Page 29 of Saltwater Cowboy

Blythe sighed. “Selfishly, I think you should stay. I know this isn’t the life you imagined for yourself, but you have people who love you to the ends of the earth. You belong here, Rose. And going back to Seattle? That’s admitting defeat. If there’s one thing you don’t do, it’s capitulate.”

I rolled my eyes. “You really look for any excuse to use that word, don’t you?”

A shit-eating grin spread across her face. “Learned it in sixth grade and never looked back.”

“You’re a nerd,” I laughed.

“You’re in my house. Take that back.” She paused, then corrected herself. “Well, technically, the house is in Charlie’s name, but whatever.”

She laid back on the dock, and I followed suit, staring up at the endless stretch of stars. The silence between us wasn’t awkward—it never was. It was familiar, easy.

After a while, I finally spoke. “Charlie thinks I should work at the Coastal Cup.”

Blythe yawned. “I’m gonna head to bed. If you decide to take us up on the offer, we’re heading over to the shop at six.”

I groaned. “That’s so early.”

I stood, extending a hand to help her up. She grabbed it, hauling herself to her feet.

“These Wippowa folks take their caffeination very seriously,” she said, stretching her arms over her head. “If we’re not open by seven, they’re practically beating down our damn door.”

I followed her inside, the warmth of the house settling over us like a thick blanket. We climbed the stairs, feet quiet against the wood.

“Good night, Bee,” I murmured.

“Nighty night, Rose.”

She turned left. I went right.

Back in my room, I flicked off the lights and nestled into my bed. It wasn’t home—not yet—but it was warm, my clothes were put away, and for tonight, that was enough.

Still, my mind wouldn’t settle. The ache in my chest remained, raw and relentless, like my heart had been ripped out, tossed onto the highway, and run over—again and again.

I stared at the ceiling, thoughts circling like vultures. Should I take the job at the Coastal Cup? Or should I try to find something else?

The guilt gnawed at me. Accepting a paycheck from my friends felt like another layer of dependency, another reminder that I wasn’t standing on my own two feet.

I reached for my phone to check if Thad had tried contacting me, but of course, he hadn’t. He cut me out of his life like it was the easiest thing in the world. Like I was nothing. How do you go from moving across the country with someone to nothing in a span of a few hours?

I rested my head on the plush pillows and employed a tactic I hadn’t used since I was a kid—counting backwards from one hundred. The last number I remembered was thirty-three before I drifted off to sleep, still unsure of what tomorrow held.

For the first time in a few weeks, my alarm went off. Despite feeling like I was going to die inside, I got washed up and threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and made my way downstairs. Blythe and Charlie were in the kitchen with a familiar voice. I turned the corner and saw Charlie’s mom standing there.

“Good morning,” I interrupted, standing awkwardly in the doorway.

“Rose!” Charlie’s mom enveloped me in a hug. “It’s so wonderful to see you again! How has your move been?”

I nodded awkwardly. “It’s great to see you again. Charlie and Blythe have been very hospitable.”

“Good!” She patted her son on the back.

“Is this you formally accepting the interim role at the Coastal Cup?” The corner of Blythe’s mouth perked up.

“I’d like to take you both up on your offer.”

“Oh thank goodness.” Charlie added. “We really do need help.”

My gaze shifted between the Hannigans. “Just know that I’ve never made someone else a cup of coffee, so if it sucks, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”