“Dreamy.” She lets out a long sigh as her hand drops away from the ring on my finger. I stare at my sister, who looks like she’s lost in a fairy tale. Kat has been boy crazy her whole life. I always thought she would be the first of the two of us to marry even though we’re only eleven months apart.
“Dreamy?” I pick up my pillow and hit her with it. “You need to stop reading all those romance books.”
“I will, right after you.” She lifts a brow at me.
“Hey, I’m not the one calling Judge dreamy.”
“You’re marrying him.”
I let out a small laugh as I turn around and straighten stuff on my dresser because I don’t want her to see my real reaction. My throat goes tight because if Kat knew what was really happening, she’d lose her mind. She can be a bit dramatic.
“I know, that’s why I’m doing this,” I manage to get out. I take a slow breath, trying to mask my emotions, which is hard to do with her since she reads me well. “I don’t want to go from our parents’ home to my—” I can’t say the word. To call him my husband feels so wrong. “To Judge’s house.”
I might wear the ring, but I don’t want him. I’ve not been handed over to him yet, so I’m going to enjoy the little time I have left until then. I don't want to think about Judge at all until I’m out of time.
“I guess.”
I peek over my shoulder at Kat and see it’s going to be hard being away from her. I know I’m not going to be able to leave if she has that look on her face, and I’m supposed to leave soon if I want to be on time. I’m guessing it’s not a great idea to be late on your first day of work, but my sister's happiness has always weighed on me.
“I got you something.” I pull open my top dresser drawer and grab the two cell phones. Kat jumps up onto her knees on the bed, and I turn around and hold one out for her. Her eyes widen, and I smile. “I figured since I got a job now I could use some of my savings.”
Kat and I have to be the oldest people in the world without cell phones. Our parents didn't think we needed them or the added expense, but I’m eighteen and I can do what I want. At least for now. Call it a small act of rebellion, but it’s probably the same as me taking this job. I agreed to get married. I didn't agree that they could control my every action until that day. I felt I’ve earned this, and honestly there isn't anything they can do to stop me.
“How?” she asks, taking it from my hand.
“Four years of babysitting.” Over the last year I was able to scrape up more money with odd jobs after I got Gram’s old car. After picking up random jobs cleaning homes and helping at the Sunday farmers’ market in town, I have a nice stash of cash. Well, what I would think is a nice stash. To someone like Judge, I’m guessing it’s nothing.
“I shouldn't take it because it’s your money and you worked hard for it. But now this means I can text you every day.” She throws her arms around me, hugging me tight. My eyes sting with tears because I’ve never been without Kat. Unless you count the first eleven months of my life, which I don’t remember anyways.
“It’s nothing fancy.”
“It’s perfect. It calls and texts you, and that’s all that matters.” She lets me go. “Did you put our numbers in?” She’s smiling now, and a weight lifts off my shoulders.
“Of course.”
“Good. I want to know everything about this Clay Walker.”
“Why?”
Clay Walker is the man I’m going to be working for. He needs a live-in housekeeper that can cook too, and it’s part of the reason I applied for the job to begin with. I won't have to worry about where I’ll be staying, and I can save extra money. If someone looked close enough, they might think I’m trying to save enough money to run away and take Kat with me.
“I might have done some poking around,” she hedges, and I roll my eyes. Of course she did because she’s the nosiest person in the world.
“Well?” I mean if she has some info, I want it.
“I think he could give Judge a run for his money. And I mean money.”
Wow, that’s saying a lot. Clay lives two towns over and it will take me an hour to get there. Not forever away, but it’s far out enough to give me a taste of real freedom for a moment.
“Clay’s money is none of my concern.”
“I heard he’s handsome too.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “You might fall in love.”
“I’m getting married.” Something flashes across Kat's face, but she masks it quickly. I’ve caught it a couple of times now.
“I know.” She gives me a bright smile. “Let me help you get your stuff into the car.” She hops off the bed, changing the subject. I want to push, but pushing Kat never works well. When she gets backed into a corner, she runs, and she can be as skittish as her name.
I grab her hand and pull her in for another hug. “I need an adventure. You know I’ll always come back for you.”
