“I see.” She grins. “Well, it’s no worry. I can get it next time.”
“Right. Next time. Let’s get this put away.” I keep my focus on the task at hand and pretend to ignore her knowing looks.
As I help Gram store all of her baking supplies, I can’t help but think about Rip. About the change in him, at least when it comes to me, and the fact that he helps Gram every week. I wonder if Gramps did put him up to it. Regardless, the act has my heart swelling in my chest. I’m glad he helped to look out for them while I was gone.
It really is good to be home.
Chapter 9
Rip
I’ve been sitting at my desk for twenty minutes. I’ve stared out the window pretty much all that time. I wanted to beg McKenna to cancel on my sister, but I know they miss each other. I also wanted to ask her where they were going to dinner so that I could just happen to be there. I realize my thoughts are stalker-ish, so I refrained. Now, here I am, sitting and staring off into space, thinking of her.
My phone rings, pulling me out of my McKenna daze, and I laugh when I see it’s my sister calling. “Lara,” I answer.
“Big brother.”
“What’s up?”
“Oh, nothing. I just called to tell you that Colby might be reaching out to you. I’m having dinner with Mac tonight, so he might be lonely. He mentioned calling you and Corbin.”
“Yeah? Where are the two of you headed?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“You going to tell me what’s going on between the two of you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” It’s not a complete lie. I don’t know what’s going on. I know that I want her. More today than I did at the lake on Saturday and more than the day she left for college. Time hasn’t diminished my desire for her. It’s fueled it.
“Come on now,” she pries.
“I think I need to have this conversation with her first.” Eleven words are all it takes for my sister to understand my feelings for her best friend.
“How long?”
“A while.”
“How long is a while, Rip?”
“High school.”
“Wow,” she whispers. “I always thought maybe, I mean, I know she had a crush on you, but you never pursued her even when you had the chance.” She’s quiet, and so am I. What do I say to that? That I knew she was interested, but I was doing what I thought was best for her? “What are you going to do about it?”
“Still trying to figure that out.” What I don’t tell her is that I can’t seem to keep my hands off her best friend or that McKenna is all that I can think about.
“I can help.”
“No. I don’t need your help.”
“I’m her best friend. You need me,” she says with confidence.
“I don’t need your help,” I say again, trying to steer her away from whatever point it is that she’s trying to make.
“She’s always had a thing for you.”
I know. “She was always leaving for college.”
“Rip Callahan, are you going to claim your girl?”
“If it’s meant to be, it will be.” That’s what I tell her, and that’s what I also keep telling myself. I want it to be—more than my next breath. I want to be able to call her mine.
“Well, I’m going to help you.”
“Lara,” I warn.
“Tonight, she and I are having dinner and drinks at the Silver Star. We’re meeting there at seven.”
“I’m not crashing her time with you. I know she misses you.”
“Well, I miss her too, but I want this to happen. She could be my sister.” She lets her proclamation hang between us.
“What, am I not a good enough sibling?”
“We can’t share clothes.”
“You and Kenna do that now.”
“Figure it out,” she says, calling an end to our back-and-forth banter. “I’ve never known you to back down from something that you want.”
She’s right. I don’t, and when it comes to McKenna, I don’t want to. “Who says I’m backing down?”
“Gah! Why are men so damn confusing?”
“Everything all right with you and Colby?”
“Yes! This is about you. You want her. Hell, it wouldn’t surprise me if you were half in love with her, and I’m offering my help. I want you to get the girl, and you’re being stubborn.”
“I don’t need your help, little sister.”
“Well, you’re getting it anyway. I’m team Rip and McKenna all the way.”
Me too, little sister. Me too. “Have fun tonight. If you two need a ride, you call me.” I leave no room for argument in my tone.
“Sure thing, big brother,” she says, way too cheerily. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Was there a reason you called?”
“Nope. I’m good. Can’t a girl just call her brother?”
“Laramie.” I sigh.
“Gotta go. Bye, Rip!” The line goes dead.
I toss my phone on my desk. Resting my elbows on the dark mahogany wood, I bury my face in my hands. I’ve never wanted someone or anything, for that matter, as much as I want McKenna. My sister is right. I never back down from what I want, and this isn’t me backing down. No, this is me planning for the long game. The end game. This is me wanting her for more than just a small moment in time, and I want her forever.
You can’t rush forever.
I’m pacing the living room, wearing a path into the hardwood floors, when my cell phone rings. It’s Corbin. “Hello,” I answer, continuing to pace.
“What are you getting into tonight?”
“Nothing much.” Just driving myself crazy wanting to go into town, to the Silver Star specifically. Just to see her. Have I ever been this taken by a woman? No. No one has ever gotten to me like McKenna has.
“Colby and I are going to grab some food and a couple of beers. You in?”
“Where you going?”
“Silver Star. I guess Laramie and McKenna are going to be there. He wants to be close in case they need a ride home.”
I stop pacing, and from my reflection, in the window, the scowl is gone, replaced with a smile. “I’m in.”
Corbin’s laughter is loud and boisterous as it flows through the line. “I figured as much. Meet us there?”
“When?”
“Thirty minutes?”
I don’t need to look at the clock to know that it’s seven. “I’ll be there.” I end the call. The girls will have had time to order and probably be started on dinner by the time we get there. I should probably feel guilty or like I’m spying on her, but I don’t. I’m just going to be there in case she needs me. They can have their girl time. I’m just backup. If she doesn’t need me, at least I’ll get to see her. Lay my eyes on her. That’s more than I can say for the past five years. I need to soak up as much time with her as I can. How else am I going to get her to fall in love with me?