It was late when we got back and I forgot to turn on my phone. When I did I seen I had two text messages:
‘Baby, its David call me when you can. Had to go to Dallas, then back to Chicago.’
‘I miss you. I hope you have fun. Call me. Or I am going to worry.’
I walked into the house blindly. My dad asked how the shopping went and I didn’t hear any of the conversation.
“So you miss him already. Damn the man will be back in a few days.” My dad said smilingly, but he didn’t leave for business. He left to meet his sophisticated lover.
“I don’t miss him and frankly I am glad he is gone. I have to call him and tell him to stay gone.” I left before I let my tears fall. I am sure everybody thought I was fucking insane, but he just proved to be like the rest.
I got up to my room and cried on the bed. It was two minutes later that my phone was ringing and it was him. “Baby, do you mind telling me why you didn’t call me back? You can’t be mad at me, I had to go. I will be back in a few days, or maybe you could come here.” The snake sounded all sweet and loving, just like the rest, I knew it.
“That’s not going to work. We are not going to work.” I was firm, thinking of him with her and well I just stuck to my guns, no matter how painful it had been.
“What the fuck?! Is this about me leaving without saying goodbye? I had to go. Shit Evie, I tried getting a hold of you.” I could hear the angry pleading, but they always try to plead their case.
“No it’s not that. I am not looking to move away and I know that your work is in Chicago. So it will never work. I won’t be happy there and it will just end terribly. Let’s stop this before it goes any farther. Goodbye David.” I hung up as my heart broke.
The next week had been the roughest of my life. David had called me once the next day, and I told him it was never going to happen and just to leave me alone, so he did. Nothing here was good anymore. I loved the ranch. I thought I would live here forever because it was perfect, not now. Now it was nothing, but a haunted place to me. All I saw was David. I couldn’t even ride Star Fire anymore. I thought about all the times he went riding again with me in that week because it was something I loved to do.
“Baby, I am going to do what makes you happy. You like riding and despite the fact that my ass hurts in a way I never thought it would, I actually enjoy it.” I smiled as he rubbed his ass before climbing up on his horse. Damn, I couldn’t control the flood gates and I cried myself to sleep.
I had sat in my room on the verge of tears again for the sixth day in a row, when in walked Mom, Kara and Christine.
“Are you stupid, sitting here moping? You have a great guy who wants you.” Christine cried, I thought look who was calling the kettle black, she just settled things with Kara’s cousin Will.
“Some great guy, we passed him hugging some bitch in Dallas, while supposedly left on business.” I shouted out furious that no one understood my pain.
“Wow! You and Ryan are really related aren’t you? How about you talk to him and find out why he was giving some woman a hug.” Kara said shaking her head in disbelief.
“Why, he doesn’t even want me. He hasn’t called since the first day. He didn’t give up the whole time he was here. He goes back home and now I guess a country girl is nothing anymore to the city girls.” My past engulfed me and this was breaking me to pieces.
“You need to get over that bullshit. That loser cheated on you, big deal, it happens to lots of women and men. The man is in love with you. David called your father the other day to see how you were. Don’t be stupid like your brother! I can’t see you go through this too. All my kids, I don’t get it. Your father and I have given you the best example a loving couple and you all let things from your past dictate your future.” My mother said shaking her and hands in frustration. Wow, I guess I might want to get some answers.
I took a shower and got dressed, when I got my socks on my phone rang. Its Ryan’s number. I am sure he is calling to yell some sense into me too. I was starting to feel I was wrong about David and that I really fucked this up.
“Hey bro, how’s it going?” I said before he could respond.
“It’s Stacy. I just got off the phone with your mother and you are so wrong about my brother.” She was angry at me, then she softened again, “Please don’t pull a Ryan. If you really care for my brother you would be here working it out.”
“Everybody says that, but after the last time I spoke to him he just gave up.” I felt defeated and sad because he didn’t fight like I thought he would.