Without You (Love Wanted in Texas #1)(23)

I instantly felt the heat move up into my head. “What?”

“Will, I don’t want to talk about it. Can we just go home? Please.”

I nodded my head. “Sure, Libby.”

As I shut the door and walked around my truck, I glanced back toward the house and saw Luke standing on the porch. I raised my hand.

He nodded as he stared into the truck. “Libby going home with you?”

“Uh…yeah. I thought you were going to bed?” I asked as I opened my door.

Luke started down toward the truck, and I had to admit, I tensed up, expecting him to throw another punch at me.

He walked up to me. Then, he looked around me and into the truck. “Y’all going to the river on Saturday night?”

I wasn’t sure if he was really asking both of us or just Libby.

Libby remained silent in the truck.

“Yeah. I mean, as far as I know, we’ll be there,” I said.

Luke nodded his head, never taking his eyes from Libby. “Night, Lib.”

She turned slightly and looked out the passenger side window. “Good night, Luke.”

Luke frowned and ran his hand through his hair as he looked at me. He gave me a weak smile. “Sorry for hitting you, bro.”

He stuck his hand out, and I shook it.

“I would have done the same thing, dude. No worries.”

“See ya in the morning,” Luke said before walking back to his house.

I jumped in and looked at Libby. It only took me a few seconds to realize my sister was crying.

I knew the reason why she was crying.

Luke.

I started the truck and began driving off. I looked over toward Luke and gripped my steeling wheel harder.

The next time my sister cries over him, I’m going to be the one throwing the first punch.





“Good morning, my handsome man.”

I walked into Banjo’s stall and gave him a handful of oats while he bobbed his head up and down. I ran my hand along his back, and my heart broke. I was going to miss him so much.

Banjo and I would go for a ride at least once a day. He was my everything—next to my parents, Colt, and Will.

“You want to go for a ride, big boy?”

“May I join you?”

I quickly turned to see my father leaning against the wall. I smiled and nodded my head. He winked at me and turned to saddle up a horse. I watched him as he got my saddle and his saddle. My father was so handsome, and Colt certainly inherited Daddy’s good looks. Colt and I both got our parents’ blue eyes and brown hair. Colt favored my father, and I favored my mother. I had to admit, when people told me I looked like my mother, it would make me feel good. To me, she was breathtaking, a natural beauty. My parents made such a cute couple.

“Alex, why are you staring at me with a goofy grin?”

I laughed and began to bring Banjo out of his stall. “I was thinking about how you and Mama make a cute couple with your handsome good looks and Mama’s natural beauty.”

My father grinned and then tilted his head. “What do you want?”

I hit him on the arm and said, “Nothing, Daddy. I was just thinking about how happy you both are. I want that, too. I want it with Will.”

His smile faded a bit, and he turned and grabbed his saddle. He began getting his horse ready. Neither one of us said anything as we saddled up the horses, got on them, and headed out.

I couldn’t take the silence anymore. “Daddy, why don’t you like Will?”

He snapped his head over and looked at me. “What? I love Will like a son. I just don’t like the idea of him dating my daughter.”

“I would think you’d like it better than some strange guy I might meet at UT. Will loves me, Daddy, and he treats me so good, like how you treat Mom.”

Daddy smiled and nodded his head. “I don’t doubt that, sweetheart.” He let out a sigh. “Alex, it’s just that the two of you only know each other and your close circle of friends. You’ve always been a part of the ranch and Mason. I want you both to have the chance to explore other things, other ideas. I know you say you want to come back and live on the ranch with Will, but you haven’t even begun to experience life outside of Mason, Alex.”

I looked down and frowned. “Daddy, why is it so hard for you to believe that I want to have a life like you and Mom? I love the ranch just as much as you, Mom, Colt, Will, and Luke. It just seems unfair.”

He nodded his head and looked ahead. “Alex, you’re going to college, and things will be so different. I know you love the ranch, sweetheart. I just want you to keep an open mind. You might go to Austin and decide that you love Austin. I want you to be happy, Alex. I never want you to settle. I want you to have every opportunity possible, and I don’t want this relationship with Will to cloud any of that.”

I bit down on my lower lip. We stayed silent as our horses walked along for a bit more.

“Daddy, I love Will. I can’t see my future without him.”

“Alex, I’m not doubting your love for him. Just know that it is possible that you will meet someone else in college who will—”

I looked at him. “Who will what?”

He stopped his horse, and I brought Banjo to a stop.

“Who will make you doubt your feelings for Will.”