Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Brock: Wait. What? I’m outta the loop…as always.
Tripp: Thought you were already married.
Now we’re making it more about us.
Griffin: He just asked Anya to plan the whole thing. Congrats, dude.
Paxton: Any excuse to drink is good enough for me. But seriously, congrats.
Tripp: I’m so happy you’ve come to your senses and fallen in love.
We’re having a wedding, a real one. Don’t tell Violet, I want it to be a surprise.
Paxton: Chicks dig surprises. This one time I went out and bought this bed bondage system for Hartford. She fucking loved it.
I don’t even know what any of those words mean.
Shep: Bed bondage what?
Brock: You and Hart get into some kinky shit. It’s actually nice because Hartford’s given Willow tons of ideas.
Griffin: Anya too.
Paxton: Ha ha. Don’t knock it until you try it. Maybe for your wedding present, Cal, I’ll gift you a bed bondage set. I think Violet would love it.
Shep: Hey I didn’t get any wedding presents from anyone.
Tripp: It’s because you and Felicity eloped in Vegas. Sorry, dude.
Paxton: I’ll get you and Felicity one too. Bed Bondage Systems all around boys. Griffin, sorry bro, can’t get behind getting you one to use on our sister.
Brock: Gross. Yeah, Griff, you guys need to just not have sex at all.
Disgusting. Can we not talk about Griff and Anya’s sex life? Please?
Griffin: Don’t worry boys, Anya and I have a subscription to a sex box.
Paxton: A WHAT? They have those?
Griffin: Yep. Here’s the link sexsexandmoresex.sex
Shep: Cal, I’m happy for you. Seriously. You and Violet both deserve this.
Griffin: I could tell you two were meant for each other when we went camping.
Brock: Happy for you too, Cal. Whatever you need.
Tripp: Same. Congrats, big brother. Violet is amazing.
Shep: Happy to have her as a sister-in-law.
Thank you everyone. Where’s Paxton? He’s gone quiet.
Griffin: I’m sure he’s shopping sex subscription boxes.
Paxton: 100% They have so many cool things on this site. Thanks, Griff. When’s the wedding?
Next weekend. Don’t tell Violet. Tripp, make sure Millie knows not to tell Violet.
Tripp: I’ve already told her, and she’s super excited. Whoever knew you’d be such a romantic, Cal. I’m proud.
Chapter 29
Violet
Something is off. Something is wrong.
I roll over, staring at the empty space where Callum is supposed to be. My hand instinctively reaches out, only to feel the cold, deserted sheets. A sinking feeling churns in my stomach. This is the fifth night of not seeing him. Five long, lonely nights. He’s gone by the time I’m in the barn, and he doesn’t come home until I’m already asleep. We haven’t even passed each other in the hallway, let alone had an actual conversation.
I flop onto my back, staring up at the ceiling, trying to make sense of the distance that’s suddenly wedged itself between us. We haven’t had sex since that day in his office. The day we told each other “I love you.”
That moment was everything. It felt real, so pure, like time had stopped and all that mattered were those three words hanging in the air between us. I saw the truth in his eyes, felt it in his touch. But now... now, it feels like maybe I was wrong. Maybe it scared him off. Because ever since then, it’s been like living with a ghost. It’s been radio silence, no laughter, no stolen glances…nothing.
I’ve even texted him, desperate for any kind of connection, but all I get are one-word replies. Each one chips away at the confidence I had in us, in what we were building.
Maybe what I was feeling was one-sided. Maybe when he told me he loved me, he did it out of some misplaced obligation. A heat rises in my chest as doubt and insecurity twist together, making it hard to breathe. Maybe he’s been avoiding me because he can’t face me. Maybe he wants out of this marriage but doesn’t know how to say it.
Maybe.
Maybe.
Maybe.
Ugh, it’s killing me not knowing.
The thought makes my heart ache, and I press the heels of my hands against my eyes, trying to stop the tears before they fall. What if he’s changed his mind? What if he doesn’t love me the way I thought he did?
I can’t shake the feeling that the love we shared in that perfect moment has now become a weight pulling us apart, and I have no idea how to fix it—or if it’s even something that can be fixed.
“Cowgirls don’t cry.” My father’s voice echoes in my head, the familiar words I’ve heard a thousand times, but right now, it feels like a cruel joke.
I look out the window in my bedroom over the ranch, the place I’ve fought so hard to keep, the place I was willing to marry a man for, and I feel my chest tighten.
“Is this what you wanted, Dad?” My voice cracks, and I feel the weight of his absence like a stone in my chest. “You forced me to marry so I could keep this ranch, and just when I think maybe your crazy idea wasn’t so crazy after all, I feel like I’m losing him.” I choke on the words, my throat burning with unshed tears. “Was that the plan? Since you were gone, you decided to test me on every emotional level, push me to my limit?”