go elsewhere. This is where home is.”

I couldn’t fight smiling. I lurched forward, gathering Jacob up in my arms. He held me tightly in return, making me feel safer than I had in years.

I couldn’t thank him enough. All my worries, all the fear that was about to swallow me whole, faded away, leaving nothing except him. He was all that I needed to feel right again.

“What the fuck is this?” snorted Jack. He had arrived with his empty truck to the sight of us embracing.

I stepped in front of Jacob, shielding him from my father’s hateful view. “I’m going to need my things back, Jack. Turns out I’m staying here after all.”

“What?” he snapped. “You and your bottom bitch shacking up?”

I glanced over at Jacob, grinning. “I guess you could say that, yeah. You got a problem with that?”

“Disgusting! Absolutely disgusting!” he screamed as he climbed back into his truck. “I can’t believe this. Just when I thought you were coming to your senses.”

Jack sped away quickly, shouting obscenities out the open window. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Jacob flip him off as his truck disappeared over the hill.

“Sorry about that,” I said.

“Don’t apologize. People like that are hard to change.”

I reached down and took Jacob’s hand in mine, pressing his fingers to my lips. “Let’s go inside. Get out of this cold.”

“Sounds like a plan,” agreed Jacob.