Cherished (Wanted #4)(7)
Author: Kelly Elliott

I shook my head. “If she thinks I cheated, Ellie…she’s not going to forgive me. I know her, and the last time I walked away from her for Chelsea, it devastated her.”

I looked up when I saw the back door of the kitchen open. Gunner walked in with Jeff, and they both gave me that look. Everyone was feeling sorry for me, and I wasn’t helping anyone by sitting here and moping.

“Hey, dude. How are you doing?” Jeff asked as he reached out and shook my hand.

“I feel like someone keeps punching me in the gut.” I let out a small laugh.

“Ari made your favorite dessert—apple pie. She’s bringing it over tonight for dinner.” Jeff gave me a weak smile.

Everyone was going to come over to Gunner and Ells’s place for dinner to celebrate Gramps being okay. Even Josh, Heather, and the twins would be here. Everyone would be here.

Except for Jessie.

I smiled and tried to look as happy as I could even though I was slowly dying inside. I was supposed to head to Kentucky to look at a horse today, but I’d called and told them I would have to come in a few weeks. There was no way I was leaving and missing Jessie if she decided to come back early.

Gunner walked up to me. “You need to take a ride. Get some fresh air, Scott. You look like shit.”

“Gunner!” Ellie said as she punched him on the arm.

I threw my head back and laughed. “Leave it to you to keep it real, Gunner.” I stood up and smiled. “I think a ride is exactly what I need—open space to clear my thoughts. You need me to check on anything while I’m out?”

Gunner looked over toward Jeff.

“You know, the south pasture fence line hasn’t been checked on in a few days. Would you mind?” Jeff asked.

“Done!” I said as I hit Jeff on the back.

I made my way out and down to Gunner and Ellie’s barn. When I stepped inside, six horses all turned and looked at me, each pleading with me to pick them.

I smiled as I made my way to Rose. “Hey, beautiful. You ready to go for a run, girl? Just you and me…and the open sky.”

She started bobbing her head up and down, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

Once I had her saddled up and out of the barn, she was practically begging to run. We walked a little ways until I came to an open pasture. All it took was one squeeze of my legs, and she was off in a full run. The feel of her running under me with the wind in my hair was exactly what I needed.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d let Rose run, but she ended up stopping on her own. I jumped off and walked her up to the river to let her get a drink. I sat on the bank of the river while Rose patiently stood by and waited.

I fell back and looked up at the blue sky. I let out a scream, and I was pretty sure I sounded like a girl, but I didn’t care. I needed to get it out. It was either that or beat Bryce’s ass. I couldn’t even think of looking at Chelsea. I hated her more than ever now.

“Jessie, baby, please come home to me. I’m hurting so bad without you. I can hardly breathe with you being gone. I love you, baby. Please…”

I lay there for a few good minutes, just staring up at the blue sky, willing Jessie to come back to me. As I prayed for her to come back to me, I fought the sick feeling in my stomach that I hadn’t been able to shake for the last week.

I had the strangest feeling that I was losing her…and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.

I couldn’t pull my eyes from the sky. It was so blue and beautiful, and it just held my gaze. I closed my eyes, and then I quickly opened them. Every time I closed my eyes, I would either hear Scott or see his smile.

I felt something cold dripping on my stomach, and I sat up quickly. Trey was holding a beer over me, laughing.

“Damn you! That’s cold, you ass!” I said as I swatted at his leg.

He jumped and laughed. He sat down next to me and let out a long sigh. I glanced over and watched him take a drink of his beer. I smiled and shook my head. Trey and I had spent practically every waking moment together, touring the island. We had taken a hike yesterday, and I’d ended up throwing up twice. The guide had said that I was probably just not used to the salt air. I’d been feeling like the flu was coming on for the last two days.

Trey bumped my shoulder and smiled at me.

Shit! There goes that damn dizzy feeling in my stomach. I wasn’t even sure why Trey was having such an effect on me. I was clearly only interested in a friendship, but I was slowly starting to think that he was hoping for more from me. Last night, he’d leaned down to kiss me good-bye, but I’d turned away.

“You look amazing in that bathing suit. Have I told you that?” he asked with a wink.

I let out a giggle. “Yes. Yes, you have, Trey—about four times now.”

“Can’t blame a guy, Jessie. You’ve got two really good things going for you.”

I took a drink of my beer. “Oh yeah? What are they?”

“Well, for one, you’re from Texas. And the other one is that you have an amazing fucking body.”

I felt the blush move up my cheeks, and I actually had a moment of need between my legs. Oh god. Jessie, what’s wrong with you? Friends. Trey is only a friend.

I quickly turned away before he could read my eyes. I looked out toward the water. “Well, thank you so much for that compliment. So, what are the plans for this evening?”

He fell back onto his elbows, and when I glanced at him, our eyes met. His eyes were full of lust. At least to me, they looked like that. I slowly turned away again and downed my beer.

“Well, my love, I actually think you need some rest. We’ve been going and blowing way too much with all the hikes and tours, and it’s taking a toll on you.”

I nodded in agreement. “I think you’re right. I’m so tired, and honestly, I don’t feel very well. I thought lying out here in the sun would make me feel better, but it kind of makes it worse.”

Trey sat up and peeked over at me. “Maybe you should go in and take a nap. I’ll take care of all of this.”

Oh man, a nap sounds like heaven right about now. I’d been having such a hard time sleeping. I still couldn’t shake the feeling that I was making a mistake by staying away for so long, but I just brushed it off as wanting to see Scott.

“You know what? A nap sounds like a great idea. Will you make sure I’m up in time for dinner?” I asked with a wink.

Trey smiled as he stood up and held out his hand. “You better believe I will.”