Chapter 15

The Texas sun hasn"t even bothered to stretch its golden fingers over the horizon and I"m already behind the wheel, the familiar hum of my truck accompanying my thoughts. Julia"s next to me, her red hair a fiery contrast against the pale sky seeping through the window.

"Airports never sleep, huh?" she murmurs, peering out at the bustling drop-off zone.

"Neither do you, it seems," I chuckle, bringing the truck to a stop. I can see the reluctance in her eyes, that same hesitation that"s been nibbling at the edges of my own resolve.

She heaves a sigh, her hand finding mine. "How are we gonna do this, Ry?"

"Guess we"ll text, call... I reckon we could try that video chat thing too." The idea feels clumsy on my tongue. I"m a face-to-face man, but for Jules, I"d learn Morse code if I had to.

"Every day?" There"s hope laced with uncertainty in her voice.

"Every single day." I squeeze her hand, meaning it.

"Even with your... aversion to phones?" Her eyebrow quirks up, teasing.

"Especially then." I draw her into a hug, her body molding against mine like it"s meant to be there. "I"ll start a new habit."

"Good. Because I need my daily dose of grumpy cowboy turned sunshine." Her laughter is muffled against my chest, and it"s the best damn sound in the world.

"Sunshine"s a bit of a stretch, Jules." I can"t help the grin spreading across my face. "But for you, I"ll try."

"And I"ll make time, Ryan. No more hiding behind work." She pulls back just enough to look at me, her decision clear.

"Jules, you saying that means everything." I brush a stray curl from her forehead, thinking how Houston"s too far, but it"s not an impossible distance.

"Let"s make it work," she whispers, determination set in her stunning eyes.

"Let"s make it work," I echo, sealing our pact with a kiss that speaks of promises and a future filled with laughter, love, and the occasional long-distance hiccup.

I watch Julia heft her suitcase onto the scale, a frown tugging at her lips—a silent testament to the heaviness weighing on both our hearts. The airport buzzes around us, but at this moment, it"s just background noise.

"Two weeks," she says, more to herself than me, as the attendant slaps a tag on her bag and sends it down the conveyor belt. "Meetings back-to-back."

"Sounds exhausting," I reply, trying to keep the mood light. The thought of her tackling that alone knots my gut.

"Part of the grind, Ry." She gives me a half-smile, all businesswoman armor with that hint of vulnerability she rarely lets slip.

"Hey," I start, pausing until her green eyes lock with mine. "You ever need a break, you call me, okay? I"ll be your five-minute vacation."

Her laughter is low and warm. "Deal."

"Let"s head to your gate." I steer us towards security, my hand finding the small of her back, guiding her forward.

"Ryan, wait. You can"t..." She stops short when I flash my boarding pass.

"Got myself a ticket. Figured I could use a little more time with you." My heart hammers, hoping she sees this for what it is, a promise that distance won"t dull what we have.

"Ry, that"s... incredibly sweet." Her eyes soften, and I swear I see the shimmer of tears she quickly blinks away.

"Nothing"s too much if it means being with you." I shrug, trying to play it cool, even though inside I"m anything but.

We shuffle through the security line, an awkward dance of shoes off, laptops out. On the other side, I pull my boots back on and catch Julia watching me, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"Something funny?"

"Never took you for the type to endure TSA for anyone. Guess I should feel special."

"More than special," I grumble, not quite meeting her gaze. It"s easier to focus on retying my laces than admit how deep I"m in already.

"Come on, cowboy. Let"s find that quiet corner you promised." Her hand slips into mine, an anchor amidst the chaos.

"Lead the way, sweetheart." I let her pull me along, knowing whatever comes next, it starts with her and ends with us making it work, no matter the miles between.

We stake out a pair of seats at the far end of the gate, away from the buzz and clamor that fills the terminal. The hum of conversations and the clatter of suitcase wheels fade into the background, giving us a bubble of privacy in the public space.

"Feels like we"re the only two people in the world, doesn"t it?" Julia"s voice is low, intimate as she leans in close.

"Almost," I agree, my voice barely above a whisper. "Could do without the announcements every five minutes, though." I nod toward the loudspeakers overhead.

Julia chuckles, and it"s a sound that stirs something deep inside me. "I"ll miss that laugh," I say before I can stop myself.

"Then we"ll just have to make sure you don"t go too long without hearing it." She reaches over, lacing her fingers through mine. "FaceTime, texts, calls… I"m going to be on your screen so much you"ll get sick of me."

"Impossible," I counter, squeezing her hand. "But speaking of screens, aren"t you supposed to be some hotshot business owner? How are you going to handle all this with your company?"

"I don't know yet," she says matter-of-factly. "But I'll make it work. Maybe this distance will teach me that there"s more to life than work."

"Look at you, getting all enlightened on me," I tease, but there"s admiration in my voice. Her strength, her drive, it"s part of what drew me to her.

"Guess you"re rubbing off on me." Her green eyes twinkle with mirth.

"Flight 1143 to Houston now boarding," crackles the announcement, slicing through our moment.

"Guess that"s my cue," Julia says reluctantly, her grip tightening for an instant before she lets go.

"Call me when you land, okay?" I stand, help her gather her things, and walk her to the boarding line.

"Wouldn"t dream of leaving you hanging." She stands on tiptoe and gives me a quick kiss, her lips warm against mine, a promise of more to come.

