Take Me Instead

Coming Home pt. 2

A/N: I have no words to even begin to describe how much I appreciate all of you. These past months did not go at all how I thought it would, from taking multiple GRE's that led to rejection from Grad school, followed by two unexpected funerals. It was touching that so many reached out to me with encouraging and thoughtful messages. I am so incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to write for you, and I hope that I can continue producing content that you enjoy! Thank you for your everlasting patience and faith in me!

Chapter 12: Coming Home pt. 2

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If you knew anything about old farm trucks, it's that even when you try to be quiet, it won't matter because there's no possible way for it to be silent with all the rattling and squeaking.

Sure, Toby was pleasant enough as I hopped into the cab, tipped his black hat just like his daddy surely taught him to, and mumbled something of a 'hello.' But as soon as the truck creaked forward down the driveway, the air became so thick it felt impossible to breathe.

I stared out the passenger window until we were well off the property, my stomach churning at the thought of looking him in the eye after how I treated him before. The soft sound of static mixed with what sounded like Alan Jackson played at a hushed volume from the dash as we both hesitated, unsure of who should speak first.

"Where are we going?" I finally asked.

"Johnny is having a fire tonight," Toby revealed without skipping a beat. "I know it's not a bar, but—"

"It's perfect," I grinned and peeled my eyes away from the dusty glass. My gaze inched across the seat between us until it landed on his lap. I bit the inside of my lip and finally turned just enough to catch a glimpse at him.

A thick, denim jacket layered a red-checkered flannel that hugged tightly onto his torso, his collarbone peeking out from the undone buttons at the top. His jeans were too clean compared to his standard dusty pair. Surely he had washed them just to go out tonight; for me.

"Well, I wasn't sure if you wanted to see other people tonight or..." He trailed off, his eyes fixated through the windshield.

I sighed and tried to relax as best as I could. "I'm well overdue for some social interaction. For how many people there are on that damn ranch it's too easy to get lonely."

His eyebrows furrowed with concern, but he didn't look at me just yet. "You know, if you were lonely, all you had to do was call."

It was my turn to knit my brows in confusion. I was almost certain that he didn't want anything to do with me ever again after the level of insanity I displayed that evening. Yet here he was, practically scolding me for not calling him.

"I...I was embarrassed," I confessed to the dashboard.

The truck made a loud rumble as he turned onto a dirt road, lit only with the yellow headlights in front of us. "What for?"

I worked up the courage to get a better look at him, caught off guard by his bluntness. "What do you mean?"

His eyes narrowed for a moment as he tried to decipher my confusion. "What were you embarrassed about, Mare?"

Flabbergasted, it took me a moment to collect the insanity in my head and string it together in a phrase that resembled something of an answer. "I don't know...the way I acted, what I said, I—"

"Marley," he interrupted, just as the truck came to a squeaking halt in the field. He set it in park and finally gazed across the cab at me. "You were hurting. You don't think I knew that?"