Page 52 of Take The Risk

​Phoebe: Or maybe I’m assuming too much. I’m sorry if I am.

​Damn. I’d taken too long to respond.

​Me: You’re my friend. That isn’t even a question.

​The real question was if that was all she was ever going to be.

​Ridiculous?

She thought it was ridiculous, did she?

Chapter 21

​“Are you sure you don’t need me there this weekend?”

​“Yeah. I’m just going to chill at home, test out my ovens. Grayson is picking Lock up first thing in the morning.” My brother was back from his deployment. As per tradition, he was picking Lock up for a little “man” time where they played video games I hated and ate food I didn’t allow and where Grayson taught Lock things I couldn’t.

​Of my two brothers, Grayson was the best. Our other brother, Ray, was not someone I could spend time with, let alone let Lock spend time with. Ever.

​“If you change your mind…” Alex let that dangle.

​I hugged my wine glass to my chest, snuggling beneath the blanket. The small fire table on my brand-new deck was letting off a decent amount of heat, but the blanket just added the extra cozy factor. “I’m good.”

​“Okay. I should probably pay attention to whatever Preston is pouting about anyway.”

​“Do I want to know?” The man was worse than a teenage girl with her first period. I didn’t know how she could stand it.

​“If you know, then you know more than me. Anyway, I’ll see if he needs a Midol or something. Call me tomorrow. Love you.”

​“Love you, too, Alex.”

​Disconnecting the call, I took a large sip of my wine. Breathing in, I relished the smell of fire, wood, and the fresh cool autumn breeze now fall had returned, ending the heat wave. Listening, I heard the sounds of the branches and leaves combined with the occasional hoot of an owl. There wasn’t a car, siren, or hurried footsteps, or any other sounds that made up life in the city. My own sanctuary.

​Ty had created this perfect piece of heaven for me. Thinking about him, a pang shot through me. It was only yesterday that I was certain he was going to kiss me.

I didn’t know how I was going to keep my word to Cady-Jo.

​I was so relieved when he called me this morning saying he had to handle an emergency at another site today. I needed the time to figure out what I was going to do. After learning Ty knew the truth about me, I was shocked by how easily I was able to adapt to the knowledge. There was a strange sense of rightness to it all. Now, Cady-Jo was essentially telling me that as long as I’m her friend, Ty is off-limits. I couldn’t really blame her. Granted, I didn’t appreciate the insinuation she made as she left about my place in this town and in this group of women being…altered if I didn’t comply.

​“I’m glad you and I were able to talk about this.” This. Ty and I. Cady-Jo paused at my door. “I know how difficult it can be starting over, making new friends, finding your place in a new town.” She’d lived here all her life, so I doubted that. “It matters so much who brings you in, who stands beside you. Making the wrong choices can have such a profound, lasting impact, you know?”

​“It does,” I agreed, my heart sinking. “And I made a lucky escape with Amber-Rae.” I fell back on the main part of our discussion.

​“You did. I’m glad your luck was on your side this time.” She left having made her stance clear.

​Walking back into the kitchen Ty built me, I couldn’t see the beauty in it anymore. I walked to the door and just stared outside at my yard.

​It had been a day, and I still didn’t know what to make of all of this. How was I going to keep my head on straight where Ty was concerned? He was going to kiss me. I was sure of it. I wanted him to kiss me. I—

​A crack and crunch sounded, echoing loudly in the otherwise quiet night. Sitting up, I squinted into the shadowed darkness of the trees. Fear had my heart galloping, and I nearly spilled my wine when another crunch sounded.

​Stupid. It was stupid of me to be out here, I realized. There was no fence, no gate. No protection. Anyone could walk onto my property, and I wouldn’t know. Tomorrow, I needed to make sure I had a fence added.

​“Who’s there?” I asked, trying to untangle myself from my blanket. Maybe if they knew someone was out here, they’d be scared off.

​“It’s me.” Ty rounded the corner, emerging slowly from the darkness.

​Profound relief washed through me, and the blanket dropped from my fingers. I’d barely stood up but found my legs couldn’t do anything but drop me back on my ass.