Chapter 13
THAT FIRST WEEKEND COMES AND goes without Shane visiting. The calf took a turn for the worst, and he stayed to pull the overnight shifts at the ranch. I understand his reasoning, he’s the only single one without a family, and it isn’t fair for him to bail on the crew when the other men have wives and families to think of. Selfishly I’m hurt, but rationally, I understand.
The next weekend, I’m scheduled to work. My first weekend shift and I know I will be too exhausted to do much more than sleep. I’m right. Shane and I talk a few times and text almost every day but that’s all. My mom is excited for my new life in Austin, and each time we speak she asks for updates. The only updates I have is the soup of the day at the bar. The reality is, I haven’t done much but work, come home, and sleep. My dream of this grand life with nights out, lots of new friends, and limited responsibilities isn’t my reality.
The only housemate with a similar schedule to mine is Kassie, but she’s also a student who spends her free time studying. Devon invited me to join her last night with her boyfriend, but being a third wheel isn’t exactly my thing, so I politely declined. The upside is I manage to binge watch three entire seasons of Gilmore Girls and teach myself how to say hello in four languages in the last few weeks.
I’m going out of my mind in Austin, so instead of waiting for Shane or Vera to visit me, I pack a bag and head back to Mason. I don’t bother telling anyone I’m coming. I figure a surprise is a good thing. And, if they don’t want me there, I can easily tuck my tail between my legs and head back to Austin.
Pulling up to the curb in front of Miss Maye’s, I stop and take a deep breath. What if they don’t miss me like I do them? What if I built up the connection I felt with the people in the town of Mason to be more than it was? What if . . . I’m deep in thought when there’s a knock on my window. Looking up, I spot Earl smiling at me. I open the door and step into his hug.
“Girl, what’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I sniffle as Earl shifts uncomfortably at my obvious display of affection. “I’m just happy to see you. Now, hush up and let it happen. It’s only a hug.”
Earl laughs and allows me a hug that lingers just this side of awkward, but he remains silent. He pats my back and lets me have my moment. When I pull back he pushes a piece of hair from my face and nods toward the door to Maye’s. I take a deep breath and follow him into the door, the bell signaling our entrance.
I’m not sure why I expect to waltz into the diner without a scene. I underestimate Vera. I manage only a few steps through the door when Vera spots me. Her squeals and shouts are so loud, I’m pretty sure dogs in the next county will be howling for an hour. Tossing plates on an empty table, she runs toward me, still screeching before scooping me into her arms. Smothered by her voluptuous breasts, I flail my arms in an effort to save myself.
“Honey! You’re home. I knew you wouldn’t stay in that damn city. You belong here. I am so glad. Shannon, you’re fired, my girl is home!”
Coughs and throats clearing camouflage the laughs of everyone around us. I look to Shannon and the look of fear on her face breaks my heart a little. “Shannon, you are not fired. Vera, relax. You’re freaking me out.” I step back from Vera, raising my hands above my head dramatically. “Surprise! I came for a visit.” The fake and annoyingly huge smile on my face doesn’t mask my hope as I scan the diner looking for a certain handsome cowboy. When I don’t spot Shane sitting in the booth with his co-workers, a piece of my heart cracks, but I turn back to Vera instead of wallowing.
“Whatever. We’ll talk about it later. Oh! Where’s . . . there he is,” Vera says, turning toward the hallway that leads to the bathrooms.
There he is.
I’ve never been so happy to see another person in all of my life. And scared. My heart is beating so fast it’s sure to jump straight out of my chest. He’s so handsome. So damn hot. Instantly, flashes of straddling him while he runs his hands up my back invade my mind and I want nothing more than to run to him. To jump in his arms and kiss his lips until they ache. I don’t. Instead, I stand in place, waiting for him to come to me. To tell me he’s happy to see me here.
In just a few long strides, he’s in front of me, scooping me up in his arms, my legs wrapping around his waist as he kisses me. Kisses made of regret and broken promises. Kisses of missing me, kisses of longing and need. Dare I say, kisses full of love and a future.
Hoots and hollers from the patrons in the diner break our trance, and we pull back from one another, smiling. “Hey, baby,” he purrs, and I pull his mouth back to mine. Without another word, Shane walks me out of the diner and away from prying eyes. The moment we’re outside and a few feet from the large windows of Miss Maye’s, he sets me down, feet on the ground, but doesn’t let me go from his hold.
“You’re here,” he says.
“I am. It’s just for two nights, but I was tired of all of the interference in us seeing each other.”
“I’m so sorry I’ve had to cancel. I hated letting you down.” Shane steps away from me, pulling his hat off and running his hands through his dark hair. I step to him and pull one hand with mine, lacing our fingers.
“Stop. Shit happens, but I’m here now. Shane, we need to talk. I, well . . . I have a lot to say.” Where did that come from? What do I have to say? Am I going to tell him I hate Austin? That I’m lonely and miss him and Vera. That I want to watch every sunset with him because I love him? No. No, I won’t say any of that.
“I wish I’d known you were coming. I’d have taken time off. But, I have to work today, and I’ll probably be there late.”
“It’s okay. I’ll hang out with Vera tonight. What about tomorrow? Feel like taking me for a ride?”
