Chapter 2

IVY

Present day...

"Are you even going to miss me?"

I wasn't surprised by my boyfriend, Blaine Wyatt's sudden clingy and ridiculous question. He had been pacing relentlessly around my dorm room while I sat cross-legged on the floor, packing the remainder of my socks into my luggage.

I stood up and kissed the cute dimple on his cheek. "Of course, I am going to miss you."

He took a deep breath and ran his thumb slowly along my cheek, saying, "I am going to miss the hell out of you." Then he sat on the edge of my bed and tugged my arm to follow him.

"I know..." My eyes glistened with unshed tears, but I held them back. Blaine didn't need to see how much his leaving for the summer was affecting me. I didn't want to give him any excuses. Blaine was selected to travel to Paris, France, to study the ins and outs of international business. His research could even be published. It was a fantastic opportunity. It was practically my dream, and he was chosen to live it. He was the worst kind of genius: one that didn't try.

"I hate that we'll be in completely different time zones. Your mornings will be my evenings. How will I ever fall asleep without hearing your voice on the other end of the line?"

His dark and desperate eyes glazed over. Even in his state of peril, he still looked amazing. His lean body, copper-toned hair, and big grey eyes made my heart flutter in my chest.

"You'll be fine," I assured him and climbed over his lap, straddling him. I ran my fingers through his wispy hair and planted him with another quick kiss, but this time on his forehead.

His hands found my hips, and he dropped his head on my shoulder, "The only person I'll know on this research project is Professor Yurick. Tell me, Ivy, do you think I am doing the right thing?"

"Are you kidding me?" I laughed and cupped my hands around his beautifully sweet face. I lifted his head and forced his desperate gaze into my eyes, "Blaine, do not be ridiculous. You were the only student from the University of Montana chosen for this project; all expenses paid. You earned this. Don't worry about me. I will be back home in Moose Creek waiting for you. And once you're done in France, we will drive back to Missoula for our Junior year together."

"I know." Blaine moaned and ran his hands up along my sides. His hands stopped at my shoulders, and he squeezed them gently in his fingers, "I just wish you could come with me."

"Me too," I said, playfully pulling on his protruding lip. He needed to cheer up. I would've given anything to be chosen for a research project, all expenses paid.

"You may be small enough to fit into my luggage," Blaine said so close to my ear that he even gave it a tiny nibble before he pulled away. My heart fluttered around in my chest at his whisper. I contemplated his unrealistic suggestion for a moment, although part of me couldn't help but think his leaving might do us some good. My mother was always quick to say, "Distance makes the heart grow fonder."

Blaine and I had been together since my Senior year of high school. Growing up, we were always just friends. When he asked me out, I turned him down for fear of ruining our friendship. He didn't give up, though. A week's worth of roses, coupled with great persistence, had him eventually winning my heart the summer before college. The transition from being "just friends" to suddenly making out in the back seat of his truck was a little weird, but I was glad I took a chance on Blaine. I quickly realized he was the good Wyatt brother. He may not have been as tall, handsome, wild, or confident as his older brother Rhys, but he was definitely one hundred times sweeter, and he treated me like a princess.

"You'll only be gone for four months," I said, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling myself against his muscular chest. "That's nothing in the grand scheme of things."

His sexy lips finally smiled before he placed them on my mouth for a kiss. When he pulled away, his smile quickly turned back to a frown. "I hate that I won't work at Whitefish Resort with you this summer."

The Wyatt family owned and operated a world-class fly-in fishing resort about thirty minutes north of Moose Creek. The resort also offers horseback riding, ATV adventures, and scenic river rafting. It was one of the biggest and most successful resorts in Montana and brought a lot of tourism to our small hometown during the summer months.

"I don't trust any of those perverted fisherman to keep their filthy eyes off you while you're on the job. At least when I'm there, they think twice to check out the owner's son's girlfriend."

"Oh please," I chuckled, tilting my head to the side. Blaine's jealous side wasn't one of his best qualities. "Did you forget who you're dating all of a sudden? I can hold my own. You know that."

"Even without me working at the resort this summer, you can stay at our family's ranch when on shift. My father already gave me the okay to have you stay there. I couldn't live with myself knowing you were in the employee bunkhouse when the ranch is empty and up the road." Blaine said, not even bothering to look up at me. His eyelids stayed lowered, and his fair lashes brushed against his cheeks. He knew I hated being treated differently at work because I was his girlfriend. And he also knew his jealousy upset me.

"I don't think so," I snorted, sliding off his lap and onto my bed. "I don't want to stay in that huge ranch all alone. And besides, sometimes your dad decides to spend a night or two instead of driving back into town. I'd rather stay with Missy in the bunkhouse. I already know she's coming back to work at the resort for the summer."

"I don't think staying with her, of all people, is a good idea. She's a party animal, and you like your sleep." Blaine lifted his eyes to mine.

He was right about that; I did enjoy my sleep. And I didn't want to be woken up in the middle of the night to hear Missy stagger into the dorm room past curfew.

"There are lots of other girls to room with besides Missy. I only stayed at the ranch last year because you were staying there, too. With you not there, it just seems weird. Besides, shifts are only four days on and three days off. When I'm not working to earn enough money for my tuition, I will be in town, at home, and in my bed."

"I already told you. I can help you pay for your tuition so you don't have to work all summer long," Blaine said quietly, his voice near whispering. We had broached this topic before, and it started a fight between us every time. He was a trust fund baby. Money meant nothing to him. I came from a family that barely got by and worked hard to earn an honest living. He knew that I wanted to earn everything I had with integrity, just like my family did.

