Page 57 of Ranger's Wildflower

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Of course.

One glance at my face and his expression tightened.

“What happened?”

“They know.”

His brows pulled together. “Who?”

“Gable Ridge.” My voice cracked. “They’ve seen the video.”

Ace exhaled slowly like he’d expected this.

“You knew this would happen.”

“I figured it might.”

Panic rose sharp and sudden inside my chest.

“I’m not ready for this.”

Ace stepped closer carefully. “You don’t have to do anything yet.”

“They’re going to call.” My breathing turned uneven. “They’re going to want answers and apologies and—”

Another buzz cut through the room.

Then another.

Then another.

I stared at the phone like it might explode.

“I can’t do this,” I whispered.

Ace stopped directly in front of me.

Steady.

Solid.

“You’re not doing it alone.”

Tears burned instantly behind my eyes.

“That doesn’t make it less terrifying.”

“No,” he admitted softly. “But it makes it survivable.”

That word hit differently.

Survivable.

I knew how to survive.

I’d been doing it for years.

The phone buzzed again.

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