Page 41 of Drive Me Crazy

"That's our barn." Once again, my pulse races, but for entirely different reasons. I huddle closer to the window; I spot the old oak tree on the other side of the field.

I lay my hand on my chest as I gasp. "No way. It's not possible he remembered all of this or am I reading too much into all of this. Surely there's an explanation."

The longer I stare at the tree, I envision us playing around it. The swing is still there, as is the house we built in it. Landon, Ridge, and I spent tireless days and a few nights playing with this tree.

Until Ridge and I figured out we weren't related, and I wasn't a cool guy with long hair. We were sixteen and bullace wine was in abundance around these parts.

"The sight of a barn and an old tree swing has me floating in memories of Ridge. It didn't even take a half bottle of wine to get me in his arms this time either. Why in the hell didn't we just say how we felt, instead of letting it get away?" I shake my head free of the thoughts of Ridge.

Turning back to my clothes, I know this is not the time for us. "There may never be one either, at least, not right now."

After a long hot shower, I ready myself for One and the private investigator. I have a million questions; I can't decide where to start. Maybe they'll have more information and some of my questions will answer themselves.

I meander down the stairs, making my way toward the kitchen. I have a ferocious hunger growing; I hope there's food in here. I round the corner to find Emerson.

"Mornin,' I wasn't sure you were up." She smiles, pouring a glass of orange juice.

I point to the cabinets. "Glass?"

"Here ya go, I was about to ask, anyway." She slides the glass toward me, turning to get another out.

"Thank you, but you know you don't have to wait on me hand and foot, right?"

She sits her glass down after sipping it. "I do but I don't mind and it's not forever."

"Scout called." I pull the fridge door open, scanning the contents. "There's so much food in here! Who were you buying all of this for?"

"I don't have a clue, he's weird." She half shrugs.

My eyes dart to hers. "Ridge did this?"

"Wait, have you not looked in the closet yet?" She glances at my old clothes that I've had packed for five years. "That's a hard no. He bought clothes for you; said he wasn't sure if you left with any."

I gape at her. "He did what? Why? I mean, I appreciate it because I obviously didn't think this through but... wow."

"Yeah, he had a little help, but Ridge did all of this, even cleaned the bathrooms himself." She raises her brows, leaving me gaping. A man that cleans. Is that even real?

"I'm going to grab a banana and go back upstairs to find a fresh set of clothes before One gets here. I can't hardly wait to comb my hair again without it hurting like I'm ripping it out." I snatch the yellow fruit from the counter and take my glass back to my room.

Sure enough, I'm standing in the middle of a walk-in big enough to be a bedroom and it’s half filled with clothes, even the chest has underwear.

I settle on a pair of black leggings and a hoodie. I figure if he's going to leave his clothes in here too, they're fair game. I drag the Wolf covered red cloth over my head and fashion a messy bun.

"This is as good as it's gonna get for a while." I stare at my blue, black, purple, and green face in the mirror. I swear, it never hurts this bad in the heat of the moment. I relive every blow and each thump but never imagine it being this bad.

"Says the woman who's changed her job a million times because I couldn't work with a busted-up face and a ragged life." I turn to the door when there's a tap on it.

Emerson tilts her head, smirking. "Like the hoodie and One's here."

"Thank you." I curtsey. "You don't think I clash?"

She frowns. "Clash, how so?"

"My body says Wolfpack, but my face says Pirates." I attempt to cock my hip, but my body has other plans and protests. "Ugh, okay. No more playing, I'll be good."

"Oh, gosh no! That looked painful." Emerson covers her mouth with a gasp.

I hold my hand up, needing to catch my breath. "I'm good, let's get this over with and find a vat of ice cream with a wonderful movie we can drink to."