Page 23 of Burning Skies
Annoyed with myself for caring, I turn away. She can keep him.
Maybe I shouldn’t feel bad my brother gave Beau a black eye.
Seriously, why am I wasting time feeling anything for that asshole? In the seven years since it happened, did he ever seek me out and try to have a genuine conversation? Did he ever apologize for being a royal dick? No, he only approaches me when we’re around other people. Where it’s safe.
And I’m so damn tired of playing it safe.
“Oh, you’re going to drip, Honey.” Baylee hands me a napkin.
“Thank you. Sorry.” I shove thesopapillain my mouth because I get the feeling she wants to ask me about Beau.
Half an hour later, after we’ve stuffed our faces and Paige, Sylvia, and Leo have left, it’s just me and Baylee. Her mom lives in the casita behind their farm and watches Leo when Baylee works. It makes me jealous. I can’t envision a world where my family would help me like that.
“You’re quiet tonight,” Baylee says as she sections off my hair.
“It’s been a bad week,” I admit as I stare at my reflection. Who am I if not a McAllister? If my father disowns me because I don’t marry a man of his choosing, does that mean I’m not welcome at the ranch? That land, those hills and valleys and all of the animals we raise, feels like my heart and soul. I swallow back the emotion that wells in the back of my throat when I think of losing my birthright.
“What’s going on?” I’m quiet a long stretch when she pauses. “You don’t need to tell me if you’re not comfortable.”
“My father says I have to date this rancher. Some guy from East Texas with a huge ranch.”
“Is that bad? Is he a troll?”
I shrug. “Not sure.” I’m too embarrassed to explain the rest, that my father expects me to marry the guy. Because who does that in this day and age? But a little piece of the truth slips out. “He’s dangling my trust fund in front of me. So if I don’t do what he wants, it’s possible he’ll disinherit me.” Or refuse to help me fund my club. Maybe both.
“Are you serious?” She puts down her comb and comes around and grabs my hand. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m hoping I’ll be able to talk my dad into changing his mind. He’s always been a hardass. He was really tough on my brothers.” That’s probably why they come off as jerks, because they learned everything from my father. “But what if I can’t?”
Baylee hums. “How are you doing financially? Because I know they don’t pay you much at the high school. Maverick coaches because he loves it, not because of what they pay him.”
“Not great. I have some credit card debt, and a million repairs I need to make on my house.” I’ll admit it took me a minute after I graduated from college to figure out I needed to lower my standard of living. I had to cut back on coffee runs and lunch outings. I couldn’t buy designer clothes anymore. The one splurge I’ve kept is doing my hair because it makes me feel good about myself. And despite my father’s accusations, I pay for it myself.
“I thought you were renting.”
“I am, but my place needs a lot of work.”
She grabs her comb and starts working on my hair again. “Your landlord should cover those repairs.”
“She’s on a fixed income, so I don’t think she can afford to do that. I was just excited to get something so close to the school. I’m right up against the back lot.”
“That is convenient.” As Baylee starts to foil my hair, she frowns. “This is off topic, but I wanted to ask you something. I know you’ll probably catch a lot of flak for this. I hope you’ll say yes, but I want you to know it’s okay to decline.”
“What is it?” I chuckle because the suspense is killing me.
“I would love for you to be one of my bridesmaids.”
No one’s ever asked me to be in their wedding. “I’d be honored.” I jump out of the chair and hug her. “But will this be weird for you? I’m the enemy.”
She laughs. “No, you’re not. You’re the best, and I’m so glad we’ve become friends. This rivalry is stupid, and I don’t want it to prevent someone who’s become a dear friend from being in my wedding.”
“Will Maverick mind?” I see him around the school, but we don’t really talk.
“He’ll be happy if I’m happy. But what about you? Will this flip out your father?”
Will my dad lose his shit? Probably. Do I care? Why should I, considering how he treats me? “It’ll be fine, but I can only do this if you’re sure me being in your wedding won’t cause you any trouble.”
“It won’t. Now sit so I can finish your highlights.”
