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Cloe turned to her. “Why?”
“The brewery I work at was sold and the new owner is an arrogant jerk. Y’all know I struggle to keep my thoughts to myself.”
Noelle laughed. “That’s putting it mildly, Hal. But if you do get yourself fired, you can come live with me and George in Dallas.”
“You’re moving in with George? Don’t you think that’s a little soon?”
“When you know, you know. Georgie has a big old house that will have plenty of room for you and Mama, Daddy, and Mimi. Although you’re right. I don’t think any of them are going to like living in a big city.”
“Then it’s a good thing they don’t have to.”
They all turned to see Sunny standing in the doorway of the kitchen. She lifted a hand in an awkward wave.
“Hey, y’all. I hope you don’t mind me comin’ on in. I knocked, but you were talking so loudly, you must not have heard.” She glanced around. “Please don’t tell me this is a Secret Sisterhood meeting? The rumor around high school was that you wore cool matching pink Sisterhood jackets, lit a ton of scented candles, and had a pile of guy voodoo dolls you stuck pins in.”
Noelle laughed. “That would have been cool.”
Sunny grinned. “It’s never too late to change things up. But I didn’t come here to talk about pink jackets or voodoo dolls. I came to tell you that Corbin moved out of your family’s house. I’m not sure what he plans to do with the ranch. But the house, barn, and acreage they sit on he plans to sign over to your parents and Mimi.”
All Belle’s sisters jumped up and started hugging each other and Sunny while talking excitedly.
Belle just sat there.
Corbin had left?
She’d thought her heart hurt before. It was nothing compared to how it felt now. While her sisters were celebrating with Sunny, she got up and slipped out of the room. She needed to cry and didn’t want to upset her sisters’ celebration. Unfortunately, she was stopped before she made it to the front door.
“You love him, don’t you?”
Belle turned to find Sunny standing there with a concerned look in her eyes. Belle couldn’t have lied if she’d wanted to.
“Yes. But it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t love me.”
“I think you’re wrong. Corbin does love you, Belly. But he’s not gonna come riding up on a white horse to declare that love. You see, Corbin has never trusted those three words. I think it has to do with my mama saying them every time she dropped us off with another relative. ‘I love y’all,’ she’d say right before she drove away. Which is why Corbin has no faith in love. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel it. He just shows his love through actions instead of words.”
Images popped into Belle’s head. Images of Corbin buying a safety harness for Gilley. Bringing her Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Wild Cherry Pepsi. Worrying about her staying in a seedy hotel or falling out of the hayloft. Thinking of any excuse to stop by the trailer or have her come out to the ranch.
But the sweetest image was of him giving her heated kisses as he ran his hands over her body in soft caresses. It hadn’t just been sex. He’d made love to her. Sweet, caring love.
Tears filled Belle’s eyes as hope bloomed inside her. “But he thinks I was part of your and Jesse’s plan.”
“I don’t think he thinks that. I think he was just scared of how much he was starting to care for you so he thought he’d push you away before you could push him.”
“So what do I do?”
“You do what our mama never could.” Sunny smiled, but this time with tears in her eyes. “You don’t let him go. Please don’t let him go, Belle.”
Belle realized Sunny was right. If she was ever going to prove her love to Corbin, she had to do it through actions not words. “Where is he? Did he go back to Houston?”
“Not yet. He’s at the trailer. But you need to hurry.”
“Tell Cloe to keep an eye on Gilley.” Belle turned to head out the door and ran into Jesse. He pulled her into his arms as if he never wanted to let her go before he drew back as if burned.
“Sorry. Wrong Holiday.” His eyes were wild and filled with fear. “Please tell me Libby’s here, Belle.”
“She is.”
He sighed with relief. “I guess she’s still pissed.”
