Rachel

There was no word from Jason for a few days. It was to be expected, after his little stop at my place, but why did it hurt me so much? Because he’d misunderstood something? And he’d walked away without letting me explain, while I let him walk away without speaking up a bit more firmly. I’d done it just fine on the ranch. But, I hadn't been vulnerable there. That had been him.

It wasn’t quite that the tables had turned, but more than they were back to rights, and I hated it that way.

You were going to tell him anyway, I thought to myself. At some point.

That didn’t make me feel any better, though.

I kept wondering if he needed help, but I didn’t have the courage to go and look for him to ask. Just like it had always been between us. Jason walked, and I was more often than not too afraid to reach for his back, and he left.

I wondered if that would ever change about us.

When another surprise knock came to my door, I was more prepared. Still, it was a surprise to open the door and see Jas