Page 3 of Sudden Summer

Yeah, of course. Just a long day at work.

You know you never need to ask. My home is yours. What time are you coming out?

I’ll be there in an hour. Just finishing up now.

See you then.

Relief instantly washed over me. I loved that our friendship felt safe. I loved that our friendship felt like home.

The report took me longer than I wanted, but I didn’t leave a single detail out of it. By the time I finished charting, Dr. Carthill had stopped in, and we’d completed our turnover without incident.

I pushed open the door to the break room, ready to get in my car and start the half hour drive out to the Silver Ridge Ranch. My eyes were locked on a text that had just come in from my mom, asking for more money to help her out while she was on a trip to Napa Valley. My stomach rolled, and a shadow appearing had me jumping back, my hand slamming over my heart.

“Shit. Sorry, Birdie.”

“No, Dec. Ah…It’s no problem. I just wasn’t expecting anyone to be standing right out here.”

“I wanted to make sure I caught you before you left. I’m going to walk you down to your car. Make sure you get on your way safe.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary⁠—”

He held up his hand. “It is.”

“Why?”

“Just because we trespassed that asshole from the hospital doesn’t mean he left, or that he won’t come back. I’d like to make sure you’re safe. I feel awful that I didn't get into that room in time to stop him from hurting you.”

My hand landed on his arm. “That wasn’t your fault. I saw things escalating, and I didn’t remove myself. That’s on me. But you’re right, I could probably do with someone being by my side until I get to my car. Thank you for thinking of that.”

We walked silently down the stairwell and out to the parking lot. My eyes scanned around the cars, but even though my nerves were frayed and I felt like I might scream if someone walked by me right now, I sucked in a breath of fresh air, trying to keep my composure.

“This is me,” I said as Declan and I made it to my car. “Thanks again for walking me out.”

“Sure thing.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Are you back in tonight?”

“No, I have a few days off. Probably for the best. I feel like I might jump out of my skin right now.”

Declan nodded. “Yeah, okay. If you’re still feeling nervous when you get back, just call up and if I’m on, I’ll walk you in. I’m sure any of the other guys would, too.”

I reached out, my hand landing on his arm and giving a small squeeze. “I’ll be just fine. Thank you again.”

He nodded, his arms remaining folded over his chest as I unlocked my car and got inside. I wanted to fall apart right then and there, but I swallowed it all down, knowing in just half an hour, I’d be at the one place I’d always felt safe, with my favorite person.

Beau

Icracked open the cold bottle of beer, sipping the overflow of foam as I leaned back in the old wicker chair on my front porch. Summer was just around the corner, and I was already feeling run into the ground, managing the ranch.

The weather the past few days had us scrambling. Nothing new, just a harsh line of storms that didn’t pass through as quickly as we were anticipating. Had our cattle out in a far pasture, and needed to drive them into a closer field in order to keep them safe. Sure, they weathered the storm just fine once we got them where they needed to be, but it was an oversight I was ready to get chewed out for.

My dad was pushing me hard to take over our family’s ranch. He’d pulled back in the last few years, letting me step up and manage things as I wanted to with the safety of his oversight. The Silver Ridge Ranch has been in my family for over a hundred and fifty years, and keeping its legacy alive fell squarely on my shoulders. Lucky for me, I loved ranching. You wouldn’t catch me ever trying to be a deputy like my brother, Colt, or a fireman like my brother, Hayes. Nope. Leave the chaos of humans to them. I was happy with the cattle.

A car started up the long drive to my house. I could tell you every detail about that damn car just from the sound of its engine. I’d been listening to it drive to my place for the last fifteen years. And I could tell you every last detail about the blonde-haired, sun-kissed, probably absolutely exhausted woman behind the steering wheel.

Birdie’s car spun up dirt that danced in the lowering sunlight like glitter. Fitting, because my best friend was all sunshine and rainbows. She’d been that way since the first day I met her in kindergarten.

And as much as I enjoyed being a black storm cloud, pretending nothing could move or shake me, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Because in quiet moments like this, when I could sit here and watch my best friend drive towards my house after a day that felt like it might never end, it was easy to whisper the truth for only my lonely ears to hear.

I loved her.