Everything But You: Newberry Springs Book 3 (Newberry Springs Series), page 8
I keep shoving biscuits in my mouth, listening to the conversation but avoiding being an active participant. I’m also killing time until I have to go outside and do my duty around the land. Each week, my brothers and I show up on Sundays to help out, and over the years, I’ve just grown bitter about it. This ranch was supposed to be mine one day, but that idea didn’t sound so appealing without Shauna by my side to help.
Shauna.
Fuck. I think I lasted an entire five minutes without thinking about her this time.
She’s probably deeply entranced in marital bliss right now, laughing about how her high school ex thought he could stop her from marrying her now husband.
“Ugh.” I slap myself on the forehead as all three women turn toward me.
“You okay?” Kelsea asks.
“Yeah, I’m just tired,” I lie, standing from my stool but not before grabbing one more biscuit from the basket on the counter.
Kelsea flashes me a small smile, one that seems more out of pity than concern, but doesn’t say anything. I’m pretty sure she and Evelyn know what’s bothering me these days since my brothers can’t keep anything to themselves, and they wouldn’t stop bothering me when I returned from Vegas, wondering how things went with Shauna.
Hey. That was only thirty seconds this time. It’s getting worse.
“Yeah, well, so am I, which is why I hired a new event coordinator,” my mother chimes in, directing all of our attention back to her.
“Huh?” I ask, wondering what the hell she’s talking about since I was barely listening to begin with.
“I’ve been trying to tell you three that the Winter Wonderland event is still going to happen, but I just can’t do it all on my own. And I found the perfect person to take it over.”
“We could have helped you, Momma G,” Kelsea declares. Evelyn nods in agreement.
“That’s sweet, you two, but between your photography business and the brewery, Kelsea, and your shop and this sweet little girl,” she says to Evelyn, pinching Kaydence’s chubby cheeks before she continues, “we’re all too busy to take on a task this big. If I hadn’t already opened my mouth about it to everyone around town, I’d just say to hell with it and cancel. But I can’t do that now, and honestly, I don’t want to. I think it will be a fun thing for families, bring new people out to the ranch who wouldn’t normally visit around the holidays, and maybe start a new tradition that my kids can carry on one day when your father and I finally retire. Plus, it’s time to bring some fresh blood in here, someone more up-to-date with current trends, and someone who understands how special this place can be.”
“Well, that’s great, then. So who’s taking over for Sheila?” Kelsea asks.
“I found someone with great experience, someone who is looking for the perks of small-town life after living in a bigger city for years, and I think she’ll fit in just perfectly around here,” my mother says just as my father and brothers walk through the back door.
“Hey. You gonna sit in here and gossip, or are you gonna come outside and help?” Walker asks me, slapping my shoulder before reaching around me to grab a biscuit. He then moves to my right to kiss his wife brazenly in front of all of us.
“Biscuit before me; I see how it is,” Evelyn teases as he offers her a bite, and she takes one.
“The biscuit was closer. I was just trying to be efficient.”
“Sure.”
“And it looks like my little owl is enjoying her biscuit as well?” He leans forward and nuzzles his nose against Kaydence’s, making her squeal, and everyone laughs with her.
Everyone but me, that is.
My brother has taken his new title as a father seriously, and I’m damn proud of him for that. But seeing him happy, and Wyatt and Kelsea as well? It just reminds me of what I don’t have—what I’ll never have now that Shauna is gone.
Will I move on someday? Can I now knowing that she’s married and that the chance of us getting back together is zero? I’m not sure. But all I know is that the idea of dating again is the last thing on my fucking mind.
The doorbell rings at that moment, startling everyone.
“Are you expecting someone, honey?” my father asks my mom as he starts walking toward the door.
“Yes. The new event coordinator is coming by today to get settled and start taking over the haphazard plans I already have in place.” She unties her apron and follows my father. “I can get it.”
“It’s okay, honey. You’re busy,” my dad replies as my brothers and I watch them battle over something as simple as answering the door. The truth is, this is what they do—try to do more and be involved in every little thing that goes on at this house.
My mom jokes about the day that the two of them will retire, but honestly, I don’t know if that will ever happen. Both of them are each too much of a control freak to let anyone else be in charge.
“Randy. Let me get the door,” she grates out between her teeth, pulling him back by the shoulder before reaching for the door knob. The glare she gives him is one I’m very familiar with myself.
“Jesus, Elaine. I don’t understand what the big deal is, honey. It’s just—”
But his words get cut off as my mother opens the door and a collective gasp fills the room. Everyone gasps except for me, that is, because I’m pretty sure I’m asleep and dreaming right now.
It fucking can’t be.
“Shauna?” my father asks as Momma unlocks the screen door and reaches for Shauna’s hand, pulling her inside.
“Oh. Hi, Mr. Gibson.” Shauna doesn’t look beyond my parents, but I’m sure she can feel everyone’s eyes on her. Hell, I can’t take mine off of her because I don’t understand how she’s fucking here right now. “Momma G,” she says when she turns to my mom who yanks her into her chest, hugging her tightly just like she does to all of us kids. I swear, I’m being transported back in time, the image of my mother hugging my high school girlfriend shining right in front of my eyes.
