Chapter 3

SASHA

“Why don’t you go to Carl’s farm instead? You’ll definitely enjoy it Sash. I heard he’s spending the whole summer there.” Cassie’s voice came through the phone cheerfully. She was thousands of miles away, enjoying her honeymoon with Jake. I was so happy for them.

“I can’t, Cass. I’ll be busy,”

“Seriously? Summer break is meant to be enjoyed, Sash. You can go back to that job after—Oh, is everything okay? You didn’t have a misunderstanding again, did you?” she asked, her voice shifting from cheerful to concerned in an instant.

I bristled at her assumption, the frustration bubbling up inside me threatening to spill over. “No, Cassie, it’s not just a misunderstanding,” I snapped, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “It’s... it’s not easy. I want to do something with them, but I can’t intrude in their lives. We’re back to being friends.”

There was a tense silence on the other end of the line. “Friends can still spend time together, you know,” she offered gently, her voice a soothing balm to my troubled heart. “If you ask them, they’ll make time for you.”

“They’ll be very busy,” I countered.

“They won’t be busy if it’s for you, with you, you know that.”

I shook my head as if she could see me. “The thought of imposing on their lives seems inappropriate. I feel shy about it.”

“But if they’re your true friends, they’ll understand,” she persisted. “Sometimes, you just have to take courage and reach out to them. Don’t hesitate. You are important to them, Sasha. Don’t forget that.” She sighed. “If you are back to being friends—just friends—then reconnect with them, no matter how daunting it seems.”

“Okay,” I whispered, making up my mind. She was right. “I do want to go back to Carl’s place. The farm was beautiful.”

“I’m glad you’ve decided. I’ll visit there soon. Jake will be interested in horses.” She giggled.

It was around noon when I finished cleaning my apartment. I knew that Carl would be leaving for his hometown at five. A pang of sadness tugged at my heart. I would love to go with him. I missed that place, too. Memories flooded my mind—the river, the horses, the field, the scent of the fresh mountain air, tinged with the fragrance of wildflowers. It was a stark contrast to the city. His place felt like a tranquil oasis where time seemed to slow down, and worries melted away.

A call startled me. It was Caleb. I frowned, picking up the call.

“Hi,” his voice came through the phone.

“Did you eat?”

I looked at the ceiling, contemplating whether to answer him honestly.

“Don’t lie,” he warned, and I almost giggled.

“Not yet,” I bit my lip when I heard his harsh breathing. He didn’t like it.

“I heard you might be thinking about joining Carl at the farm.”

My eyes widened. Cassie! Did she tell him? Cassie. Cassie!

“Yeah, I was considering it,” I admitted, feeling a rush of nervousness.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before he spoke again. “That’s good.

I furrowed my brow, puzzled by his response. “What do you mean, ‘that’s good’?” I pressed, curiosity getting the better of me.

He chuckled softly. “Carl will take care of you,”

“Take care of me? That sounds not right. I haven’t actually decided yet. Should I be worried?” I joked, teasing him back.

He laughed, the sound echoing through the phone. “Only if you’re afraid of getting roped into some farm chores,” he quipped, the laughter in his voice infectious.

“Well, as long as Carl doesn’t put me to work manuring out the stables, I think I’ll survive,” I replied, amused. I hoped Carl wouldn’t do that. I could do other chores, but not that one.

“You should go,” he then said, his tone turning serious. “Carl will be very busy. His father’s at the hospital. He suffered from a stroke.”

“Stroke,” I exclaimed, worried. “I had no idea. Is he okay?”

“He’s stable, but it’s been tough on him.”

My mind was already made up. I would go with him.

As I hung up the call, I felt frustrated. Why hadn’t Carl told me about his father’s condition? Did he think I wouldn’t care? Or worse, did he not want me to know? Sometimes men can be so difficult.

I hastily packed a few essentials into a bag as I dialed Carl’s number. It was ringing.

I dialed again. He didn’t pick up.

And as the phone continued to ring unanswered, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. Had he left already? Why wasn’t he answering? Or was he deliberately avoiding my calls?

The nagging sense of unease gnawed at the edges of my mind. Perhaps, the phone was in his bag.

My intercom sounded, and I rushed to answer the door, my fingers still frantically dialing Carl’s number. As I swung open the door, my heart leaped with relief and surprise—it was Carl standing there, some plastics in his hands, and his traveling bag.

“Carl,” I exclaimed, a rush of emotions flooding me as I swung the door open. “I’ve been trying to reach you. Why haven’t you been answering your phone?”

“Oh, hey Sasha,” he greeted cheerfully, balancing a stack of takeout containers in his arms. “Sorry about that. My hands are full,” he said with a grin.

My frustration simmered. “Preoccupied with what, exactly?”

Carl chuckled. “Trying to balance a million things at once,” he replied vaguely, dodging the question and walking inside. He placed them on the table.

I narrowed my eyes. “And what about your father?” I pressed.

