Broken Trouble (Broken Storm #1) (9 page)

              "Good morning," I spoke, hoping to break the guys out of their trance.

              "I wouldn't exactly call it good," Gavin grumbled, his voice was low, but loud enough for everyone to hear him. Just because they heard him though, didn't mean they would pay him any mind.

              "Good morning Honey," Polly said, smiling warmly as she passed the biscuits. "I heard that Wyatt was helping ya with Storm this morning. How did it go?"

              I pondered my response before speaking, unsure of what to say. Wyatt's lesson had held so many double meanings that I needed to think about. I glanced over at Wyatt, who had his hat off and his blonde hair messy on his head. His eyes focused on me, waiting for my response to Polly's question. "It was very helpful and it gave me a lot to think about," I admitted, tearing my eyes from Wyatt's and back to my plate.

              "Of course it was helpful, Wyatt's the best horse trainer around. You're lucky he took the time out of his busy day to try and help an ignorant city slicker," Gavin snapped. Polly sighed and exchanged a glance with Chili, obviously tired of Gavin's moods.

Wyatt studied his twin before speaking, "I don't mind. She seems to know her way around horses pretty well, even if she is from the city," he said, nodding my way as he lifted his coffee mug to his lips.

              The glare Gavin sent back at Wyatt could have burned a hole through a tank, but Wyatt didn't flinch and Gavin stayed silent for the rest of breakfast.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

              I was helping Polly in the kitchen by drying the dishes and putting them away, when she pulled the towel from my hands and dropped a wad of cash in them. I stared down into my hands for a moment before the shock wore off and I immediately started objecting, "I can't take this. You've already done so much for me, including washing my clothes this morning. Thanks for that, but this is too much."

              Polly put a hand on her hip and shook her head, wrapping her free hand around my hands, closing the money up in them. "Honey, while you're here, you're working and I take care of everyone here. I never get to have fun buying the boys their clothes, they're not girls so they don't understand. You'll be making me so happy by spending this money on the things you need." In that moment, Starre pulled up outside in an old, gold colored pickup truck and Polly guided me to the door. "Starre's here, go have fun now. You deserve a shopping trip."

              I paused, turning around to object, but the look in her eyes told me it wouldn't make a difference. "I'll pay you back," I promised, even though I had no idea how I would accomplish that even as I spoke, "Thank you."

              Polly shook her head, not having any of it. "Don't ya worry your pretty little head about the money, Honey. Go have fun!"

              I put the money in my pocket and headed to the truck, opening the door and climbing inside to see Starre already hopping up and down in her seat. "This is going to be so much fun!" she squealed, stepping on the gas and speeding down the road, leaving a dust cloud in the truck’s wake. After a few moments of silence, she spoke again, "So you and Dylan huh?" Starre said, smiling knowingly.

              "I don't know, things are complicated," I admitted, not really sure what else to say.

              "How's that?" Starre asked as she turned out into the main road towards town.

              I contemplated telling her everything, even though she was a girl with a guy of her own and obviously knew her way around a relationship, I still didn't know her very well. We’d just met last night and though this place and these people were making me more comfortable and open, I wasn’t ready to open up about something so personal just yet. "I just met him a couple days ago, I don't know if it would work out or if he's the one I want."

              Starre’s eyes lit up in understanding, "You like them all, don't you?"

              I blushed and sank further down in my seat. This was what normal girls talked about right? Guys? So why wasn't I more comfortable talking about them? "Well just Dylan, Jayden and Landon."

              "And Wyatt and Gavin too, I'm guessing?" Starre's smile broadened as she nodded knowingly.

              I scrunched my nose and frowned, "Not Gavin, he's a jerk. Wyatt's nice, though I haven't really spent much time with him."

              "Gavin will warm up to you, don't worry. It's just the type of guy he is. Wyatt's sweet though. You're so lucky to be living there with all those hot guys. If I wasn't in love with Trevor, I'd be giving you a run for your money on those hunks."