Momma cups the side of her face. “Shauna, girl. I am so happy to see you.”
“What the fuck is going on here?” Walker mumbles in my ear, breaking me out of my stupor.
“That is Shauna, right?” Wyatt asks on the other side of me.
“Shauna? Shauna is in the house right now?” Kelsea’s eyes go wide as she stands right in front of my face. “Did you know she was coming?”
That question snaps me out of my shock. “What? No. I had no fucking clue.”
“But if she’s not here for you, then . . .” But Kelsea doesn’t get to finish because my mother begins leading Shauna over to where we’re standing, my father trailing closely behind.
“Kids, meet our new event coordinator. I believe you all remember Shauna Collins.” The proud smile on my mother’s face has me snapping my eyes to her in a flash. But the gleam in hers has me questioning my sanity right now and everything I’ve ever believed to be true about my mother.
Seems Momma G has been up to no good, and the thing is, she probably has no idea the emotional turmoil she’s causing her oldest son right now, either.
“Shauna! Long time, no see!” Walker says, stepping forward first and wrapping her up in a hug.
“God, you two are all grown up,” she says through a laugh as he releases her and her eyes shift over to Wyatt.
“That’s what happens,” Wyatt says, giving her a hug next. “I guess we can say the same for you, too, though.” When he lets her go, he turns his back so she can’t see his face and then mouths to me, What the hell is going on?
My teeth are clenched together so tight right now that I don’t even attempt to answer. What the hell is she doing here?
She took a job at my parents’ ranch?
And then it happens. Our eyes lock, and she flashes me an unsure smile, a look that says she knows she shouldn’t be here but it’s too late to back out now.
“Hi, Forrest.”
A grunt. That’s my reply.
“Now, Forrest,” my mother admonishes as I feel everyone’s eyes on us, like our interaction is a fucking science experiment and they are all taking notes on how we’ll interact—two exes in the wild, one who put their heart on the line and the other who shattered it not once, but twice. “Where are your manners? I taught you better than that.” She smacks my shoulder and then pulls Shauna behind her, further into the kitchen. “Shauna, are you hungry, honey?”
“Oh, uh . . . I’m good, but thank you.”
“You sure? I made biscuits,” my mother croons, holding the basket out to her in offering.
“You know you want one,” Walker whispers behind her, making everyone laugh, including Shauna. He hands her one like a slimy salesman, bouncing his eyebrows as he does.
“God, it’s been years. Are they still as good as I remember?” She smiles right before she takes a bite and then closes her eyes and lets out a moan of approval, one that goes straight to my dick. “Yup. Still fabulous.”
Momma laughs and moves to the sink to wash her hands. “In my opinion, they’ve gotten better.”
“I think I’d have to agree,” Shauna mumbles around her last bite.
“So how was your flight? Not too terrible, I hope.”
Her eyes dart over to me, but only for a second. “Uh, it was fine. Felt like it took forever. I haven’t been on a plane in a long time.”
“I hate flying,” Kelsea interjects, visibly shuttering. “Granted, I’ve only done it four times when I went to New York and back twice, but I was terrified the entire time.”
“I guess for me it was the anticipation that made it hard to get through, but I’m here now,” Shauna declares enthusiastically, “and I’m ready to get to work.”
“Now, now . . . there will be time for that in a minute. I want to make sure you have a few other things in place first before we go there.” Mom moves over to the pot of jam as Kelsea jumps back into place and they begin filling the jars again. I swear, these two could do this in their sleep. “Did you find a place to stay yet? You know you can always stay here.”
“Oh, not yet. I think for tonight that will be fine, but I’d like to get my own place.”
Walker clears his throat behind me. “Uh, I might have a place.” Everyone turns toward him, including me.
“You do?” Shauna asks.
“Yeah. I was renting out my townhouse to a coworker of mine, but he ended up buying his own place. So if you want, it’s yours for the time being. Rent free,” he adds.
“That’s a great idea!” Evelyn interjects, still holding Kaydence on her hip. “It’s perfect. Saves us from having to find someone new to move in.”
“If you’re sure . . .” I can hear the hesitation in Shauna’s voice, but my brain feels drunk from how hard it’s spinning right now as this is all unfolding in front of me.
“Of course.”
Note to self: Beat Walker’s ass later for being a fucking traitor.
“Okay, but I will pay you. I don’t want a handout.”
“It’s not a handout, Shauna. Hell, you’re practically family,” Walker says, and those words are enough to pull me out of this mindfuck. I need space from all of this as fast as possible.
“Jesus,” I mutter, spinning on my heel and heading for the back door.
I have to get the fuck out of here.
“Forrest?” my father calls out as I scramble to exit the house.
Keeping my back to everyone, I say, “I’ll be outside.” And then I stomp down the stairs of the back porch, heading straight for the barn.
Fuck.
Shauna is here.
My mother hired her.
She’s going to be living in my brother’s old place.
And she looks so fucking good.
“Did I do something in a past life to deserve this kind of torture?” I call out, looking up at the sky. I swear, God must be fucking with me right now, and I’m not finding the humor or lesson in this at all.
