Page 24 of Sweet Madness

Still, I owe him, and it kills me that I do. One day I won’t, and that day can’t come fast enough.

I ignore the call and return the phone to my pocket.

Shortly after, another buzzing sound— a text message, no doubt another threat to my life from my former boss. Still, I choose to ignore it.

Peppermint blows his nose as thoughts of the lovely girl with indigo eyes take over my traitorous brain.

Looking over my shoulder back at the ranch house, I think about how she hasn’t left her room all day, not even when I knocked at her door for lunch.

Has she eaten? I wonder.

Have my cruel words caused damage? I think back to what I said to her and how her pretty smile had fallen from her face the moment my mocking words hit their mark.

Fuck.

Then, suddenly, every image of Ellaiza Kenton smiling back at me with stars in her eyes flashes through my mind, hitting me all at once. Once again, I find myself struggling to breathe. What the hell is wrong with me?

More images hit me.

Ella at the clothing store, dressed from head to toe in pink with cowboy boots and a smile on her face.

Ella munching on pink macaroons and chocolate cupcakes.

Flowers.

The color pink.

Happiness.

Her.

So kind and pure, even when I hurt her with my careless attitude and angry words. Not once did she lose control, hurled insults my way, or acted like a royal brat.

Shit.

I messed up.

Her sad smile haunted me until I can’t fucking take it anymore.

Then an idea pops into my head—a pretty fucking stupid one.

“See you later, boy.” I scratch Peppermint’s mane. He grunts, as if asking where I’m headed. I must be losing my mind. I’m talking to a fucking horse. Yet, I answer him anyway because something about Peppermint has always soothed my soul. “I’m going to make a fool out of myself just to make the sweet heiress smile again. Wish me fucking luck.” With that, I head out of the stables and make my way into town.

And all the way there, all I can think about is young Ella sharing her favorite treat with me and offering me her friendship. “We friends now, Shaw Bear.”

My words and attitude hurt the girl—the girl who is no longer so little but has the same big heart.

Dammit.

The first stop I make instantly makes me regret leaving the ranch as soon as I step inside the tiny, colorful store. Billy’s Blooms. A place filled with cheerful voices, loud country music, and a hippie-looking girl who loves poking her pointy nose into my business whenever she catches me around town.

I’d rather not go inside—her cheerfulness can be too much to handle. But it’s the only one in town, so I guess I have to suck it up and get out of here as quickly as possible without hurting another girl’s feelings with my sour mood and shitty attitude.

“No way. Are my eyes seeing what they think they are?”

Yeah, I’m regretting this already.

“Billy,” I greet.