              "Gavin hates me," I stated, "I won't be here for very long so I don't really care." Yes, I did, I cared a lot. Even as the words left my mouth I knew they were a lie. I was glad Starre already had a boyfriend so I could have all of them for myself. I didn't even understand why I was feeling so possessive over them. It's not like I was in a relationship with them or anything. I should be happy about other girls showing interest in them. The guys all deserved someone, even Gavin, though I hoped his girl would beat the jerk out of him. I shouldn't feel jealous when I knew I wouldn't be that girl for any of the guys.

              "Okay," Starre said, dropping the conversation, but her tone told me she didn't believe a word I had spoke.

              We sat in silence for a little while before Starre changed the topic, talking about random things that popped into her head. Before I knew it, we had weaved our way through the streets of town and into the edge of a city to a large store. "Here we are!" Starre announced, parking and hopping out of the truck. I climbed out and followed her into the store, nerves knotting in my stomach. Who would've thought a girl could get nervous shopping?

              Starre grabbed a cart and started pushing it through the store, her eyes wide as she scanned the store. She was a girl in her element, speeding through the store to the clothes, pausing here or there to contemplate things hanging on racks. "Oh my gosh, there's a Rapunzel shirt!" Starre snatched up a shirt off the rack and looked it over, then found her size and tossed it into the cart in a record time of about two seconds. She darted through racks of clothing, pulling out shirt after shirt, completely abandoning the cart as she sped from rack to rack.

              Now here’s a girl who knew how to shop, if only I was the same way. I grabbed the cart and pushed it along after her, trying to keep up. She eventually slowed, dumping an armload in the cart. "This is officially my favorite store! Look at all these Disney shirts!" Starre squealed, holding up shirt after shirt for me to see. One shirt read 'Warning! I may spontaneously burst into song at any moment', and Starre started singing as if to prove the shirt was perfect for her.

              "Do you like Disney?" she asked, looking at me expectantly.

              "It's not really my style," I admitted, which was true, but it was also nicer to say than how I really felt about Disney. Which was that they were stories written by the rich when they were high to give normal people a sense of false hope. Let's face it, life was never like a fairy tale, or at least mine wasn't. I was never going to magically turn into a princess to catch the attention of some snob who wouldn't have noticed me otherwise. There was no such thing as a happily ever after, not for people like me.

              "Well, maybe we just need to find something Disney that will go with your style." Starre started digging through racks and I sighed inwardly. How could I tell her I didn't want a shirt that would shove the fact that my life was anything but a fairy tale? "Here it is!" Starre held up a shirt of a steampunk fairy and held it out in front of me. I wondered if I just got one if that would make her back off from the whole Disney thing without me saying anything.

              "I've never been into the whole fairy tale thing," I spoke, hoping she'd put the shirt back on the rack and leave the subject alone.

              "Why? Who doesn't like watching stories about girls who go from nothing to having everything in a few hour long film?" Starre asked, completely confused. It was hard to explain to someone why I didn't like something they loved without insulting it.

              "I just think it's a bit unrealistic. Nothing like that is ever going to happen to me, so why bother thinking about it?"

              "Hasn't it already happened though? I mean, I don't know anything about your past, but you've ended up on a ranch with five hot guys. I know it may not be a castle and they're not princes, but that's pretty fairy tale worthy isn't it?" Starre argued her point.

              I couldn't dispute it, being here was a lot better than where I had been before and the people were a lot nicer and definitely better looking. So I shrugged one shoulder, making my way around the rack, mumbling a defeated, "I guess."

              Starre frowned at me for a moment, thinking things over, then put the shirt back on the rack, causing me to let out a breath of relief. Then she pulled out different shirt from the rack and held it up. "You like horses right? I heard Polly talking last night about you and Storm," Starre held the shirt closer, the white horse on the front was shredding some kind of wanted poster in its mouth, "No one can say no to Maximus!"

              I looked between her hopeful expression and the horse shirt, finally caving, "The horse is cool."

              "So you like it?" Starre asked, her eyes sparkling.

              "Yes," I exhaled. At least the shirt was of a horse and not some quote about fairy tale love.