His smile faltered. “I don’t want you to worry, so I didn’t bring it up. You have your life to deal with.”

“How can you say that? Uncle Alberto isn’t some kind of stranger to me, Carl. He’s your father.”

“I’m sorry, okay?” Carl replied, his tone weary as he took a seat, running a hand over his tired face. “Everything’s just so chaotic lately. He had a stroke two days ago. Aunt Beth is looking after him. The doctor said he’ll be fine.”

My heart clenched at the look on his face. I could almost see the bags under his eyes. Without a second thought, I crossed the distance between us and wrapped him in a tight hug.

He leaned into me, his face buried against my stomach, but his hands remained unmoving. Gently, I ran my hand over his head, and brushed his dark hair, offering comfort. “I’m sorry, Carl. I hope everything will be fine. Know that I’m here for you.”

He let out a heavy sigh, the tension in his body slowly beginning to ease as he leaned into my touch. “You’re here, but I can’t bring you there."Although his words were muffled against my shirt, it was clear enough to reach my ears. “I want to fully understand that phrase, Pumpkin.”

“I’ll come with you. I want to see Uncle Alberto, also.”

He looked up, surprised. “Are you really sure?” he asked, his eyes seeming to brighten, and murmured something I couldn't catch.

“Absolutely,” I replied with a smile, pinching his ear gently.

His hand flew up to his ear as if in pain. “Ouch! That hurts!” he exclaimed dramatically, but his grin widened, and his eyes glinted with amusement.

“It’s an over-the-top reaction, Carl.” I laughed, feeling lightheartedness to see him smile. “I was just making sure you’re paying attention.”

The drive to his hometown took four hours. Despite the distance, the journey felt surprisingly short, the hours slipping away in a blur.

“You okay?” Carl asked as he opened the door. The sky outside was already painted with the hues of twilight, the fading light was beautiful across the landscape.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just tired from the journey.”

“I hear you,” he replied with a sympathetic smile. “It’s been a long day.” He stretched his limbs as he glanced around at the familiar surroundings of his place.

I followed suit, stepping out of the car and stretching my arms above my head, trying to shake off the stiffness of the journey. My ass seriously needed some massage. My back, also.

“Let me show you to your room,” he suggested, looking at me.

I gratefully nodded. After that long drive, the bed would be the most tempting thing to have. As we made our way inside, I couldn’t help but notice Carl’s proximity, his arm brushing against mine as he led the way.

But as quickly as the moment had come, it passed.

“I’ll call you when dinner’s ready. You should rest.”

“Aren’t you going to rest?” I asked, knowing that the long drive must have exhausted him, too.

He set my luggage down. “I have to make a call first. I’ll rest later,”

With a sigh, I entered the room, closing softly behind me. The bed looked very comfortable. Just a thirty-minute nap would be fine.

CARL

A sigh of relief escaped me as I hung up the phone. My father’s condition had stabilized, and he’d be released in just two days’ time. If it were solely up to me, I would have rushed straight to the hospital, but Sasha came with me. She needed some rest before our visit. My aunt was there, which made me more at ease.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips. It was Caleb’s call earlier in the afternoon that set everything in motion. When he told me that Sasha was coming with me, I was on my feet. I never moved so fast.

He had told me to grab some food, knowing Sasha probably hadn’t eaten lunch. He hated it when she skipped meals. I was so pumped to get to her place that I totally missed her calls. But man, I was stoked about her coming along with me.

I knocked on the door, but she didn’t answer. Opening the door slightly, I could see her silhouette, sprawled out on the bed, fast asleep. Carefully, I pushed the door open a bit further, not wanting to startle her awake. Stepping into the room, I hovered over her bedside, watching her for a moment longer. She looked so peaceful, her chest rising and falling rhythmically with each breath.

I still couldn’t believe she was here. I knew I planned to stay away from her, that was why I didn’t tell her about my father’s condition, because I knew that if she learned about it, she’d find a way to visit him, and that would mean seeing her this close. Damned, my plan didn’t work. Caleb was to blame. But I couldn’t blame him. I wanted this.

With a gentle touch, I brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face. She stirred slightly at the contact but didn’t wake, her breathing remaining steady and even. My eyes lingered on her face, then traced the delicate curve of her neck down to the hint of cleavage peeking out from her neckline.

I felt a sudden heat ignite in my core as I watched her, my pulse erratic in my veins. The sight of her stirred something deep within me. With each rise and fall of her chest, my gaze was drawn inevitably to the soft curve of her neck and the gentle swell of her cleavage. The temptation to reach out and trace her skin was overwhelming, my fingers itching to touch her sleeping form.

I wonder how she would react if I kissed her; if I touched her.

But even with this desire coursing through my veins, I had to resist. I had to control myself. I shouldn’t scare her away like I did when I confessed to her. I had to take things slow.

So with a sigh, I tore my gaze away from her, forcing myself to retreat from the room before I did something I would regret.