There was also a lingering scent of her perfume that had always made my nose tingle with an incoming sneeze. It was now gone thanks to a diffuser of miracle-working essential oils. I hired an interior designer that Marc knew, and she helped me make my house feel more like a home. Before Vanessa, I filled the space with everything needed for a bachelor pad. Lots of leather and metal. But the new space reminded me of Aspen’s and Rory’s homes. A little mix of mid-century and a bit eclectic. Sure, it probably came off a bit feminine, but it felt like being back in Ashfield.

Beside me, my phone buzzed, and I glanced over to find Aspen calling. We’d made it a routine to speak every night, even when she was exhausted or I was in the middle of training. We both made the time. That had been our agreement.

Pressing the Answer button, I saw her face pop up on the screen. She was on a video chat, so I immediately turned on my camera.

“Hey, cricket.”

“Hey,” she said warmly. Aspen was outside, somewhere among trees. Her backdrop was filled with yellows, greens, and oranges. The fall in Ashfield was one of those things I missed most when I moved away.

“Where are you?” I asked. I couldn’t quite determine the location, but I knew it was somewhere high in the mountains. She panned out the camera and flipped it around. Aspen sat on a rock ledge overlooking the town. It reminded me of those postcards people pick up of picturesque getaways.

“Wow, that’s a view,” I said when she turned the camera and herself so that it showed both her and the view over the ledge.

“It’s my favorite spot. I come here when I need a breathe, you know?”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah. Not much is happening on the farm today. Mr. Frener is moving his cattle onto the new fields. Andrew is overlooking it.”

“Ah, so you get some time away. That’s good, cricket.”

“Andrew has been helping out more, and we’re looking at hiring some people. I’m just not sure how I feel about it.”

We’d spoken on this a few times since I left. Aspen didn’t think it was right for someone else to run the family farm. I kept trying to convince her she could still oversee Sunny Brook Farms but could hire others to manage the property.

“I know. But I don’t think it’ll hurt to hear him out.”

Off in the distance, I heard a popping sound, and Aspen held up a soda into view as she took a sip.

“What did you get into this morning?” Sometimes I forgot we had a two-hour time difference. It was midafternoon where she was and early lunchtime here.

“I had a call with my agent and Vanessa’s.”

“Oh, really? What about?” Aspen asked eagerly.

“She has agreed to stay away from me and all Coyotes players. Essentially, the general manager enacted a client restraining order of sorts. We wouldn’t use her agency for any models, whether for promotions, advertising, or things like that, so long as she was linked with one of the players.”

“Is that even legal?”

“No idea, but it worked. Last I heard, Venture Models was only keeping her on, because she tends to land exclusive runway shows and editorials.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re rid of her.”

Chuckling, I replied, “I’m sure you are.”

“What happened between her and her best friend?”

“Not sure. I don’t really care, to be honest. Her agent let it slip that she was looking for apartments in New York, so hopefully we’ll never run into her here.”

“We?”

“Well, I was kind of hoping I could get you out to a game or two once your dad is back on his feet. How is he doing, by the way?”

Aspen’s giggle sounded like it echoed across the mountain range and valley. “Same as yesterday and the day before that.”

The alarm on my phone sounded, and I knew my call was going to be cut short.

“Hey, cricket, I have to go hop in the shower. I’m due to take some pictures for a sports drink this afternoon.”

“Ooo, in your underwear?”

“No.” I laughed. “At least I don’t think so. They usually like us in our uniforms.”

“Fine. But if you do have to get half naked, please have someone send me pictures.”

“You got it, babe. And don’t worry—everything will all work out. I love you.”

She sighed in the same way she did when she’d snuggle up against me in bed right before falling asleep. “I love you too.”

Chapter Twenty-One – Aspen

Staring up at the cloud-covered sky, I listened to the birds chirping as they made their plans to head south for the winter and the leaves rustling. Autumn in Ashfield had always been one of my favorites.

It had been a family joke that since my sisters and I were all named after something to do with the seasons that I would love winter, Autumn the fall, Aurora the spring, and Alexandra the summer. The latter, I wasn’t quite sure how they were related, but my mother insisted. And one thing I learned at a young age was to never argue with a southern woman.

Owen had been gone almost a month now, and I would be lying if I didn’t say it was a struggle. Despite the gifts, calls, and random messages, it wasn’t the same as having him close. I had no idea how anyone with loved ones in the military got through it. My mother had at one point, but we were still walking on eggshells around her, so I hadn’t had it in me to ask for her advice. Since my father’s heart attack, she’d been a bit more withdrawn than usual. Of course, we all understood. She’d lost her first husband at war, and now her second nearly lost his life as well.

Now that it had started growing colder and the sky was darkening far earlier than I liked, I refrained from heading to my ledge to think unless it was the middle of the day. Soon, the small creek that crossed through the path would freeze, and I wouldn’t be able to go at all until the spring.

Instead, I usually drove one of the UTVs over to the property, where a fence used to separate the Ramsey farm from our own. We had the natural waterway on our side of the property, and Mom had set up a gazebo just under an old oak tree. When I was little, it was one of my favorite places to play, even though it would always scare her when she couldn’t find me.

I used to lie across the bench and watch Owen play baseball in his backyard. I envied how he could play sports and use his free time to be a kid. I rarely got the luxury. My sisters had all attended dance classes, or art, something to keep them busy, but my only hobby had been tending the garden.

Funny thinking back to how I coveted Owen’s freedom, when all along he’d been in a worse prison than me. Mine was of duty; his was his father.

I jumped as my phone rang, and I found myself giddy with anticipation, my hands shaking as I pulled it free of my jacket, only to sigh in disappointment when I saw it was my eldest sister calling.

“Hi, what’s up?”

“Well, I was kind of hoping you could run by the bed-and-breakfast and grab my hospital bags.”

“Why?” It felt like Autumn had been pregnant forever. Thankfully, she was due anytime now.

That’s when it all hit me.

“Oh my gosh, are you in labor?” I jumped from the gazebo and ran toward the UTV parked close by.

“I think so, but my doctor said it could take a while for the first baby. So, I’m in no rush to head to the hospital, but I’m over at Alex’s cake shop with the twins right now. You’re probably the closest.”