              "Yes!" Starre screamed and jumped up and down, beaming as she tossed the shirt in the cart. "I'll make a Disney fan out of you yet! We need to take a day and just watch movies. We'll start with Rapunzel because it's the one with Maximus in it. Then if you like that one, which I think you will, then we'll watch more. Actually, Wednesday is the rodeo, so if we get together in the morning, then we'll have time to watch a movie before the rodeo starts. We can get ready together! Are you going to the dance afterwards?"

              "I didn't know there was a dance," I admitted, feeling a bit overwhelmed. Who knew spending most my life hiding inside my ear-buds would cause me to be so socially awkward? Though now that I thought about it, it made perfect sense.

              "I'm sure the guys just haven't gotten around to asking you yet. They are so much fun! We'll pick out a skirt for you to wear," Starre said, her radiant smile never leaving her face. She held out a corset top that was a peach color and more my style, though a definite change from my usually black and white. "What do you think? Do you like it?"

              "I think Dylan would like it," I admitted, feeling my cheeks heat slightly at the thought of Dylan's expression if he saw me in another corset top.

              "Then it's a definite yes," Starre laid it in the cart, then headed off into the store
.
, "Come on, I think I spotted some goth clothes this way. You have to catch Jayden's eyes too!"

              I smiled and followed her, pushing the cart along after her. Even though this day was completely different than what I was used to, I had to admit hanging out with Starre was fun. I was surprised with how comfortable she was with me liking several of the guys. Maybe she was just trying to be a supportive friend. I had the feeling that things were going to get more complicated the more I was around all the guys though.

              I really hoped I didn't end up causing too much trouble.

              The trip back to the ranch passed quickly, conversation floating easily between us. It was like we had passed some kind of friendship milestone that made me more relaxed around her. Today had been the best shopping trip I had ever been on, far surpassing my previous experiences. The ones consisting of shoplifting and getting arrested.

              "It looks like Trevor is here helping them with the barn," Starre commented as she pulled up in front of the ranch house. I peered out the window and saw that they were building the wood frame and it was actually starting to look like a barn now. While Starre went to say hello to her boyfriend, I snatched up my bags of stuff to take to my room. I didn't know how long Starre would be staying today and didn't want to leave my bags in the truck in case I got busy and she needed to leave.

              I shimmied backward out of the truck, dragging the bags with me. Not all of them were filled with clothes, but other things I needed. It wouldn't have felt right spending too much of Polly's money. I had bought a backup pair of boots and restocked my makeup and girl supplies, along with lots of Sugar Straws for Storm. As my feet landed on the ground outside of the truck, I glanced backwards to spot Dylan jogging across the driveway from the barn towards me. He smiled shyly and moved to take my bags from me. I let him, those bags were really heavy. His biceps tensed under the weight of the bags, but his focus was on me
.
, "Hi."

              Why did I suddenly feel uncomfortable? Was it because the last moment we had spent together aside from breakfast this morning was when we had danced? I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and closed the truck door. "Hey." We paused for a minute, just staring at each other.

              Just like that, things were awkward.

              I smiled and headed inside, Dylan following behind with all my bags. Once we reached my room, he sat the bags down on the floor. "Thanks," I said.

              Dylan nodded in return and we stood there, exchanging uncomfortable shy smiles. This wasn't like me; I didn't normally feel shy around guys. Dylan must be rubbing off of me, because for the life of me I couldn't think of anything to say.

              He stood there, taking deep breaths, either from heaving my bags up the stairs or in preparation to say something that he was uncomfortable saying. Finally, he stepped forward and spoke, his voice low and uncertain, "I thought maybe-" he paused, blushing and taking another deep breath of courage before finishing his sentence, "-we could go on our date tomorrow."

              I nodded, trying to keep cool on the outside while on the inside I was freaking out
.
, "Where are we going?"

              "It's a surprise," Dylan's hands moved around as if he had no idea what to do with them before shoving them in his pockets, “we could go around two o'clock?"

              "Two p.m. right?" I asked, even though it was a date, there was no way I was going to go somewhere that early, especially not on a date. I may have gotten up early for Wyatt's training sessions, but dates were different. I couldn't be expected to look or act date worthy early in the morning.

              "Yeah."

              "Good," I sighed with relief. Thank God.

