Page 3 of Seeking Her Studs

“The key was literally just resting on the wheels,” she stands up and crosses her arms.

I take a deep breath and try to remind myself of the advice give by a school counselor who is much wiser than I. Be patient and try to understand.

“And what made you want to break into an old rusty trailer that isn’t ours?” I say, mustering all the patience I can.

“It’s been on our property for as long as I can remember. I think there’s some law that makes it ours.” She rolls her eyes.

Before I can explain that’s not how it works, she takes a deep sigh. “I need my own space. There’s too much male energy in our house.”

“Male energy?” I raise an eyebrow at her.

“There’s so much green and brown in that house that I’m not sure you don’t know that it’s not a forest.”

“Forests are relaxing.” I shrug.

“Not for me.” She peaks over her shoulder back into the trailer. “And you know these things are expensive, right? Airstreams go for a pretty penny. Why is it just rotting here?”

“For that, you’d have to ask Blaire Evans. And good luck with that.”

I shut the door behind her and head back to the ranch.

Kaylee’s feet skip as she hurries to catch up with me.

“You’re telling me that Blaire Evans, America’s sweetheart, a woman who is probably richer than the President of the United States, won’t hand over a measly little trailer?”

I pick up a stick and throw it for Sunny, who races ahead in a fuzzy golden streak.

“It’s complicated.” I shrug.

Kaylee sighs in exasperation. “That answer doesn’t cut it anymore. I’m an adult. I can handle complicated.”

Even though she’s technically wrong, as her eighteenth birthday is not even in sight. She’s right that we should talk more openly with her about things. She can handle it.

Well, some things. Most things to do with our relationship with Blaire Evans will never be appropriate to talk about with her. So I tell her about what I can.

“You remember Suzie?” I glance sideways at her. She’s fidgeting with her long blonde hair as she looks at me eagerly.

“Mom and Dad’s assistant who worked here when I was younger?”

I nod.

“That’s Blaire’s grandma. She would use the Airstream in the winter to sing at bars and clubs and then park it here during the summer. When she passed, she left it to Blaire, who hasn’t been bothered to do a thing about it.”

I don’t mention that the last time we saw Blaire, things were… complicated. So none of us are eager to reach out to her.

“Wow, I always saw Blaire around the ranch, but I didn’t know Suzie was her grandma.” She kicks at a rock on the ground. Her head whips up, eyes full of excitement. “I remember her being really nice. Why don’t you just call her?”

Oh yeah. She’s really nice until she’s stomping all over us with those designer heels.

“Well, we won’t need to soon. Suzie put a stipulation in that Blaire had to collect it before five years were up. She left an envelope for Blaire and everything. Not sure what’s in it, but I guess Blaire can’t be bothered to retrieve any of it.” I look up over our land’s large expanse, which breaks open by the jagged mountain range right at the edge of our property. I didn’t get a ride through the mountains today and my body feels jumpy, like it didn’t do its duty for the day.

My eyes don’t dare meet Kaylee’s, who I imagine is suspecting I’m withholding from her. Why didn’t anyone warn us that teen girls come with superpowers? Her observation skills are terrifying.

I glance back at the silver camper again. I’d be so glad to finally get rid of the thing and all it represents. I think of how gracious my parents were to everyone and that they let Suzie keep the camper here without hesitation. I think about Blaire and how much fighting she caused between me and my brothers. And I think about how our life seems to have been on pause for the last five years, as we’ve tried to come to terms with everything, but the vines around that camper kept growing.

And how Kaylee matters more than all that.

“I’ll tell you what,” I finally bring my eyes to hers. “If she doesn’t come back for it, then it’s yours. But don’t get too excited. She still has another month or two.”