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“I’m going to let you in on a little secret,” she laughs.
“What’s that?”
“I hated modeling.”
“What?” I ask, completely dumbfounded. “Bull and your mom bragged all the time about how great you were doing and how much you loved living in New York.”
“I know. I spent most of my time convincing them of it. I mean, sure, I liked parts of it. New York can be beautiful. There’s nothing like the Appalachian Mountains though. I love the small town feel and most of all, I missed my family.”
“Even Skylar?” I laugh, knowing how Breaker and Thea struggle with their younger sister.
“Even her,” she admits. “Skylar isn’t that bad,” she tries to defend, making me laugh.
“It’s okay. I’ve heard enough stories from Breaker.”
“Yeah. She’s young. Hopefully, it will get better. She’s just a little…”
“High strung?”
“Spoiled,” Thea laughs. “Dad doted on her.”
“He did you, too, but you’re not like that,” I point out.
“Mattie,” she murmurs, her face going soft. “When I became too much of a pain, he would let me know it. Lord knows he tried that with Skylar, too. We both have, but she refuses to listen.”
“Well, I think you’re perfect the way you are.”
“Yeah, right,” she laughs.
“I mean it, Thea. You’re one of the most grounded people I’ve ever known. You always have been.”
“Not always. I used to be a dreamer,” she answers with a sad sounding sigh.
“You?”
She shrugs her shoulders and looks up at the hill that we walked down. “You really want to build a house here?”
“Yeah. I mean, I’m not sure it will be a permanent home. But a weekend getaway? I could see that. I always imagined I’d build a house close to the compound so I could make sure my woman was safe. Club life isn’t exactly picket fence material,” I joke.
“And your kids,” she adds.
“Huh?”
“You said you wanted kids, too. You’d want them safe.”
“Yeah, definitely.”
“Our parents never lived close to the compound. I think you could build a nice place here. If not here, then buy property close to Holly Bay or something. There you could still have the lake.”
“What kind of house did you dream of growing up?” I ask her out of curiosity.
“Barbie’s Dreamhouse,” she giggles.
“Smartass.”
Her giggles turn into right out laughter, and it takes her a bit to contain it. The sound is so joyful that I find myself joining in. When she finally gets control, she looks up at me with a huge grin. “If I tell you, then you can’t tell Mattie. I don’t want him to revoke my membership in the Savage family.”
“Your secrets are safe with me, baby.”