              "So you'll go with me then?" Dylan asked, as if he was still unsure that I would actually go on a date with him. The poor guy needed a major ego boost.

              "Yes, definitely. I can't wait," I said, smiling my best reassuring smile.

Dylan was so adorable, his cheeks were already flushed red as he responded, "Okay."

              "Okay," I reply, trying not to laugh. I didn't want to make him think I was laughing at him, I was just on a high from everything that had happened today and was ready to burst. I really needed to calm down, this happy energy wasn't me. Or was it? Was this how it felt to be giddy and happy, not dragged down by the depressing parts of life that I was used to?

              "Okay," Dylan said again, his eyes grew big as he realized he was repeating himself. He blushing hard and turning to exit my room, bumping into the door frame in his rush.

              I ran my fingers through my hair, taking a deep breath before following Dylan down the stairs, the smile on my lips refused to leave.

              As we stepped outside, Dylan slowed down and we walked towards the barn together. His eyes were locked on the ground, though his small smile told me he was enjoying walking with me. I could feel myself getting attached to him, it was little moments like these that pulled me in. Comfortable, sweet quiet settled over us and our hands brushed as we walked.

              "There you are!" Starre exclaimed, rushing over to me, "I keep telling them we'll need to paint the barn a special color, but the boys are being sticks in the mud and shooting down all my ideas."

              "Red and white is traditional, there's no need changing what already works," Gavin grumbled from across the barn construction.

              "I hate to admit it, but I agree with Gavin. It's quick and simple," Landon nodded.

              "And it will get Nova out of here faster," I heard Gavin add, his eyes flicking to my face before going back to his work.

              "In that case, I change my mind. We should do something so complicated that she can stay here forever. In fact, I think it will take the rest of my life to paint this barn," Landon backtracked, smirking at me as he put his arm around my shoulders.

              I glanced at Dylan. After the moment we had just shared, I wondered how he was reacting to Landon saying something like that. Dylan met my eyes and gave me a small smile, but his expression was unreadable.

              "Good. Painting the barn should keep you busy. I'll need her help keeping the hay well stocked in the loft," Jayden said, appearing at my other side, pressing against my side until I was squashed between him and Landon. I didn't understand what he meant, at least not until I looked up into his eyes and saw how dark they were. I realized what he meant, but Jayden made sure his raunchy meaning was very clear, "We'll need to make sure the hay is thoroughly rolled in, right Sweetheart?"

              Gavin made a noise that sounded like something between a cough and a gag, while Landon smacked Jayden upside the head, "Do you always have to think like that? Maybe she doesn't want to roll in the hay with you."

              "Everyone wants to roll in the hay with me," Jayden smirked.

              "Actually, I don't want to," I lied. To be completely honest, no single, straight girl could resist rolling in the hay with someone as hot as Jayden. He didn't have to know that though, I was still trying to play hard to get, wasn’t I?

              "I'm sure she'd much rather roll around in the cold floor of juvie. She's probably seen so much action there that she’s ruined for any other location," Gavin cut in.

              "Don't be such an ass Gavin." I was irritated that he had said something like that. I knew he was just trying to hurt me and put me down, but it still sucked hearing him say those kinds of things.

              "I don't really care where we are, we can do it anywhere. It's always good with me," Jayden boasted.

              "Why don't we ask your hand and see if that's true?" Landon asked.

              "Enough!" Trevor yelled, pulling away everyone's attention. Starre glanced up at him gratefully, and I couldn't help but feel the same way. My face was hot with embarrassment and I really didn't want to hear anymore of what the guys were saying. Dylan had disappeared somewhere, I'm sure he was too embarrassed to stick around and I wish I had disappeared with him. Wyatt wasn't in sight either, which would explain why Gavin was running his mouth so much.

              "No one is doing anything with Nova unless she wants to and it certainly won't be any time soon. Do I need to bring Polly out here or do you think you could use those measuring sticks for work instead of fighting?" Starre scolded, then snapped around to Jayden, who was taking a breath to speak and pointed a finger at his face, "Don't even." Jayden smirked at her but kept his mouth shut. Starre turned to me, linking her arm around mine. "Come on Nova, let's go get some lemonade."