He lifts a brow at my slip of the tongue, and I smack him in the arm and he laughs, pulling me to him again. A few more kisses and he apologizes again for having to leave me and go back to work.
We walk back to the diner where he meets his co-workers, who are standing around their booth waiting for him. I settle into an empty spot at the counter where a piece of pecan pie and a cup of coffee wait for me. I glance at Shane as he leaves, catching his wink before he’s out the door.
I realize that right now, on this old stool, I’m the happiest I’ve been since Earl called and told me he saved Gerty. Is Shane right? Are all the answers I’ve sought right here in Mason? I’ve always believed in my heart the city is where I needed to be. The brightest lights and the unlimited possibilities hold the answers to my life questions. This won’t be the first time I’m wrong.
***
I’m sitting on Chocolate Chip as we approach a stream for the horses to drink from. Shane dismounts his horse as I lift my head to bask in the afternoon sun. A tap on my thigh pulls me from my moment of sunbathing and I look down to my smiling . . . guy? What is he to me? I suppose that’s what this conversation is about. Defining us. Figuring out where we go from here and what I do with my life.
“Will they be okay on their own?” I ask as both horses drink from the stream and Shane lays a blanket on the ground.
“Yeah, they’re fine,” he replies as he tugs on my hand to join him.
I snuggle into Shane, my head resting in the crook of his arm. My hand rests on his rock-hard abs while my leg is flung over his. If I could get any closer to him, I would. We lie like this for a while before he speaks.
“What’s on your mind, Mercy?”
“So much.” Two words with dozens of meanings.
“Talk to me. I need to hear you say the words. This is all up to you,” Shane says as I rise to look at him.
“What is?”
“This. Us. Everything. Tell me what you’re feeling. I feel you struggling. Your heart is conflicted, and as much as it pains me, I can’t help until you say the words. Tell me what is happening.”
“How did you get so wise?” I ask, laying my head down again. Shane laughs, my head bouncing on his arm as he does.
“I’m not wise, babe. I’m just a guy, and words aren’t my thing. But I know you. I know your heart, and I can see how much you’re struggling. Hell, I can sense it in your text messages. We’re young, Mercy, but we aren’t children. Tell me.”
“I don’t love Austin.”
“And?”
“And,” I begin, standing and walking toward the stream the horses have been drinking from. My arms wrap around my stomach and I feel sick. Nervous.
“Go on,” he encourages. Dammit. Why can’t he just be a dumb guy instead of this rational and kind man?
“And, I miss Mason. I miss Vera and the diner. I miss her forcing me to watch sparkly vampires and unemotional girls in a movie I don’t understand. I miss”—I pause and turn to face him—“I miss you. Which is weird, right? I mean we’ve known each other like a month and only spent a few dozen hours together. But my heart hurts, Shane. It hurts so bad.”
I don’t bother trying to stop the tears as they fall freely. My heart is breaking and healing simultaneously. The saltiness of my tears drips to my lips, but I don’t taste them. Instead I feel Shane’s lips on mine. He captures my tears, and I melt into him.
“Mercy, I miss you too. It would seem fast if I didn’t feel the way I do. You are the first thing I think of each morning and the last thing I think of before I fall asleep. You are the only person who makes me want to be more. To push myself for a bigger life.”
“Shane—” I begin, but he stops me.
“I’m not going to say those three words because once I do, I plan to make them last forever. But I will tell you I’m in this for as long as you’ll have me. I want you to come home. Come back to me. To this town. To our future.”
“What if you get sick of me? That will break me, Shane. I’ve been already hurt so much, and I was the one to leave. How will I survive if you realize I’m not worth the risk?”
I watch as emotions run through his eyes. I’m afraid. So very afraid of what he’s going to say. He could tell me I’m right. That taking this leap of faith isn’t worth the fallout if it doesn’t work. It’s irrational, us being together. How do you fall in love with someone within weeks of knowing each other?
I love him.
Try as I might to deny it, that’s the truth.
I stand before Shane, watching his eyes bounce around us—everywhere but on me. He’s conflicted. He’s debating. Whatever he has to say, it’s eating him up.
“Screw it. Mercy Elizabeth Warner, I love you. I know it’s too soon, and I’m crazy to say it so soon, but it’s true. I love every moment we’ve shared together and every memory we’ll create going forward. Your heart beats with mine, and regardless of whether you feel the same, it’s how I feel.”
I throw myself into his arms, my heart bursting with love and gratitude. Pulling his lips to mine, I kiss him until I’m breathless. Until we tumble to the ground, and I’m lying on top of him like a ragdoll.
“I love you, Shane Abbott. I never planned on this—on you. But I will forever be grateful for car trouble and the small town of Mason, Texas, for bringing you into my life. I don’t want to go back. I want to live here and be with you. I want to make memories with you and try my hardest to understand vampires and werewolves with Vera.”
Shane laughs and pulls my lips back to his. This is where my future sits. In this small town under the brightest stars in the sky. I always thought to dream big meant to live in a big city. I mistakenly believed bigger was better. What I forgot was how grand small is. Small town life may not be for everyone, but love and friendship are what life is about, and with Shane and the town of Mason, I know my dreams are only beginning.
The End.