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The rushing water of the Frio River wasn’t enough to drown out the sound of Paxton’s tears They replayed inwould ever be able to erase them

Lifting the beer todrink My brother Cord sat next to me He was the only one who knew the terrible secret that would haunt me forever

“She hates me,” I mumbled

“Right now she does She won’t always”

I finished the bottle and set it next to raduation and one of the worst days of my life

“I left her She told nant, and I freaked out and left her The only thing I could think of was how our lives would be ruined”

“You came back, Steed”

Letting out a gruff laugh, I shookmy hands down my face

“I caet the look in her eyes when she told h of relief I’ve never seen her so gutted” My head dropped, and I felt the tears build in ain”

Peering up, I turned to my brother “What do I do, Cord? I love her ht of me”

He shook his head then shrugged “Give her time That’s all you can do”

My heart told me to run after her To pull her into ive me

If only I’d listened to my heart and not my head

Ten years later

I pulled up to the gate and grinned Ten years ago, I left Texas after graduation and on I hadn’t seen home since

With a quick peek up, I passed under the driveway sign that led to my father’s cattle ranch

“Is this it, Daddy?”

Glancing down to the beautiful blonde hair and blue-eyed girl in the front seat, I nodded “This is it, pumpkin”

Her ser “I can’t wait to see everyone! Do you think they’ll be excited to see me?”

My chest tightened “Of course they will, Chloe They’re family”

Chloe frowned “Mommy was never happy to see me”

That’s because yourbitch

I’d met Kim, Chloe’s mother and the first woman I’d dated since Paxton, towards the end of e