"Safe travels, Jules." I watch her blend into the line, her red hair a beacon until she rounds the corner and disappears from sight.

I head back to my truck, the weight of her absence settling over me like a storm cloud. Long-distance relationships are hard, everyone says so. But as I slide behind the wheel, I can still feel the imprint of her hand in mine, the echo of her laughter in my ears.

"Hard doesn"t mean impossible," I mutter to the empty cab. "We"ll make it work. Somehow, we"ll make it work."

The drive back is quiet. The rolling hills of Texas spread out before me, but today, they feel a little emptier, a touch lonelier. Yet there"s a thread of hope, bright and persistent, weaving through my thoughts.

"Long-distance," I say to the horizon, as if testing the words. "Just another challenge to tackle, right?"

And with that, I press down on the accelerator, racing toward the future, one that holds a fiery-haired woman with a laugh that can fill even the wide expanse of Texas sky.

The dust from the truck"s tires settles as I step out, the familiar creak of the ranch gate filling the silence. My mother, Paula, is perched on my porch swing like a queen in her domain. Her eyes, the same blue as mine, watch me approach with that all-knowing glint that sets my nerves on edge.

"Hey, Ma," I say, tipping my hat back and squinting against the midday sun.

"Ryan," she greets, her voice carrying the warmth of Texas summer. "How"d it go at the airport?"

"Fine, Ma." I hesitate, then decide to dive right in. "We need to talk about you and Vivian playing matchmakers."

Her lips twitch into a smile, but she doesn"t bat an eyelid. "Oh? And what makes you think we had anything to do with it?"

"Jules mentioned something..." I trail off, watching her expression. Sure enough, there"s a flicker of triumph.

"Julia"s a smart girl," Paula says, patting the seat beside her on the swing. "Y"all make a handsome couple, if I may say so myself."

"Ma," I start, sitting down with a sigh, "I appreciate the sentiment, but you can"t just..."

"Can"t just what? Want my boy to find happiness?" She tilts her head, and I"m reminded of how she used to corner me into admitting I"d snuck cookies before dinner.

"Of course not, but…"

"But nothing." She takes my hand, her grip firm. "You"re not getting any younger, Ryan. And that girl, she"s got fire in her. You need someone like that."

I can"t help but chuckle, shaking my head. "You"ve always been too clever for your own good, Ma."

"Runs in the family," she quips, giving my hand a squeeze before letting go. "Now, tell me, are you gonna fight for this one, or let her slip away?"

"Fight," I say without hesitation, the word feeling like a branding iron to my resolve. "I"ll fight for her."

"Good." Mom nods, standing up and smoothing her skirt. "Because that girl"s worth more than any billion-dollar fortune. And don"t you forget it."

"Never could, with you as my ma," I reply, the corners of my mouth lifting despite the turmoil inside.

"Go on, get inside. I made lemonade," she says, already heading for the door.

"Thanks, Ma," I call after her, watching her go. There"s a fierceness to her love, fierce like the Texas sun. And I reckon, thanks to her meddling, I"ve found someone with a love just as fierce. Julia.

The porch creaks under our weight as we sink into the rocking chairs, hers weathered and mine that Dad built before I was born. He's where I got my love for woodworking, but he's been gone since I was in college, and I still miss him. A gentle wind teases the chimes hanging in the corner, their melodies a comforting backdrop to Ma"s forthcoming confession.

"Alright, spill it," I say, tipping my hat back with a grin. "How did you manage to play Cupid without me catching on?"

Mom chuckles, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Well, it all started with that dating app," she begins. "I created a profile for you, like I mentioned to you before."

"Ugh, Ma." My head hits the back of the chair. She laughs louder, almost snorting.

"Ryan, honey, hear me out. I didn"t know who I was chatting with at first. But then Vivian—oh Lord, Vivian—she called me up." Mom covers her mouth, trying to stifle another fit of laughter.

"And let me guess, she had this grand plan?" I prompt, amused despite myself.

"Exactly!" She claps her hands together, delighted with herself. "She suggested the whole AirBnB ruse. Sent Julia right to your doorstep."

"Ma, you"re something else." I lean back, the wood groaning as I rock. "You two are like a pair of scheming matchmakers from some old romance novel."

"Only the best for my boy," she says, pride swelling in her chest. "And look how it turned out. Julia is a gem."

"Can"t argue with that," I admit, thinking about Jules" green eyes and fiery spirit.

"Are you mad?" Mom"s question pulls me back to the porch, her concerned gaze searching my face.

"Mad? Nah." I shake my head, the smile refuses to fade. "Impressed, maybe. You"ve got more tricks up your sleeve than a stage magician."

"Remember, Ryan." She leans forward, her tone serious but her eyes still dancing. "The heart wants what the heart wants. And sometimes it needs a little nudge."

"Or a full-on shove, in our case," I quip, pushing off the floorboards to set my chair rocking again.

"Whatever works." She stands. "Now, you gonna help me with dinner or just sit there looking pretty?"

"Guess I can lend a hand, since this is my house, after all," I reply, standing up and following her inside, the screen door slamming shut behind us. My mind drifts to Jules, miles away now, yet somehow closer than ever. Thanks to Mom and Vivian"s wild scheme, my heart"s been given a fighting chance. And I"m not one to back down from a challenge.