"No. I will stay at the bunkhouse with every other hard-working employee at Whitefish Ranch." I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

Blaine let out a long, tense sigh. He pushed up from the edge of my bed, stood on his own two feet, then turned to face me, "Look, I don't want to argue with you. This is our last night together. Stop your pouty and defiant behavior because this is not debatable. If you don't let me help pay your tuition, promise me you will stay in the ranch. I was hoping you could stay there for my sanity. Please don't do this to me before I go."

Blaine looked practically pathetic, raking his hands through his copper hair. He stared back at me, making my tiny dorm room fall silent. I detected desperation in his eyes.

"Everyone already thinks I get the best shifts because I'm your girlfriend, and now you expect me to stay at the ranch alone when you aren't there?"

"I don't care what anyone else thinks. All I care about is giving you the best. I don't want to lie awake at night knowing you are sleeping under a ratty old blanket on a lumpy top bunk. Please let it go and know I wouldn't have it any other way."

Where I stayed was the least of my worries. If he wanted to give me silky sheets and fluffy pillows, who was I to complain? Besides, it was just a comfortable place to sleep between shifts. If he needed this from me right now, then I'd do it. Even if it meant I looked like an opportunistic sponge, which was better than being an opportunistic sponge and accepting tuition money from him.

"Fine," I mumbled, but I didn't dare look at him. I knew he was probably boasting and didn't want him to win that easily. I uncrossed my arms and added, with a tease, "But don't think I am going to enjoy it."

Blaine flashed his infectious smile, and I couldn't help but smile back. His dimples got me every time. It was impossible to stay mad at him.

"Yeah, it would be tough to enjoy a King-size bed, hot tub, roaring fireplace and the most beautiful view in all of Montana after a long and hard day at work. I would much rather stay in cramped quarters sharing a communal bathroom." He said with a gleam in his eye and took one step closer to my bed.

He was more than right. The Wyatt family ranch was beyond breathtaking, but rightfully so. They'd better have the best of everything with a father who owned a large chunk of Montana's real estate and a world-famous fly-in fishing resort.

Blaine smiled crookedly when he stretched his long arms and crawled across my twin mattress. I loved how he always seemed giddy and childlike whenever he got what he wanted. He towered over me and placed his palms on either side of my head as I sunk into the pillows. "I don't want to waste any more time talking," he whispered, tucking loose strands of my hair behind my ears.

"Me neither." I pulled down on his shirt collar, and he placed his soft lips on mine.

The following day, I stretched my arms across the pillows and woke up to an empty bed. I was sleeping when Blaine slipped out to catch an early departure overseas. I remembered him gently kissing my lips and sliding out of my dorm room. I was going to miss him.

Repetitive knocks on my dorm room door startled me fully awake. I jumped out of bed, wearing nothing but panties, and threw on Blaine's U of M tee shirt, doused with his cologne. He didn't want me to forget his scent, so he took it upon himself to spray the hell out of it before he left.

I tripped over a pair of white-wedged heels and crashed sideways into my nightstand before I pulled open the door. I was expecting my friend Remy and her big red curls on the other side, but surprisingly, it was my brother Eddie.

"What are you doing here already?" I asked, covering my eyes from the bright lights in the hallway.

"Nice bedhead," he laughed and handed me one of the two coffees he held in either hand. "I left earlier than originally planned. Mom was driving me crazy last night because she was so excited to see you. I thought I'd sneak out early this morning while she was still asleep so I could have you home before lunchtime."

"You're such a kiss ass," I laughed and stepped aside to let him enter my dark and chilly dorm room. His sandy brown hair was tucked behind his ears, and his baseball cap was twisted backward. He wore his usual outfit: a flannel button-up and ripped jeans.

Eddie scanned the perimeters with a curious eye, something he always did whenever he visited or picked me up. It was like he was trying to catch me in the act of doing something I shouldn't be. I guess it was his big brother instinct to ensure I stayed out of trouble.

"Let me guess, Blaine spent the night?" He winced and picked up a black lacey bra from the floor. He held it out between his thumb and index finger like it was contaminated before tossing it at me. I caught it with ease.

"He did just leave for the entire summer. What did you expect?"

"Oh God, is that his shirt too?" Eddie groaned and pointed to my ensemble. He covered his eyes with the back of his hand. "I think I'm going to puke. Please get dressed and make yourself decent."

"That's why you don't show up unannounced. You said you'd be here around noon. It is your fault that you have to witness the morning after," I laughed.

Eddie and I were close. Growing up, our parents weren't around much. They worked hard running the Moose Creek General Store. In the summer months, during the high tourist season, there were some days we didn't even see them. He made dinner, tucked me in at night, and monitored my computer time. We never resented our parents for not being around much when we were kids; we just understood. Business was tricky in a small tourist-driven town, and they had to work hard to put food on the table.

"Blaine is just lucky he's so damn perfect. Because if he weren't, I'd have knocked him out by now." Eddie grunted and then asked. "Where's your luggage?"

"In the closet," I said, sipping my coffee. Eddie made it just the way I liked it, extra sweet. I happily watched him uncomfortably yank open my closet doors, find my luggage and carry it out of my dorm room.

"Meet you at the truck." he hollered from the hallway.

After a quick shower and a fresh set of clothes, we drove down the highway, blasting Kenny Chesney's greatest hits. The rolling mountains and clear blue skies made me happy to know home was on the horizon. I let my hand dangle out the window and felt the warm summer breeze run through my fingers. I liked knowing how some things never changed, like the good feeling of going home, the way the sun felt on my skin, or the sound of the wind whistling against the truck. But I also liked how it felt knowing that some things did change, and sometimes when you least expected them.