Flashback to three years ago.

You and Cade. Unpredicted, but then again, so so wonderful. Yes, an age gap of almost 10 years, but pleasure like you’d never known. Conversation that healed both of you, even though the other hadn’t broken you in the first place. The memories, you two dancing in the kitchen, riding the horses together, drinking together, all of it. It was perfect.

Until it all became too much. You had letters flooding in from different universities and it overwhelmed you to the point that you were stressed constantly, and didn’t know how to navigate it. And to balance the fragile haven that was your relationship with Cade?

He said it for you both. “We’re better off as friends, Dove. We both know that. And that’s okay.”

End of flashback.

And now you’d come home. To the warmest bed you’d ever known, in autumn time, the early days of November. Rusty leaves litter the driveway to the large land that is the Eaton Ranch. The huge house sending shivers down your spine. Violet was away, somewhere in Europe, but had said that everyone wanted you home. Not mentioning a specific name, but overall.

So, clad in comfy but tight faded steel petrol coloured jeans, that sat low on your hips, a white baby tee that said something about ‘cowboys pillows’ and a brown puffer jacket and fluffy white scarf and of course, brown cowgirl boots, you walked up to the front door, up the familiar wooden steps.

The front porch, yours and Cade’s first kiss was here, when he’d convinced you to stay over instead of going to Violet and yours friend’s house. You raised a hand to knock on the door.

You waited a moment before the door opened. Rhett. Single and a bull-rider he pulled you inside. “Oh darlin’. Look at you.” He murmured into your hair. He held you a moment or two longer before welcoming you home. He grabbed your bags, and led you to the kitchen. You got the same greeting from Beau, and a fatherly welcome from Harvey.

Cade walked in, and his eyes met yours instantly.