              I walked arm in arm with Starre towards the house. I could hear Trevor talking to them, but his voice was too low to hear.

              I couldn't believe the guys had gone off like that. I knew they were all interested in me, but I hadn't expected them to start fighting over me. Maybe I hadn't been thinking so much about how things would go moving forward. How would they be after I went out with Dylan or started going on dates with any of the rest of them? They were already starting to fight and I knew there was no way this could end well for any of us.

              "I know what you're thinking," Starre announced as she grabbed the pitcher of lemonade out of the fridge. I didn't know how she had known Polly had made lemonade. I lived here and I hadn't even known there was lemonade. Maybe it was just country intuition?

              "What am I thinking?" I asked, wondering if she really knew. Just because she was a girl, didn't mean she could read my mind.

              "You're worrying about them all," Starre said matter-of-factly.

              Okay, maybe she could read my mind.

              "It's fine. They're guys, it's built into their testosterone filled bodies to fight over a girl. They're like a bunch of stallions fighting over a mare."

              "Isn't that a bad thing though?" I asked.

              "Sometimes, it just depends on how things go. Lucky for us, we have girl power and girl power can help you keep them relatively under control," Starre said. "Just try to have fun and ignore them when they're like that. As for Gavin, I don't even know what to say about him, I've never seen him act like that before. Are you sure you didn't kill his puppy or something?"

              "Was there a puppy in the barn?" I asked, my breath catching. I already felt horrible about the fire and burning down their barn, but if there was a cute puppy inside? I could already feel myself slipping down a dark tunnel.

              "No, I just meant he's acting really strange," Starre explained, looking at me like I was off my rocker.

              "Ah," I breathed a sigh of relief.

              "Maybe you should try doing something nice for him though. They always say you catch more flies with honey," Starre suggested.

              How could I do something nice for him? He would probably just throw it back in my face or find a way to blame me for ruining something else. What would I even get him? I sighed, thinking until something popped into my head.

              "What about a puppy?" I asked.

              "Gavin loves dogs, their last one ran off one night and never came back. They never found it. But, I think a puppy would be a great idea! We could get a Dalmatian or maybe a hound dog. Ah, we could get a mixed breed like Tramp!" Starre said, her voice filling with excitement. "Actually, I think I know someone who actually has some mixed puppies that are almost ready to give away. I can ask them if you can have one if you want."

              I paused from answering, thinking it over. Did I really want to give Gavin a dog? With the way he treated me, I really didn't want another form of life having to suffer by being around him. What if he hated the dog because of how much he hates me? What if it just made things worse and he ended up thinking I'm trying to pay him off with puppy? But then again, if he had a puppy to focus on, then it could distract him from me. Who said he had to know who the puppy was from anyway?

              "If he hates it, then I'll take it. How's that?" Starre spoke, trying to sway me.

              I sighed heavily, "Okay, we'll give it a try."

              I was going to give the guy who hates my guts a puppy.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

              I waved to Starre as she drove her truck off down the road. It was evening time and it would be time for dinner, but she and Trevor had to go back home to do their own ranch work and all the guys seemed to have work to do too.

              I heard the sound of a horse walking behind me and turned to see Wyatt heading my way, leading a dark golden colored horse behind him, his white mane and tail moving with each step. Wyatt ambled up to me, eyeing me up and down, making me wonder what he was up to.

              Unlike the other guys, I felt like I could count on him not to prank me. Wyatt was solid like a rock, calm and collected, which was the feeling that radiated from his horse. I reached my hand out and the horse stretched his nose towards me, his breaths coming out deep and slow as if he has awoken from an afternoon nap.

              "What's his name?" I asked, moving to pet the horse’s neck. Aside from Storm, I hadn't really spent too much time with any of the horses on the ranch.

              "Brooks," Wyatt responded, watching me closely like he always did.

              "Hey Brooks," I greeted the horse, running my fingers over his mane. "Are you going somewhere?" I asked Wyatt, trying to fill the empty air between us and also to figure out why he had come over to me in the first place.