Page 50 of Love Me Again

“But I kicked him to the curb,” Molly continued. “I came home. I started teaching riding lessons again. I’m glad I did all those things, but…” Molly shook her head. She leaned against the wall, squinting out the window at the end of the hall. “I want something else, and I can’t figure out what it is. So it just sits there. A dissatisfaction I can’t seem to fix.”

He’d been there too. He’d thrown himself into the rodeo, more to piss off Shane than because he had any great love for it. He’d ended up being good at it, and that had felt good, soothed his ego, but he’d been waiting around for something else.

Then he’d met Josie.

He didn’t share that with his sister. It wasn’t like a person could control when they found their soulmate. He grimaced at using the word even in his own head, but it was true.

“I don’t know how to help you find out what that is. But I know you won’t find it at the bottom of a bottle.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she muttered, pushing off the wall. “Maybe I’ll listen to you. Wouldn’t want to turn into Boone Tyler circa last year.”

“Wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”

She smiled a little wryly. “So, what are you doing here? You usually only come hide during the day if you’re pissy.”

“Yeah. That.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Why do you think?”

Molly studied him. Seemed to consider. “You know, I wasn’t drinking alone. She was too. Probably feels just as badly as I do this morning.”

“Guess that’s my fault.”

Molly shook her head. “No. You didn’t put the bottle in her hands. I did. But even then… She’s hurting. And that’s partly you, partly her. Neither of you is right. Neither of you is wrong. Kinda of a crappy place to be.”

“Thanks. I needed that pep talk,” he said, trying to keep his voice even and the scowl off his face. He started to walk to move past her so he didn’t ruin what had been a good conversation with his own bad mood.

But Molly stopped him before he could pass.

“For what it’s worth, I’ve been putting the idea in Josie’s head that she could get her Colorado vet’s license, stay here, work with Karl.”

Boone studied his sister. Here she was, giving him hope. He shouldn’t take it. Hope was the damn enemy.

But if Josie did that… He had time. Time to convince her he could be a better bet the second time around.

“You hurt her. That doesn’t get healed overnight, but that doesn’t mean it can’t heal. If you keep showing up, giving it time. Proving that you’re not the same guy who left her. Because you’re not, Boone. You’ve grown up a little bit.”

“Got a ways to go.”

She snorted. “Yeah, more than a ways. But it’s a start.”

A start. He pondered that as Molly went into her room, and instead of going to his, he found himself turning and heading back outside. Through the snow, to his annoying brothers and the chores that made his leg ache.

Because it was a start.

CHAPTER 15

Josie nursed the hangover, braced for a Tyler invader all day.

No one came. No one showed up at the cabin’s door. No one texted her. Everyone let her be.

She blamed Boone for the fact it depressed her when relief was the only thing she should be feeling. Relief and determination to make her plans. To get out of here. Leave Boone and the Tylers and Colorado behind.

Because she didn’t belong here. Even if she felt a little tug of longing to.

She looked at her list. It never seemed to get any longer or any more specific.