“She told me we weren’t letting you go again.”
“I’m not letting you guys go either. I can’t—not this time.”
“We’ll figure this all out?” Maverick asks. He wasn’t able to follow last time, and not much has changed this time, but knowing he loves me means I’ll stay.
“We will—together.” I let my legs drop, and Maverick lets me drift far enough away that my mind catches back up to me. Actual thoughts become easier and clearer.
“I’ll have to go back to LA...” I start, and Maverick nods in understanding. His mind is already working like crazy, causing his brow to dip in concentration. “It’ll take me a couple of days to work everything out.”
Betsy bounds back down the stairs with her computer in hand. “So, I’m not sure how we’re doing this. You guys sure you don’t mind me sticking around? I mean, Mavie said it’s okay, and he’s my guardian, but I’m almost sixteen...” She tugs on one of her hoodie strings as she hugs her computer close to her chest. “I can probably…”
“Of course, you're with us!” I take her in my arms and squeeze. Maverick is a packaged deal, and that means this girl right here—I’ll love just as much. She’ll always have both of us for support. I love her brother and am ready to share the rest of my life with him. “You never worry about something like that again. You understand me?”
She nods her head. “Okay.” Neither of them seems to know what to say next.
“You also need to quit packing. You aren’t going anywhere. I’m still leaving...” I start, but the moment the words leave my mouth, Betsy’s face falls.
“No, not again. I don’t want to see Mavie like that again. It broke him last time you left. You two love each other. We’ll come with you to LA. Please. I told him we could sell the house. I don’t mind going to school there. And he can figure the ranch thing out. Hire someone to run it or something. I don’t know, but he doesn’t have to give you up for everyone else.”
Betsy is crying, tears pouring down her cheeks. She’s in my arms, her poor heart breaking. I would never make them sell their home, expect her to leave, or expect him to give up the ranch he loves and guarantees that he can provide for Betsy.
“I’m coming back home, Betsy. You don’t have to worry about any of that, okay? I’m only leaving to sort stuff out in LA so I can move back to Montana. I talked to Mallory, and I’ll be living there with her. It’s okay.” I hold her tight and watch her brother over her shoulder. He’s watching us closely.
“So, you aren’t leaving forever?”
“No, I’m coming back home.”
We spend the rest of the night sorting everything out. I tell them about sending Mom and EmmaJean back to LA without me and how I’ll catch a flight later to pick up my stuff. I’ll make the drive back to Montana in my car. We will be apart for a few days, but then I’ll be here to help around the ranch. Or shoot photos. I’m considering my options. For the first time in forever, I feel like I’m back in the right place.
“Can I come with you? To LA when you go?” Betsy asks later that night when we gather around the table.
I shoot a look at Maverick. I’m not sure of his thoughts, but I wouldn’t mind at all. I’d love to get to know his sister better.
“It’s still summer, Mavie. And if she doesn’t mind, maybe I can see if I’ll like LA for art school. And I’ve never been on vacation.”
“I could show you around the area. I think you’d want to make sure it’s somewhere you’d want to go one day.”
Maverick narrows his eyes. “I thought you were thinking of that art school in Washington?”
“I am, but I want to see other places, too. I’ve never traveled before and... I’m sorry... never mind, that’s silly.”
Maverick and I share a look. As much as I don’t want to step on his toes, my eyes are begging him to let her go. “If we can get you a ticket, it seems Eloise doesn’t mind.”
“I don’t. I’d love to have a partner on the road trip back.”
“Oh my god, I’m so excited. Are we leaving soon? Can I go pack now?”
“Hey.” Maverick’s smile spreads. His sister is bursting from the seams right now. “Don’t forget you need to make sure you pack correctly. Airports have rules, you know.”
“Okay.” She runs back upstairs, not registering her brother’s playfulness. I don’t miss it, though.
“Thank you.” Maverick grabs my hand. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her smile that much. It’s not like I’ve been able to take her on a vacation and she’s never asked.”
“She’ll be safe while we go, and it’ll be fun to spend some time with her.” I’m also able to breathe lighter today with Maverick and Betsy nearby. Burying Dad this morning was so hard, but living and moving forward is what he would want. I’ll continue to live a life full of love and happiness by moving forward with the man I love and know that I’m settling where I’m supposed to be. Sure, I’ll miss my father every day. The moment I got him back, I lost him again. But I also promised my father I’d never live with regret again. And the moment I walked away from Maverick at the funeral today, I knew I’d regret it the rest of my life.
“When are you planning on heading out? I should purchase her a ticket. She’s searching for flights, you know.” A moment later Betsy rushes down the stairs with her computer.
“Here are the flights. Wait, do you have yours already booked?”
“Nope, I canceled the one Mom bought without even talking to me, so we’ll make sure we match up our seats.”
I spend the rest of the night in the kitchen with Maverick and Betsy planning our trip. We will take a few days to make sure Mallory’s settled in, and then Betsy and I will fly out. She asks me thousands of questions about where I’m from, and what things LA offers. We talk while Maverick makes us pizza for dinner and throughout the rest of the night until Betsy almost passes out on the couch. Knowing I get to do this every night for the rest of my life makes the smile spread across my face.
“I’m going to head to bed. Are you staying the night?” Betsy asks.
“I should go check on Mallory. I want to let her know our plans and the day we plan on heading out.”
“Well, I could come to the ranch tomorrow and help. Can I do that?” She sends a hopeful glance to Maverick.
“You want to come to work tomorrow—not to hang out—but to work?” Maverick double checks he’s heard her right. When she nods, he thinks for a moment with a raised brow. “All right.”
“Awesome. Okay, then I’ll see you guys in the morning.” Betsy rises from the table and squeezes her brother in a tight embrace. Then she comes over to me and takes me in her arms. “Thank you for everything.”
My throat constricts with emotion because of the beautiful way she embraces me. She wanders upstairs and leaves Maverick and I alone again. He continues to watch me, then rises when I do. He walks me to the door, and we both pause before I step out. His hand continues to connect with my skin, just like it has all night. He hasn’t let me get much further than the reach of his arm since I got here.