I looked forward and pulled out my phone and texted Jase.
Me: Hey.
Jase: Hey, big sis. Are you on your way home?
Me: Yep. Just dropped off Keith and will be there in a few hours. My car is packed down with stuff.
Jase: Mom and dad have a surprise party planned for you.
Me: Oh, shit. No.
Jase: Yep. Dad even bought something to try to persuade you to stay in Llano.
“Great. Just what I need, my father butting in and making me more confused,” I said to myself as I started the car. I looked down at my phone and sent my brother a text.
Me: Tell dad he can’t sway me, one way or the other. Then tell him I love him. Who all is there?
Jase: Just us, big sis. No one loves you enough to show up.
I laughed and shook my head as I tossed my phone to the side. When I heard my phone beep, I took one last look at it. My heart rate picked up when I read Jase’s last text.
Jase: Just kidding. Walker just showed up.
I TOOK A deep breath as I looked at Liza’s house. I hadn’t seen her since last summer, and it had only been for five minutes. Jessica had been with me, and when I’d tried to talk to Liza, it had been awkward as hell. She didn’t notice me looking at her finger and seeing the ring I’d given her before we left for college. I was shocked that she still wore it. She’d been dating her rich asshole boyfriend for three years or so. She seemed happy.
I stepped out of my truck and was about to make my way to the front door when I remembered that, last time I walked through that door, I’d had every intention of telling Liza how much I still thought about her. I’d wanted to take her in my arms and tell her how I still felt.
“Walker!”
I turned to see Ava running toward me. I smiled and held out my arms, ready for a full force blow when she threw her body into mine. And that’s exactly what she did. I was almost knocked backwards as I laughed. “Why hello there, Ava Grace.”
I set her down and she hit me on the shoulder. “Don’t call me that. I hate it. Just Ava.” She gave me a once-over and glanced into the truck before asking, “No Jessica?”
I shook my head. “Not this time.”
Ava sighed. “Bummer. I was really hoping to pick her brain about France.”
Ava took my hand as we made our way up to the front door of the Morris’ house. “So is Jessica excited about moving to the ranch?”
“I think so,” I said, shrugging. “She’s in Europe with her mother and grandmother right now. They’re touring.”
My sister was going to be over the moon when she realized that she’d have my full attention all summer. I usually came home, worked on the ranch, and then drove into Austin to be with Jessica.
Ava’s eyes lit up. “Really? I have you all to myself?”
I chuckled and nodded. “At least until August twenty-sixth.”
Ava screamed as she flew into my arms. The door flew open and I turned to see Jase there, smiling. He seemed to be finishing up a text. When he looked back up he had a shit-eating grin on his face.
“What’s up bro?” I asked, giving him a quick handshake.
“Where’s your hot girlfriend?”
Ava pushed past Jase and called out over her shoulder, “She’s touring Europe.”
Jase threw his head back and laughed, slapping me on the shoulder. “Damn, dude. Liza’s gonna be stoked.”
I looked at him, shocked. “What? Why?”
Jase smiled and said, “Cause the gang is back together.”
I nodded, “Oh yeah. Right.”
I looked up and finally noticed the giant sign. Congratulations Taylor and Walker.
“She’s gonna be pissed,” I whispered.
Jase looked at the sign and shrugged. “Dude, I told my mom not to use Taylor, to use Liza,” Jase said as he looked around for his mom. “Mom says they accidentally put Taylor and by the time she noticed, it was too late to fix it.”
Layton and my father both rounded the corner. My father’s smile lit up his face when he saw me. He held out his hand as I reached for it. “Dad,” I said with a smile. I reached my hand out for Layton’s. “Sir, how are you?” I asked with a nod. I’d known Layton forever, since he was Jase and Liza’s father, but I couldn’t help but call him “sir.”
Layton gave me a once-over. “Well, I’m glad to see you kept in shape, Walker. I’m going to put your ass to work starting tomorrow morning. There’s a fence that needs mending in the front pasture over by Mimi and Frank’s place.”
“Yes, sir. I’m ready to get to work.” I said.
My father gave me a look and motioned for me to join him outside. Before I turned to follow him through the house and out the back door, though, I said, “Layton, sir. Do you have a Sharpie I can use? The kind with the thick, bold tip?”
Layton nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got one.”
“Dad, one second while I fix something.”
Layton returned from his office with a fat Sharpie. I grabbed a chair and stood on it to reach the sign. I drew an X through Taylor and wrote Liza in huge letters. Everyone started laughing. I jumped down and handed the Sharpie back to Layton and followed my father through the kitchen and to the back porch.
“Where’s Mom?” I asked.
My father headed down the steps. “Courtney’s checking on Mimi and Frank. They’re getting older, but insist on living in that giant ranch house all alone.”
We walked down to the main barn in silence. The moment we stepped into the barn, I was thrown back to the night I’d kissed Liza. I shook my head and attempted to push the memory away.
“So Jessica’s on her way to Europe?” My father asked as he took a seat.
I let out a tired breath and sat across from him. “Yep. Well, they leave tomorrow.”
“Is she excited about moving out here?”
I shrugged. “She said she was. Her parents are pushing for us to get married though.”
My father nodded his head slowly. “How do you feel about that?”
“About marrying, Jessica?”
He laughed. “Isn’t that who we’re talking about?”
“I don’t know dad. I mean, I’ve looked at rings a few times and it just doesn’t feel right. I love Jessica. I just don’t understand the rush to get married.”
He stood up and nodded. “And how does Jessica feel about that? She seemed like a really sweet girl when we met her last summer. Is she okay with waiting?”