When I step into the barn, I locate a bale of hay and plop down, bracing my arms on my thighs before I take a few deep breaths. I need to get my head on straight, but that’s really fucking hard to do when I have so many questions going through my mind right now.
Lucky for me, I barely get a chance to start sorting through them before I’m interrupted by the last person I want to look at right now.
“Forrest,” Shauna calls out as she steps into the barn, her eyes landing on mine as I lift my head and take her in from head to toe.
She’s wearing dark denim jeans, black boots, and a red paisley printed top with soft sleeves, her hair hanging down in waves around her face, just like she had it that night in Vegas.
She looks like the girl I fell in love with at sixteen. She looks like she belongs here.
But she doesn’t. She’s married.
And that’s when my eyes drift to her left hand and I notice that her ring is missing.
Oh, hell no, she’s not going to pull this shit again with me.
I rise from my seat and stalk over to her, intent on hashing out whatever it is that led her here. I don’t know what the hell is going through her head, why she thought it would be a smart idea to come work for my parents after what happened six weeks ago, but I sure as hell don’t want her to think that this means anything, that we’re going to be cordial or something.
I can’t do that with her.
She needs to leave.
When we come to a halt in the middle of the barn, just a few inches of space between us, we end up in a stare off—me towering over her, her staring up at me with caution in her eyes but sureness in her stance.
“What are you doing here, Shauna?” I finally grate out, glancing down at her left hand again. I lift it and hold it in front of her face. “No ring? Did you wash your hands and forget to put it back on again?”
But the answer she gives me takes me by surprise, making my head spin even more than it already is as she pulls her hand out of my own.
“I . . . I didn’t marry Brock, Forrest. I came back here . . . for you.”
CHAPTER SIX
Shauna
Forrest looks like I just asked him to send a rocket to the moon. “What?”
“I didn’t get married, Forrest. I couldn’t go through with it.”
His brow pinches further, and his eyes dance back and forth between my own as he contemplates his next words. “And you waited six weeks to tell me that?”
Shaking my head, I draw in a shaky breath. “I couldn’t just chase after you, Forrest. I made a mess of my life back in Vegas, and I had to clean it up.”
It’s been weeks of dealing with the aftermath of leaving Brock at the altar, and I know all of the loose ends aren’t tied up yet. But when I quit the firm I was working for and started talking to a headhunter, looking for another job on a much smaller scale, I’ll never forget what she said to me that told me what I needed to hear—even though my heart already knew.
“Anything new this week?” I ask Sasha, the headhunter I contacted a few weeks ago when I decided I needed a change. I already ended an engagement and left a man standing at the front of a church, thinking he was about to marry me—what’s a new job on top of that?
“There was one posting, but the job will probably move at a much slower pace than you’re used to.”
“Maybe less pressure and responsibility would be a good thing. Where is it?”
“A small town called Newberry Springs in Texas. It’s for an Event Coordinator at a bed and breakfast.”
And that was my sign.
“So why are you here now? And working for my mom? Is this some sick way for you to worm your way back into my life?” Forrest says, anger and confusion lacing through his words.
I have to say, I was expecting a slightly different reaction from him. But if he’s going to be pissed, then I can be, too. He’s definitely not innocent in everything that has happened. “Your life? You mean the one you were begging me to be a part of six weeks ago?” I throw back at him.
He scoffs and scrubs a hand through his hair. “That was different. That was before you left me looking like an idiot as I watched you walk down the aisle to that guy.”
My stomach drops. “You were there? I couldn’t find you after I left.”
“I walked out as soon as the preacher started talking. I went out a side door.”
“Why didn’t you stay?”
“Because I thought you chose him, Shauna! I couldn’t stand there and watch you get married!” he yells, causing a few horses in nearby stalls to neigh their complaints.
So the sound of the door slamming was him? He didn’t see me leave Brock all alone in front of all those people? No wonder he’s so pissed.
“But I . . . I didn’t. I left him at the altar, Forrest—which was a horrible thing to do, but you were right. I didn’t love him the way I loved you once, the way I wish I could again.”
He shakes his head, staring down at the ground. “This is a lot. I was completely blindsided by you walking into that house a few minutes ago, Shauna,” he says, pointing back up at the farmhouse that holds so many memories for us. “And even though every fiber of my being wants to kiss you and claim you . . . I can’t.”
“Why not?”
Did you really think it was going to be this simple, Shauna? That he’d scoop you up in his arms and you two would live happily ever after? Maybe I’m far more delusional than I thought.
“Because too much has happened, Shauna.” His brow is furrowed so deep, I’m afraid it might get stuck that way. But his words are the truth, as much as I don’t want to accept them.
“You’re right. A lot has happened, but I’m here now. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Until the Winter Wonderland event is done, correct?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, the only reason my mom hired you was to take over that event for her, right?”
Do I tell him that she’s offered me the position full-time if I want it? Do I tell him that I hadn’t decided to take it yet, depending on how things went with us? I was highly optimistic things would be simple, but this conversation is proving to me once again that I underestimated the stubbornness of this man.
