Come Home

Chapter 53

"I went out riding, not that it's any of your business," she said as she slid off Zero once Justin reached her side. "Last I checked, I was my own boss, Jackson."

"We were just worried," Sean tried to explain, "we haven't seen you all day."

"Have you eaten?" North asked as he tried to control his emotions.

"Yes Dad," she rolled her eyes while replying sarcastically. "You know I do know how to take care of myself and my pony, regardless of what you think I am a grown ass woman."

"Then maybe you should start acting like it," Jackson glared at her. "Responsible adults don't just take off with no notice."

"They are if they are single and alone," she glared right back at him before walking past him with Zero following.

"Fuck," Jackson said exasperatingly as he clenched his fist then released it.

"Just give her some time," Jasper said as he wrapped his arm around his waist. "She's battling herself right now."

"Well, she should just fucking stop already," Gabe grumbled as he watched her open the barn then enter. A few minutes later she emerged heading toward the house.

They looked at one another then headed back inside. North internally sighed in relief when he heard her in the kitchen. He tilted his head to let them know before heading to the living room to give her some space even though that was the last thing he wanted to do.

Taking her sandwich, she headed to her office and powered on her laptop. She left the door cracked because she knew that they would find some sort of excuse to check on her if she didn't so when she wanted to lock the door, she knew she had to pick her battles wisely.

Rolling her eyes, she popped a chip into her mouth when she heard someone walking toward her office, so she was chewing when Marc walked in with a notepad in his hand. "Making a grocery list before I head to the store, any requests, Beautiful?"

She swallowed and shook her head, "no, I'm fine," she replied while answering an email. "Sure, whatever you and Jackson get will be fine."

"Alright," he nodded, "well if you think of anything just send us a text and we'll get it."

She nodded while she kept working, making it clear that she was done talking. He smirked and shook his head before leaving. A few hours later she shut her laptop and stretched while standing. A smile formed as an idea formed in her head. Heading up to her room, she changed, applied some light makeup then grabbed her keys before descending the stairs.

"Going somewhere?" a deep voice asked, making her freeze for a second before she snapped out of it.

"Actually yes," she smiled as she grabbed her jean jacket off the coat hanger and slipped it over her spaghetti strap white shirt and dark blue jeans paired with her cowboy boots. "It's Friday night so I'm going out to have some fun. Make sure everyone is rounded up and in bed before you crash. Zero is already tucked in nice and comfy and so is his best friend Tim. Bye Boys."

She walked out the door making Silas turn away from the door and back to the group in the living room. "Well," Gabe sighed as he slapped his knees before standing, "guess we're going out tonight. I'll go get everyone's outfits ready."

"And where are we going?" Jasper asked.

"The only place to go on a Friday night," Luke shrugged. "Spurs."

An hour later the group walked into the bar and looked around. "There she is," Luke nodded as he spotted her dancing on the floor with another girl.

"Fuck," multiple men mumbled as they headed toward the back of the bar to find somewhere to sit.