Page 87 of Burning Skies
“Not sure. Wish I knew.”
I gather our tools and toss them in my bag. “Is it because Liberty got engaged?” I always thought my older brother was crazy about her, but then they broke up and he left for South America. She recently got engaged to some lawyer she’s been dating for a while.
“We’ll have to ask him, if he makes it home for Maverick’s wedding,” Rhett says. I think we’ve all gotten to the point of accepting the idea that he might not ever return. “Hey, where are you at with repairs at your place? I thought you wanted to get the roof done before winter?”
I’m embarrassed to admit this, but Rhett won’t hold it against me. “It’s more expensive than I thought. I probably have to hold off until next summer.”
He frowns. “Mav and I could pitch in to get it done sooner. I’d hate for your roof to leak again and ruin your floors.”
Yeah, that would suck. “I hate asking for money around the holidays. I know things can get a little tight financially.”
“I told you we’re doing better.” He wipes the back of his neck. “Maybe I need to show you our financials. And you know wehave that failsafe. We could always let that company dig up the quartz if we got really desperate.”
None of us want to go that route. “It’s not that I don’t have money, but re-roofing my house will wipe out my savings, and it makes me anxious to be so broke.” Especially now that I’m with Honey. I’d like to have a little cash to spend on her. To take her to dinner or buy her flowers. To make her feel special. She’s used to the best.
Fucking Ian took her to the Pearl Steakhouse, the nicest place in town. Dinner and dancing at some grill house out of town doesn’t quite compare.
“If you change your mind, let me know. I’d like to help. This ranch is yours too.”
I have a hard time accepting that, but I guess it’s true. “Thanks, bro. Let me think it over. I don’t want to overextend myself.”
“Makes sense. Just don’t want you to struggle.”
I feel like I’ve struggled financially my whole life. But maybe Rhett’s right, and I need to let my family help me more, which is tough to do for some reason.
My brother and I ride back to the ranch in companionable silence. When we crest the ridge that overlooks his house, we pause. In the valley below, his kids run around the backyard while Paige pets one of her fluffy chickens.
“You’re a lucky man, brother,” I say.
“I fucking know it. Not sure what I’d do without Paige. She and my children are my whole world.”
Deep in my bones, I want this with Honey. It might seem fast, but it feels right. I can’t explain the connection I have with her. She’s on my mind all the time.
I pull out my phone and snap a photo of the sunset and send it to her. I’m not sure when we can hang out again, but it can’t come soon enough.
When I get home, I let out a sigh of relief. As much as I love my family, I enjoy being alone too. Maybe it’s because I spend so much time at the firehouse where I’m surrounded by my colleagues for three days straight.
I pick up a handful of kittens. “Did y’all get in any trouble today?”
“Meow!” Fireball scales my t-shirt and curls up against my neck.
Her sisters get squirrelly, so I set them down. As I pet Fireball, I look around my house, and I wonder how Honey sees it. I head to the back bedroom, which still has wallpaper from the eighties and jacked-up flooring. The second bathroom needs a ton of work. The third bedroom is worse, so I skip it and head for the small laundry room. I stare up at the water-stained ceiling and wonder if we’ll get a lot of rain this winter. Maybe Ishouldredo the roof.
I could handle it myself if I took some time off work. As I mull over what to do, Honey texts.
Honey: Cynthia had to leave early.
Funny how that urge to be alone instantly vanishes.
Me: Are you free? Wanna come over? I was thinking about grilling some dinner.
Honey: Count me in!
I scan the living room, hating that I don’t have nicer furniture. At least it’s clean. Just old.
Once I tidy up and take a quick shower, I get to work on those steaks. About half an hour later, Honey knocks, and Fireball tries to scale my jeans. I pick her up and open the door. Honey gives me a beautiful smile.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
