but local’s the biggest thing... Is that something your family would be interested in?”
He paused. “Is it desperate?”
I faltered. “Not yet... I just wanted to see if you were interested before bringing up the idea with them.”
“Okay. I’d be interested, definitely, with some contingencies.”
“And those would be?”
“It might be better to go over those with your folks. Have them call me?”
I nodded, then realized he couldn’t see me. “Yes. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Ginger?”
My heart stalled at the way he said my name, at the possibility of what could come next. “Yeah?”
“Thank you,” he said, his voice sincere.
A cracking smile touched my lips. “You’re welcome.”
After the call ended, I just stood there for a moment, holding the phone to my chest. The sound of his voice saying my name nearly undid me, but I was stronger than I thought. I could do this.
I left the bathroom and walked straight into the frenzy of my siblings. The twins had half of their stuff in the hallway, trying to decide what to bring on their trip. Mom had Cori running over the floors with the dust mop.
“Ginger!” Mom yelled from the kitchen. “That’s enough time in the bathroom. Unless you’re sick. Are you sick?”
Cori sent me an amused grin, and I groaned.
“I’m fine, Mom,” I yelled. “Coming.” I took my time walking to the kitchen, where Dad sat with Mom, a new list started. The line across the top said “potential meat contacts,” but the list was blank.
“Hey,” I said.
Mom looked up. “Oh, Ginger, can you—”
“Wait, I have an idea,” I said.
Her eyebrows drew together, and Dad looked up at me from his phone. He was scrolling through his list of contacts. “What do you mean?” he asked.
“Earlier, when you asked if I know a rancher, well...I do.”
Realization crossed Dad’s face, and he began shaking his head. “No. Absolutely not.”
“Wait before you say no,” I said and began telling them about Ray and his family. How he took care of the ranch and his siblings and how they cared so deeply for their animals, even though they’d eventually go to slaughter. “I think we’d have a great story that could draw in more customers. And you’d really be helping out their family.”
Mom covered Dad’s hands with her own. “I think it’s worth a shot, honey.”
Begrudgingly, Dad nodded. “Give me their number. We’ll add them to the list.” As if they had anyone else.
Like I didn’t have it memorized by heart, I went to my phone and read Ray’s name and then his number.
It was out of my hands now. All there was to do was wait.
Sixty-Three
Monday, school was called for parent-teacher conferences, but Tuesday, I saw Ray differently as he walked into video class. While everything about him screamed strength and power, I now knew the vulnerability that lay under the surface.
Mrs. Sadler said I couldn’t heal his wound, but I wished I could. Seeing how he was in school—like a blank piece of paper in a sea of nondescript pages—was sad. Not because I wanted a romantic relationship with him (a part of me always would) but because Ray was amazing. The world deserved to see him.
“You’re totally staring,” Jordan whispered.
My cheeks pinked, and I turned to her.
“Do you still miss him?” she asked.
Slowly, I nodded. “But I know we can’t be together.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t miss him.”
I considered her words. “When did you stop missing Martín?”
“When I realized he was the kind of man who would inflict pain and I deserved someone who wanted to prevent it.” Her eyes were downcast, the memory obviously painful.
I nodded, thinking about what kind of man I deserved. All I’d been worried about before was having an adventure or being worthy of a boyfriend. I never thought much about what I deserved in a man. Was Ray that person?
Not just yes, but heck yes.
“Think he’ll ever come around?” Jordan asked.
I lifted a corner of my lips. “I don’t know.”
Just as Jordan started asking a follow-up question, Mr. Davis came in and began the lecture. He wanted us to take photos and then work on creating a video with sound and transitions. It was pretty basic, but I didn’t mind that. With everything going on, it would be nice to have at least one assignment that wouldn’t soak up all of my limited mental energy.
Mr. Davis let us check out cameras and walk around the school to get photos. Jordan and I walked down the hallways together, snapping photos of lockers, ceiling tiles, Latin