“I think so,” I said, shrugging. “She’s in Europe with her mother and grandmother right now. They’re touring.”
My sister was going to be over the moon when she realized that she’d have my full attention all summer. I usually came home, worked on the ranch, and then drove into Austin to be with Jessica.
Ava’s eyes lit up. “Really? I have you all to myself?”
I chuckled and nodded. “At least until August twenty-sixth.”
Ava screamed as she flew into my arms. The door flew open and I turned to see Jase there, smiling. He seemed to be finishing up a text. When he looked back up he had a shit-eating grin on his face.
“What’s up bro?” I asked, giving him a quick handshake.
“Where’s your hot girlfriend?”
Ava pushed past Jase and called out over her shoulder, “She’s touring Europe.”
Jase threw his head back and laughed, slapping me on the shoulder. “Damn, dude. Liza’s gonna be stoked.”
I looked at him, shocked. “What? Why?”
Jase smiled and said, “Cause the gang is back together.”
I nodded, “Oh yeah. Right.”
I looked up and finally noticed the giant sign. Congratulations Taylor and Walker.
“She’s gonna be pissed,” I whispered.
Jase looked at the sign and shrugged. “Dude, I told my mom not to use Taylor, to use Liza,” Jase said as he looked around for his mom. “Mom says they accidentally put Taylor and by the time she noticed, it was too late to fix it.”
Layton and my father both rounded the corner. My father’s smile lit up his face when he saw me. He held out his hand as I reached for it. “Dad,” I said with a smile. I reached my hand out for Layton’s. “Sir, how are you?” I asked with a nod. I’d known Layton forever, since he was Jase and Liza’s father, but I couldn’t help but call him “sir.”
Layton gave me a once-over. “Well, I’m glad to see you kept in shape, Walker. I’m going to put your ass to work starting tomorrow morning. There’s a fence that needs mending in the front pasture over by Mimi and Frank’s place.”
“Yes, sir. I’m ready to get to work.” I said.
My father gave me a look and motioned for me to join him outside. Before I turned to follow him through the house and out the back door, though, I said, “Layton, sir. Do you have a Sharpie I can use? The kind with the thick, bold tip?”
Layton nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got one.”
“Dad, one second while I fix something.”
Layton returned from his office with a fat Sharpie. I grabbed a chair and stood on it to reach the sign. I drew an X through Taylor and wrote Liza in huge letters. Everyone started laughing. I jumped down and handed the Sharpie back to Layton and followed my father through the kitchen and to the back porch.
“Where’s Mom?” I asked.
My father headed down the steps. “Courtney’s checking on Mimi and Frank. They’re getting older, but insist on living in that giant ranch house all alone.”
We walked down to the main barn in silence. The moment we stepped into the barn, I was thrown back to the night I’d kissed Liza. I shook my head and attempted to push the memory away.
“So Jessica’s on her way to Europe?” My father asked as he took a seat.
I let out a tired breath and sat across from him. “Yep. Well, they leave tomorrow.”
“Is she excited about moving out here?”
I shrugged. “She said she was. Her parents are pushing for us to get married though.”
My father nodded his head slowly. “How do you feel about that?”